Traveling as a senior can be a thrilling and enriching experience, offering opportunities to explore new cultures, revisit favorite destinations, and create lasting memories.
However, it also comes with some uncertainty, especially when it comes to your overall safety and health, particularly when traveling abroad.
As a senior, it is important to take into consideration your health and wellbeing when traveling in order to make the most of your vacations.
With senior travel insurance, you can journey abroad with peace of mind knowing that you are protected in the event of the unexpected.
What Is Travel Insurance for Seniors?
Travel insurance for seniors can offer valuable medical coverage if you get injured or sick during your trip.
Depending on the plan you choose, coverage can include emergency medical evacuation, hospitalization, surgery, prescription medication, and more.
Is Senior Travel Insurance Necessary?
Senior travel insurance is often seen as necessary due to the increased health risks and mobility issues that can come with age.
Since seniors are more likely to fall ill or become injured while traveling, travel insurance is an excellent way to ensure that you have medical coverage if you find yourself having to seek medical attention during your trip.
It is also important to note that if you are traveling abroad from the United States, Medicare will not cover you abroad (unless under very certain circumstances). Without insurance coverage, you could be left with a hefty financial burden of medical bills and may have difficulty navigating a foreign country’s healthcare system.
The Benefits of Travel Insurance for Seniors
There are numerous benefits to travel insurance for seniors, particularly when traveling outside of their home country.
Coverage for Medical Emergencies
Many travelers may not realize that their domestic health insurance likely doesn’t offer coverage for medical expenses incurred abroad.
Travel medical insurance for seniors can offer coverage for eligible medical emergencies that occur during your travels, giving you peace of mind that if anything were to happen on your trip, you have insurance coverage.
Emergency Medical Evacuation
Emergency medical evacuation is a key benefit of senior travel insurance as it provides coverage for emergency transportation if you are seriously ill or injured and need to be transported to a hospital or medical facility that is equipped to handle your care.
This can be particularly important when traveling to a place that has limited medical resources or is a remote location that may not have a proper facility that can treat your medical condition.
Emergency medical evacuation can be extremely expensive, and coverage can potentially save you thousands of dollars.
Repatriation of Remains
While no traveler wants to consider the worst case scenario while on vacation, having coverage to protect your loved ones is crucial.
The repatriation of remains benefit provides coverage for senior travelers in the unlikely event that they unexpectedly pass while abroad.
This benefit offers coverage for returning your remains back to your home country and can also help facilitate transportation with local authorities.
Coverage for Pre-existing Conditions
A key concern of older travelers is leaving your home country knowing that you have pre-existing conditions that could flare up unexpectedly.
Luckily, there are some travel medical insurance policies that do offer limited coverage for pre-existing conditions or coverage for the acute onset of pre-existing conditions.
Coverage for the acute onset of pre-existing conditions is more common, and can offer coverage if a dormant pre-existing condition suddenly flares up without warning.
24/7 Medical and Travel Assistance Services
Senior travel insurance can also offer both medical and travel assistance services to policyholders, which can prove extremely beneficial if you need help while traveling abroad.
This can include helping you to find the nearest healthcare provider if you need medical care, a concierge service to help guide you during your travels, and translation services.
Accidental Death & Dismemberment
Accidental death and dismemberment coverage is an important senior travel insurance benefit as it can help your family financially if you were to pass away or have a serious dismemberment injury during your travels.
AD&D coverage pays out a lump sum benefit amount to your selected beneficiary and is included in most travel medical insurance policies.
Lost Luggage
Most senior travel medical insurance plans also offer coverage for lost luggage during your travels.
It typically can pay up to a specific amount for claimed lost luggage as stated in the policy document if your bag is lost for more than a specified amount of time.
Travel assistance services can also help you coordinate with airlines to find your missing luggage and ensure that your essentials are replaced for your trip.
Optional Adventure Sports Coverage
If you are planning a more adventurous trip abroad and will be partaking in more hazardous or dangerous activities, most travel medical insurance policies will offer the addition of optional adventure sports coverage.
This additional benefit can provide medical benefits for injuries that occur during what is considered a hazardous or adventurous sport, such as kayaking or zip lining.
Have Peace of Mind With Senior Travel Insurance
Having senior travel insurance can allow you to fully enjoy yourself while traveling abroad while not having to worry about unforeseen situations.
Have more questions? Contact our Customer Success Team for further assistance or compare travel medical insurance plans to find a policy that fits your unique travel needs.
