7 Best Senior Travel Insurance Companies of 2022

In this article: Top Senior Travel Insurance Companies | Compare Prices | Senior Travel Guide | The Bottom Line | FAQs | Methodology

Many senior citizens find themselves eager to travel the world following retirement, finally having the funds and time to take for themselves. Older people planning a trip abroad might be interested in purchasing a senior travel insurance plan to protect their investment. 

The best travel insurance for seniors complements Medicare coverage and provides affordable inclusions similar to those found on travel insurance plans for younger adventurers. However, travel insurance plans for senior citizens can be more expensive due to increased risks and higher-cost medical expenses.

We at the Home Media reviews team have researched dozens of top travel insurance companies to identify the best in the industry. Find the best senior travel insurance companies and policies using our guide below.

Top 7 Senior Travel Insurance Companies of 2022

Here are our picks for the top travel insurance companies for U.S. residents:

Unless otherwise noted, quotes listed in the cost sections were collected directly from each company’s website and are for an eight-day trip in November. The total trip cost was $5,000, and the traveler’s residency was in Montgomery, Ala.

Berkshire Hathaway Travel Protection: Our Pick for Luxury Travelers

• Our rating: 4.5 out of 5
• BBB rating: A+
• Countries covered: 100+
• COVID-19 coverage: Yes

Why We Chose Berkshire Hathaway

Berkshire Hathaway is suitable for senior luxury travelers because it offers a LuxuryCare plan with extended cancellation coverage. This plan covers more reasons for trip cancellation than any other plan from Berkshire Hathaway and those from other insurers as well. This plan offers the cancel for any reason (CFAR) upgrade and covers nearly any medical reason that suddenly comes up in your life that would cause you to cancel your expensive trip.

The LuxuryCare plan provides comprehensive travel insurance coverage with trip interruption and cancellation limits of up to $100,000 per traveler. Multiple coverage options are available, and the company offers policies for adventure enthusiasts and luxury globetrotters. 

Pros and Cons of Berkshire Hathaway

+ 24/7 emergency travel assistance and concierge services
+ Claims paid up to five times faster than other insurers
+ Coverage limits up to $100,000 per person

– Baggage delay coverage starts 12 hours after delay
– Plan does not cover nonmedical evacuation or repatriation of remains

Add-on Options

You can add several options to your LuxuryCare plan within 15 days of your trip deposit.

• Cash advance assistance
• CFAR Upgrade
• Financial default or airline or other transport covered
• Preexisting medical conditions waiver
• Roadside assistance

Cost

According to Berkshire Hathaway’s plan descriptions, the cost for the LuxuryCare plan ranges from 5{0b5b04b8d3ad800b67772b3dcc20e35ebfd293e6e83c1a657928cfb52b561f97} to 10{0b5b04b8d3ad800b67772b3dcc20e35ebfd293e6e83c1a657928cfb52b561f97} of your total trip cost.

Nationwide Travel Insurance: Our Pick for Cruise Insurance

• Our rating: 4.3 out of 5
• BBB rating: A+
• Countries covered: 100+
• COVID-19 coverage: Yes, limited 

Why We Chose Nationwide Travel Insurance

Nationwide is known for insurance in the United States, but many people don’t know that they offer affordable travel insurance, specifically for cruises. 

Nationwide offers three different cruise insurance plans: Universal, Choice and Luxury. Its cruise insurance policies include coverage for features unique to cruise vacations, such as mechanical problems with the ship, prepaid excursions missed because of the travel carrier, and shipboard service disruptions for services you’ve already paid for.

The primary differences between Nationwide’s three cruise travel plans involve varying medical and travel expense coverage levels. The costs of medical evacuation coverage, as well as illness-and-accident coverage, are lower than many of the other travel insurance options out there. However, they still go up to $1 million for medevac and $150,000 each in coverage for both accidents and sickness.

Pros and Cons of Nationwide Travel Insurance

+ Affordable plans for seasoned and new cruise-goers
+ Three tiers of cruise plan coverage available
+ Trip interruption coverage available up to 200{0b5b04b8d3ad800b67772b3dcc20e35ebfd293e6e83c1a657928cfb52b561f97} of the trip cost

– Baggage delay coverage not available until after a 12-hour delay
– Higher pricing on some cruise plans for senior citizens

Add-on Options

Some add-ons are available on specific plans but not others.

• Accidental death and dismemberment coverage is available on all plans 
• Essential and Prime plans have rental car coverage options
• Prime plan has a CFAR insurance option. This coverage is also available on the Cruise Choice and Luxury plans

Cost

A 67-year-old traveler insuring a $5,000 cruise can expect to pay between $406 and $498 for coverage, depending on their inclusions and plan tier. A 74-year-old traveler can expect to pay between $510 and $698 for the same coverage.

Generali Global Assistance: Our Pick for Emergency Assistance

• Our rating: 4.2 out of 5
• BBB rating: A+
• Countries covered: 100+
• COVID-19 coverage: Yes

Why We Chose Generali Global Assistance

Generali Global Assistance is our favorite travel insurance company for emergency assistance. Their team can help connect you with medical services, translation, helping you with replacing medication, emergency cash transfers and even finding replacement eyeglasses at any hour. 

Each of its plans offers significant per-person emergency medical evacuation and care. Emergency medical assistance coverage starts at $50,000 and goes up to $250,000 on Generali’s Premium plan. Medical evacuation ranges from $250,000 to $1 million per person. This is an excellent travel insurance option if you’re headed somewhere you think medical coverage is likely to be needed or if you need peace of mind before your domestic or international trip. Remember that only the Premium plan includes the preexisting condition waiver; Standard and Preferred Plans do not. 

Generali’s 24/7 customer assistance is also ideal for seniors traveling internationally, as Generali is one of the best travel insurance companies regarding customer service responsiveness and specialization. 

Pros and Cons of Generali Global Assistance

+ 24/7 travel assistance hotline and emergency assistance
+ Higher-than-average medical coverage
+ Premium plan includes $2,000 per person baggage loss coverage

– Must purchase CFAR add-on within 24 hours of purchasing initial policy
– No preexisting condition waiver on two out of three plans

Add-on Options

Generali’s Premium plan has fewer add-on options than other insurance providers, but you can add:

• $25,000 rental car accident insurance (included with Premium but an add-on to Standard and Preferred plans
• CFAR Insurance (available on Premium only)

Cost

A 67-year-old traveler spending a week in Japan with a total trip cost of $5,000 can expect to pay around $360.37 for Premium level coverage. A 75-year-old traveler can expect to pay $518 for the same international travel coverage.

AXA Assistance USA: Our Pick for Leisure Travelers

• Our rating: 4.2 out of 5
• BBB rating: A-
• Countries covered: 100+
• COVID-19 coverage: Yes, limited

Why We Chose AXA Assistance USA

As we get older, we can’t afford to take chances on our health, so AXA’s Platinum Plan is excellent for the seasoned traveler searching for leisure coverage and international health insurance. Unlike many travel insurance plans, AXA’s Platinum Plan covers up to $1 million in emergency medical evacuation and repatriation expenses. It also includes $250,000 in coverage for emergency medical expenses arising from an illness or accidental injury abroad. 

The Platinum Plan includes coverage for trip interruption, which is all-inclusive of special events like concert tickets, tee times and unused sporting appointments. It also offers trip cancellation protection (whether you cancel, your travel partner cancels, or your flight is canceled) with full reimbursement with the Platinum Plan. Finally, AXA has a CFAR add-on reimbursement for up to 75{0b5b04b8d3ad800b67772b3dcc20e35ebfd293e6e83c1a657928cfb52b561f97} of your trip cost, which extends coverage to a wider range of circumstances. 

Pros and Cons of AXA Assistance USA

+ CFAR upgrade available
+ Lost baggage coverage of $3,000 per person
+ Trip interruption reimbursement of 150{0b5b04b8d3ad800b67772b3dcc20e35ebfd293e6e83c1a657928cfb52b561f97} of the trip cost

– Delays and baggage coverage starts after 12 hours of delay
– Travel medical insurance doesn’t cover dental accidents

Add-on Options

AXA offers plans that give you a 100{0b5b04b8d3ad800b67772b3dcc20e35ebfd293e6e83c1a657928cfb52b561f97} refund on your trip if it’s interrupted or canceled due to COVID-19. If you get COVID before your departure date, you can also get a full refund on your trip if that is included in your plan’s coverage. They also offer the following add-on coverage on any travel insurance policy. 

• Cancel for any reason (CFAR) coverage up to 75{0b5b04b8d3ad800b67772b3dcc20e35ebfd293e6e83c1a657928cfb52b561f97}
• Collision waiver on rental car coverage (up to $50,000)

Cost

A 67-year-old traveler spending a week in Japan with a total trip cost of $5,000 can expect to pay around $506 for Platinum-level coverage. A 75-year-old traveler can expect to pay $627 for the same international travel coverage.

Seven Corners Travel Insurance: Our Pick for International Travelers

• Our rating: 3.8 out of 5
• BBB rating: A+
• Countries covered: 100+
• COVID-19 coverage: Yes

Why We Chose Seven Corners Travel Insurance

Seven Corners’ Wander Frequent Traveler Plus plan is like no other for those — aged 14 days to 74 years — who frequently travel the United States and internationally. This travel insurance covers you for an entire year, which can be ideal for seniors exploring the globe without a strict schedule. 

The COVID-19 treatment plan included in the Wander plan covers up to $50,000 in COVID-related medical bills for those 65 to 74 years old. You can also easily add coverage for travel within the USA with a single click.

The Wander Frequent Traveler Plus annual plan offers comprehensive emergency medical coverage, with benefits for dental accidents, emergency eye exams, an emergency medical reunion allowance of $200 per day and a million-dollar emergency medical evacuation and repatriation coverage separate from the medical maximum. This plan even includes $10,000 for political evacuation and repatriation coverage.

Pros and Cons of Seven Corners Travel Insurance

+ 24/7 travel assistance services
+ Affordable long-term Wander Frequent Traveler Plus plan
+ Wander plan covers acute onset of preexisting conditions

– You must be under age 75 to purchase the Wander plan
– You must maintain continuous medical insurance within the United States

Add-on Options

You can add to this already comprehensive annual insurance plan with extra coverages such as the following:

• CFAR insurance (available for shorter plans)
• Event ticket registration fee protection 
• Hazardous sports and activities coverage
• Interrupted for any reason (IFAR) coverage
• Rental car collision waiver ($35,000 maximum)
• Sports and golf equipment rental coverage

Cost

The Wander Frequent Traveler Plus plan is an annual package for multi-trip coverage. A 64-year-old and 74-year-old traveler can expect to pay around $400 annually for coverage under this plan. However, coverage is nonrenewable past age 75.

HTH Travel Insurance: Our Pick for Group Travel

• Our rating: 3.5 out of 5
• BBB rating: A+
• Countries covered: 190
• COVID-19 coverage: Yes, limited

Why We Chose HTH Travel Insurance

HTH Travel Insurance is our top company for group travel options. As long as you’re traveling as a group of five people or more, you qualify for group travel insurance rates up to 10{0b5b04b8d3ad800b67772b3dcc20e35ebfd293e6e83c1a657928cfb52b561f97} lower than other travel insurance plans. 

Group travel insurance plans are a great idea because the more people you have, the more variables you add to your trip and things that could go wrong before or during it. You can also protect your policy with up to 200{0b5b04b8d3ad800b67772b3dcc20e35ebfd293e6e83c1a657928cfb52b561f97} of the cost in the event of trip interruption, which can be ideal for groups leaving together. 

With HTH’s group plan, medical limit choices range from $50,000 to $1 million per person. It also covers 100{0b5b04b8d3ad800b67772b3dcc20e35ebfd293e6e83c1a657928cfb52b561f97} of the cost of prescription drugs you may need on your trip and $500 of dental coverage per person. These benefits all require the individuals in your party to have U.S. health insurance. The plan is still available if you don’t have primary health insurance; the benefits are just much lower coverage amounts.

Pros and Cons of HTH Travel Insurance

+ 24/7 travel assistance services
+ $500,000 medevac coverage
+ Mental health is covered like any other medical condition under the policy

– Baggage delay coverage starts after 12 hours of delay
– Requires that you maintain health insurance coverage in the United States

Add-on Options

If you feel the need, you can add these to your group insurance plan:

• Cancel for any reason insurance (within 10 days of your first trip deposit)
• Rental car damage coverage (not available in Oregon, New York, or Texas)

Cost

When we requested a quote for a group of five individuals between the ages of 65 and 69, we were quoted a group rate of $324. For a group of five individuals between the ages of 70 and 74, we were quoted a group rate of $1,132.40.

International Medical Group: Our Pick for Medical Coverage

• Our rating: 3.3 out of 5
• BBB rating: B
• Countries covered: 190+
• COVID-19 coverage: Yes, limited

Why We Chose IMG

International Medical Group (IMG) is our choice for international travelers because of its wide-reaching range across the globe and its experience providing international health and travel medical insurance. IMG’s travel insurance protects you in nearly 200 countries, so wherever you are, it can assist you whether you have lost baggage, rental car damage, a medical emergency, an accident that requires dental care and much more. They can even help you find legal or translation assistance.

Their GlobeHopper plan is specifically designed for seniors enrolled in Medicare and provides medical care during travel outside of the United States, designed to complement government coverage. 

IMG’s iTravelInsured SE plan is the company’s most popular plan for international travel, and it covers trip cancellation for dozens of reasons. Some examples of unique cancellation inclusions you’ll find range from a divorce or separation to any number of interruptions caused by the travel carrier. This IMG plan also covers up to $250,000 (including $1,000 of dental) of health care costs you incur overseas.

Pros and Cons of IMG

+ 24/7 emergency travel assistance
+ Fast quoting process
+ Up to $8 million in coverage for medical costs 

– Baggage delay coverage ($250) doesn’t kick in until 12 hours after delay
– Higher plan costs 

Add-on Options

Rental car damage and theft coverage is included with many of IMG’s plans. You can add the following optional coverages to IMG’s travel insurance options: 

• Pet kennel ($100 per day, max $300 per pet)
• Preexisting condition review

IMG’s medical insurance policies include some exclusions limiting when you can use your coverage. You can purchase a waiver that extends coverage to medical issues resulting from the following:

• Adventure sports
• Terrorism

Cost

Depending on your plan and its coverage, IMG travel insurance usually costs between 4{0b5b04b8d3ad800b67772b3dcc20e35ebfd293e6e83c1a657928cfb52b561f97} to 10{0b5b04b8d3ad800b67772b3dcc20e35ebfd293e6e83c1a657928cfb52b561f97} of your total trip cost.

Compare Prices for Senior Travel Insurance Policies

We collected quotes from each company’s website in October 2022 for a 67-year-old single male traveler insuring a $1,500 trip to Costa Rica. The traveler’s residence was listed as Alabama, and the initial payment date was Sept. 15, 2022.

Senior Citizen Travel Insurance Guide

The best travel insurance for seniors complements coverage they may have from other sources. For example, Medicare provides inpatient and ambulatory coverage for health issues requiring immediate medical attention abroad at local facilities. However, you still must pay the remaining percentage per Original Medicare, which is how a travel insurance policy with medical condition coverage can come in handy.

Tips for Selecting Travel Insurance for Seniors

You’ll want to consider additional factors when selecting a travel insurance policy, including the following.

• Complementing coverage on credit cards: If you have a credit card, you might already have benefits for rental car coverage. Contact your credit card provider and ask if you have any level of collision or liability insurance included with your card before you buy coverage from a travel insurance company.
• Check your homeowner’s insurance: Similarly, your homeowners insurance or renters insurance policy might provide you with protection against theft. In many cases, these protections apply even when your items are lost or stolen abroad. Review your homeowner or renter’s insurance policy before purchasing gear theft protection. Be sure to read the fine print and ensure your destination qualifies for coverage — if your location of choice is excluded, a travel insurance plan can help fill in the gaps.
• Consider policy limitations: Every travel insurance policy includes limitations on when travel delay benefits kick in. Look for a policy that provides you with accommodations within a reasonable time frame. In addition to trip delay limitations, review limitations on medical coverage related to any preexisting condition exclusion clause included. 

What Else Do Seniors Need to Know About Travel Insurance

The following are some things to consider if you’re a senior considering purchasing traveling insurance. 

• COVID-19 is usually treated as a typical illness: Under most travel insurance policies, COVID-19 is treated the same as any other illness covered under the policy. If you contract COVID-19 on or before your trip, you may be entitled to a reimbursement. However, fear of a new COVID strain does not qualify you for reimbursement under standard travel insurance policies. As a senior, you may want to protect your trip with CFAR coverage if your destination may be at a higher risk of COVID-related complications. 
• Preexisting conditions are often excluded: Senior citizens usually have more health concerns than younger travelers, which is partly why travel insurance costs more as you age. You may be required to provide your travel insurance provider with a list of preexisting conditions before you are approved for coverage. Compare plan options with your health insurance coverage to find the policy that provides you with the best complementary benefits.

The Bottom Line: Senior Travel Insurance

While you may not need to use travel insurance, it can safeguard the significant investment that is international travel. Unfortunately, insurance for seniors is often more expensive because older individuals may be at an increased risk of filing a medical claim abroad. One easy way to increase the odds of finding affordable coverage is to get as many quotes as possible before you choose where to buy your coverage. We recommend starting early and requesting a quote from each recommended provider. 

More Travel Insurance Resources

Methodology: Our System for Ranking the Best Travel Insurance Companies

Our team surveyed dozens of travel insurance providers and created a scoring system to judge each company’s quality and service. We reached out for sample quotes, both over the phone and on the internet, to simulate an authentic customer experience. Here are the factors that account for our provider reviews:

• Plan availability (20{0b5b04b8d3ad800b67772b3dcc20e35ebfd293e6e83c1a657928cfb52b561f97}): We looked for insurers with a variety of plans and the ability to customize the policy with upgrades.
• Coverage (40{0b5b04b8d3ad800b67772b3dcc20e35ebfd293e6e83c1a657928cfb52b561f97}): Among the benefits scored were medical expenses, medical and nonmedical evacuation, COVID-19 coverage, preexisting condition exclusion waivers, “cancel for any reason” coverage, trip interruption, travel delay time requirements, baggage delay time requirements, baggage reimbursement and financial default of a travel supplier. Special consideration was given to companies offering unique add-ons, such as extreme sports coverage, coverage for business equipment and pet coverage.
• Customer service and support (30{0b5b04b8d3ad800b67772b3dcc20e35ebfd293e6e83c1a657928cfb52b561f97}): We looked for indicators that a company is well-prepared to respond to customer needs. Companies with an established global resource network, a 24/7 emergency hotline, robust mobile apps and perks like concierge and translation services scored higher.
• Reputation (10{0b5b04b8d3ad800b67772b3dcc20e35ebfd293e6e83c1a657928cfb52b561f97}): We gauged reputation by evaluating consumer reviews, third-party financial strength and customer experience ratings, specifically from AM Best and the Better Business Bureau.