When our elderly parents want to go travelling, it’s important that they’re protected. Not only is there a chance the trip could get cancelled, but there is always a risk of accidents whilst abroad. Getting travel insurance for your elderly parents will protect their finances, and offer additional peace of mind, should anything happen before or during their holiday.
What Does Travel Insurance Cover?
The exact coverage provided by travel insurance for your elderly parents will depend on the policy they take out. Most travel insurance policies will reimburse your loved ones if their holiday gets cancelled due to events outside of their control, such as restrictions due to disease or conflict. Due to their older age, your elderly parents should ensure they are also receiving medical cover. This will prevent them from having to pay out for medical treatment in other countries.
Did you know that a broken leg in Spain – and flights back home – could cost in excess of £15,000? Moreover, getting ill in the USA could result in bills of £100,000 or more!
If your elderly parents are planning to get involved in any strenuous activities, they may require additional cover. Certain health conditions can also impact the cost.
Coverage for Elderly Travellers
When considering travel insurance for your elderly parents, it’s important to know what coverage they will need. For example, what health problems do they have? Are they likely to need extra medical attention whilst abroad? Where are they going?
It is also important to think about what type of holiday they are going on. Different cover is provided depending on whether they are going on a cruise or not. In some cases, cover for a cruise can be cheaper than single-trip cover.
Most travel insurance policies include cover for lost or stolen bags, emergency medical expenses, costs relating to cancelling, delaying, or cutting your loved one’s trip short, disruptions to travel or accommodation, and legal costs if your loved ones are accused of damaging property.
What Isn’t Covered?
If you are looking to arrange travel insurance for your elderly parents, it is crucial that you look at what isn’t covered. Some policies will refuse to cover certain things, whilst others will charge extra. Things to keep in mind include:
- Over-65s with existing health conditions – Insurers must be informed of any health conditions your elderly parents have. Depending on the condition, they may be required to take out specialist insurance. This especially applies if they have been diagnosed with a terminal illness.
- Adventure sports, winter sports, and potentially dangerous activities – If your elderly parents are particularly adventurous, they may be planning to indulge in some high-adrenaline activities. If this is the case, they will be required to pay for extra cover.
- Destinations – Most policies will refuse to cover your loved ones if they are planning to visit countries or regions the Foreign and Commonwealth Office recommends avoiding.
- Expensive property – High value items such as designer watches, jewellery, laptops, and cameras are usually excluded from travel insurance coverage.
- Civil unrest or natural disasters – Many policies do not offer cover if the trip is affected by civil unrest, natural disasters, pandemics, or terrorism.
When looking for travel insurance for your elderly parents, you should also look for a provider covered by ATOL. This is a protection scheme that provides additional coverage if an airline or holiday booking agency goes out of business.
Coronavirus Cover
Travel has undergone a drastic change since the coronavirus pandemic began. There is now a possibility of holidays being cancelled due to restrictions or self-isolation. Not all insurance policies provide coverage for coronavirus-related problems. You want to ensure that your parents will have their costs covered if coronavirus means they require alternative flights or accommodation.
Comparing Travel Insurance for Elderly Parents
The best way to get a good deal on travel insurance for your elderly parents is to shop around online. This is especially important as you will want to give them as much protection as possible at the best price. We all want to make savings where we can.
Different travel insurance companies offer different protections. Some will cover luggage lost during transit but not property stolen whilst on holiday. Others will refuse to insure your loved ones if they have serious health conditions, such as heart disease.
One option for finding a good deal is to use a price comparison website. Most sites allow you to filter policies according to what coverage your elderly parents require. However, it is worth noting that not all travel insurance providers appear on price comparison websites.
The other alternative is to do the legwork yourself. This could involve trawling through countless websites in search of the right deal. Fortunately, MoneyHelper have a travel insurance directory that can point you in the right direction.
When to Arrange Travel Insurance
In most cases, you should arrange travel insurance as soon as possible after booking a holiday. Doing so will provide the best coverage should a trip be unexpectedly cancelled. Purchasing immediate travel insurance is especially prudent if your elderly parents have paid for anything in advance, such as flights and accommodation.
If your loved ones don’t arrange travel insurance immediately, there is still plenty of time. As long as the travel insurance policy is taken out before the date of departure, they will still be covered by it. However, if a trip is cancelled before the policy is taken out, that money will be lost.
How to Arrange Travel Insurance for Elderly Parents
If your elderly parents don’t feel confident arranging their travel insurance, or if their holiday is a surprise treat from you, you can arrange it for them. You do not have to be travelling with them to arrange travel insurance on their behalf.
To purchase travel insurance for your elderly parents, you will need all the information regarding their trip. You will also need their names, dates of birth, and address(es). The exact information required may vary depending on the policy you are taking out and the company you are purchasing it from.
Always make sure you are getting the best deal. If possible, discuss with your elderly parents what coverage they want during the trip. By arranging travel insurance for your elderly parents, you will be giving them – and yourself – peace of mind whilst they’re away.
Peace of Mind at Home from Careline365
It is not only when travelling that we want to make sure our elderly parents are safe. Sometimes we need extra reassurance even when our loved ones are in the comfort of their own homes.
Careline alarms provide peace of mind by ensuring your loved ones can always call for help in an emergency. If they have a fall or feel severely unwell, a simple press of a button alerts our 24/7 Care Team.
Our team then informs your loved one’s emergency contacts and, where necessary, the emergency services. This allows help to get to them fast, especially if they are stuck on the floor.
For added reassurance, your loved one can opt for a fall detector or GPS alarm plan.
To find out more about our personal alarm service, you can check out our in-depth guide. If you have any questions, get in touch with our helpful customer service team on 0800 101 3333 or use our simple contact form. Finally, be sure to look through our blog for more informative articles.
Editor’s Note: This article was updated on 1st July 2022 to reflect current information.
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Good morning,
I am contacting to get some information regarding some insurance for a trip to the Scilly Isles. My husband and I live in Australia but are visiting the UK and taking his parents for a week to St Martin. We would like a quote for travel insurance to cover cancellation and the 4 of us. Our ages are: 53, 55, 81 and 87. There are no significant pre-existing conditions other than the 81 year old being on Blood Pressure tablets and the 87 year old suffers from eczema.
We travel by helicopter from Penzance to Tresco on 8th July and return 15th July 2022.
Hello Beth,
Thank you for your comment. Unfortunately we are not a provider of travel insurance and so cannot provide you with a quote. We would recommend you use the travel insurance directory linked in the article to find a provider who can help.
We hope this has proved useful.
Best wishes,
Careline365