Travel Insurance for Over 85s
Finding Travel Insurance after 85 can take specialist support. Tell us about your trip and medical history to compare suitable policies from insurers with no upper age limit, including options for hundreds of pre-existing conditions, cruises, city breaks and beach holidays.
- Compare quotes from a panel of specialist insurers
- No upper age limit on many policies (terms apply)
- Cover for hundreds of pre-existing medical conditions
- Cancellation and emergency medical cover included (limits apply)
Can You Get Travel Insurance After 85?
Cover is available after 85 through selected insurers, including policies with no upper age limit. Tell us about your holiday and any pre-existing medical conditions, and we’ll compare the options available for your age, destination and trip length.
The cover available can vary between insurers, particularly when it comes to maximum trip length. If you’re planning one holiday, Single Trip Travel Insurance can be a good place to start, with cover based on your chosen dates and destination.
Your Age Can Affect the Cover Available
Some insurers use different age bands, which can affect the policies and maximum trip lengths available. If you have a birthday before or during your holiday, this may change the cover available for your trip. When you get a quote, we’ll use your date of birth alongside your travel dates to show you the options available.
What Type of Holiday Can Be Covered After 85?
A UK break
Domestic Travel Insurance can cover cancellation, cutting the trip short and baggage for eligible UK holidays. Check any minimum accommodation or distance requirements in the policy.
A cruise
Cruise Travel Insurance can include extra benefits for cabin confinement, missed port departure and itinerary changes. Enter every country on your itinerary when getting a quote, and check the maximum trip length and any insurance requirements set by your cruise line.
A golf holiday
If you’re planning a golf holiday, amateur golf is covered as standard on some policies, while others offer additional Golf Cover for an extra premium. Depending on the policy, this can include cover for golf equipment, replacement equipment hire and unused green fees.
Several shorter holidays
Annual multi-trip Travel Insurance may be available through selected policies. Compare it with separate Single Trip cover and check the maximum length of each holiday before buying.
Your Destination Matters Too
Where you’re travelling can affect both the price and the policies available, particularly for destinations where medical treatment can be expensive, such as the USA, Canada and the Caribbean. Enter every country you’re visiting when getting a quote so we can show you the options available for your full itinerary.
Over 85 Travel Insurance With Medical Conditions
Having one or more pre-existing medical conditions doesn’t necessarily stop you getting Travel Insurance over 85. We can help cover hundreds of medical conditions, including if you have several conditions to tell us about. Complete medical screening when getting a quote and we’ll show you the policies available based on your health and travel plans.
You may be asked about medication, treatment, surgery, recent hospital stays or changes to your health. Having these details to hand can make the process easier, and a family member can help you complete the quote if needed. Call us and we can guide you through the process.
Conditions We Commonly Help With
Heart and circulatory conditions
including atrial fibrillation, heart attack, pacemakers, stroke and TIA. Visit our Heart Conditions Travel Insurance page.
Cancer
Whether you’re living with cancer or have previously received treatment, we’ll help you compare suitable policies once your condition has been declared. Read our Cancer Travel Insurance guide.
Type 1 & Type 2 Diabetes
Including diabetes managed with insulin or tablets. Find out more about Travel Insurance for Diabetes.
Arthritis and joint conditions
Whether you have osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis or another joint condition, it’s important to declare it when arranging your Travel Insurance. Find out more about Travel Insurance for Joint & Bone Conditions.
Medication, Mobility Aids and Medical Equipment
Tell us about the condition connected to any regular medicine. Check the baggage or specialist limits for walking aids, hearing aids and other medical equipment, including the single-item limit. The NHS guidance on taking medicines abroad explains how to prepare and what destination rules to check.
Our Expert Says
“When you’re looking for Travel Insurance over 85, pay particular attention to how long you’re planning to be away and where you’re travelling. The cover available can vary by age, destination and trip length, so we’ll use your travel details to find the options available from our panel. If you have medical conditions, make sure you have your health information to hand too, as this will help when completing medical screening.”
Amy Smith
Customer Experience Executive at Just Travel Cover
What Should You Compare When Choosing Cover?
We’ll show you the policies available for your circumstances, but there can still be important differences between them. When comparing your options, look beyond the price and check:
- The maximum trip length, particularly if you’re planning a longer holiday
- Cancellation cover against the non-refundable cost of your holiday per person
- Emergency medical expenses and repatriation limits
- The excess you would need to pay if you make a claim
- Cruise cover, if you’re planning a cruise
- Cover for mobility aids or medical equipment, if you’ll be taking these with you
- Any important exclusions or benefit limits that could affect your plans
Bronze, Silver and Gold options can have different benefits, limits and excesses. Compare what each policy and level of cover actually provides alongside the price to find the cover that best suits your holiday.
What Can Travel Insurance for Over 85s Cover?
Travel insurance over 85 can still provide important protection before and during your holiday. The cover available will depend on your individual circumstances and the insurer, but policies can include:
- Emergency medical expenses and medically necessary repatriation
- Cancellation, if an insured reason means you’re unable to travel
- Cutting your trip short, if you need to return home early for an insured reason
- Baggage, personal money and travel documents
- Missed departure and travel delay
- Personal liability
- 24-hour emergency medical assistance
- A medical condition that should have been declared but was not
- A change in health that should have been reported before travel under the policy terms
- Travelling against medical advice or travelling to receive planned treatment
- An event or problem that was already known before the policy was purchased
- Travelling against FCDO advice where the policy excludes it
- A trip, destination, activity or cruise benefit that is not included in the selected cover
- Costs above the policy limit or below the applicable excess
- Travelling abroad for elective medical procedures.
Check the quotation and policy wording for the exclusions that apply to the selected policy. If anything is unclear, ask us before buying rather than assuming it is covered.
At 85 and over, there can be more variation between insurers in areas such as maximum trip length, destination and the cover available for different medical circumstances. That’s where speaking to us can be particularly useful.
Our UK-based team has access to a wide range of policies from our panel and can talk through your travel plans, medical circumstances and the cover available. If your requirements are more complex, call us on 0800 294 2969 and we’ll help you explore your options.
Before You Travel
- Buy cover after booking so eligible cancellation cover can begin
- Check the latest FCDO travel advice for every destination
- Apply for a free GHIC for eligible European travel, but take Travel Insurance as well
- Keep the policy details and emergency-assistance number accessible
- Carry a current medication list and enough medicine for the trip
- Tell the insurer if your health changes before departure, where the policy requires it
Experience That Matters When You’re Travelling Over 85
Just Travel Cover has been helping people find Travel Insurance since 1999. With more than 25 years’ experience, we understand that finding cover over 85 can involve more to consider, particularly if you have pre-existing medical conditions or are planning a longer trip.
Our friendly team can guide you through medical screening, explain the options available from our panel of insurers and help you compare the differences in cover. We can also help if a family member is supporting you with the quote.
Our service has been recognised at the customer-voted Insurance Choice Awards, where we were named Best Travel Insurance Provider in 2023 and Highly Commended in 2025.
Over 85s Travel Insurance FAQs
Can an 85-year-old get Travel Insurance?
Yes. Selected insurers on our panel offer Travel Insurance for people aged 85 and over, including options with no upper age limit. Tell us about your trip and any pre-existing medical conditions, and we’ll compare the policies available based on your age, destination and trip length.
Is there a cut-off age for Travel Insurance?
Many Travel Insurance policies have an upper age limit, but selected insurers on our panel offer cover with no upper age limit. This means you may be able to get a quote after 85, although it does depend on some other factors. We’ll show you the options available if there are any, from the details you provide.
How long can I travel for after 85?
Maximum trip length varies by insurer and can change depending on age. Some destinations may also have shorter limits or be unavailable, but acceptance criteria is reviewed regularly. Enter the travel dates and destination when getting a quote, and rely on the limit shown for that policy rather than a general website maximum.
How much does Travel Insurance for over 85s cost?
There isn’t one standard price for Travel Insurance over 85, or any age. Two travellers of the same age could pay different amounts depending on their medical history, where they’re going, how long they’re travelling for, the cost of their holiday and the cover they choose.
If you have pre-existing medical conditions, the details provided during medical screening will also help insurers calculate the premium. At Just Travel Cover, we compare the policies available from our panel so you can look at the price alongside important differences such as the excess, cancellation cover and medical limits.
What is the best Travel Insurance for over 85s?
The best Travel Insurance for you will depend on your health, holiday and the level of cover you need. Look at whether the policy covers your full trip and destinations, alongside cancellation and medical limits, repatriation cover, excess and any additional cover you need, such as cruise cover.
At Just Travel Cover, we compare policies from our panel of insurers to help you find suitable cover. Our service was also recognised at the customer-voted Insurance Choice Awards, where we were named Best Travel Insurance Provider in 2023 and Highly Commended in 2025.
Can I get Travel Insurance over 85 with a heart condition?
Selected policies can cover travellers over 85 with heart and circulatory conditions, including a history of heart attack or bypass surgery. Tell us about the condition, treatment, surgery, medication and recent hospital stays.
Can I get Travel Insurance over 85 with diabetes?
Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes can be covered. Medical screening may ask how it is managed, whether insulin is used and whether there have been recent complications or hospital visits.
Why do I need to declare my medical conditions?
As you get older, it’s more likely you’ll be travelling with one or more pre-existing medical conditions. When getting Travel Insurance for over 80s, it’s important to declare all relevant medical conditions, even if they’re well managed or you don’t think they’ll affect your holiday. This allows us to compare policies from our panel of insurers that can provide suitable cover. If a condition isn’t declared, it could affect your ability to make a claim if you need to cancel your trip or require emergency medical treatment while you’re away.
Can I get Travel Insurance over 85 with cancer?
Selected policies can cover cancer during treatment, after treatment or in remission. Tell us the exact diagnosis and current treatment when getting a quote.
Can mental health conditions be covered after 85?
Cover can be available for conditions such as anxiety and depression. Declare the condition during medical screening and check how the policy applies to cancellation and emergency treatment.
Can I get Cruise Travel Insurance after 85?
Yes. Cruise cover is available through selected policies. Check the full itinerary, maximum trip length and the cruise line’s medical-cover requirements. Cruise-specific benefits can include cabin confinement, missed port departure and itinerary changes.
Can a family member help with medical screening?
Yes. A family member can help you gather the information you need and support you when completing your quote. Having details of your medication, treatment, recent appointments and hospital stays to hand can make medical screening easier.
The information provided must accurately reflect the traveller’s health, and there may be circumstances where the traveller needs to provide consent or confirm information themselves.
Should my travelling companion be on the same policy?
You can usually include your partner or travelling companion on the same policy, subject to the insurer’s terms. This can be particularly useful if one person’s health means you both need to cancel your holiday or return home early, where this is covered by the policy.
Each traveller will still need to provide their own details and complete medical screening for any conditions they’re asked to declare.
Does a GHIC replace Travel Insurance after 85?
No. A GHIC is not a replacement for Travel Insurance. A GHIC can give you access to medically necessary state healthcare when visiting certain countries, but it doesn’t provide the wider protection of Travel Insurance.
For example, a GHIC doesn’t cover repatriation to the UK, cancellation, baggage or many other unexpected travel costs. You should arrange appropriate Travel Insurance as well as taking your GHIC where it is valid.
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