Best travel insurance for seniors in 2026

For some older people, seeing the world is a priority.

Eighty-six percent of Americans aged 50 and older said that travel was one of their three top priorities with their discretionary income this year, according to AARP. Additionally, respondents between the ages of 60 and 69 expected to spend an average of $7,844 traveling this year.

For expenses that large, coverage can be a lifeline if something goes wrong. Travel insurance can step in to help with flight problems, itinerary issues and even unexpectedly needing to cancel. Additionally, international travelers can purchase medical coverage that can help with unexpected injuries or illnesses — especially helpful since neither private health insurance or Medicare works outside the U.S.

A comprehensive travel insurance plan can help with all of these issues and more. Here are our best travel insurance companies for older Americans. (See our methodology for more information on how we made our picks.)

Who's this for? If you're worried about incurring large medical bills abroad due to an unexpected accident or illness, Travel Insured International's Worldwide Trip Protector Deluxe plan can cover up to $250,000 per trip. The more premium Platinum plan bumps that up to $500,000, higher than nearly any company we've reviewed.

Standout benefits: These policies include primary coverage, so you can submit for reimbursement without having to prove that you tried to file a claim with your primary health insurance first. A waiver for pre-existing health conditions is available within 21 days of booking.

Travel Insured International Worldwide Trip Protector Essential plan

• Trip cancellation/interruption: Covered up to 100%
• Trip delay: Up to $100 per day after a delay of 12 hours, with a $500 limit
• Baggage: $200 per person for bags delayed over 12 hours, $250 per item for lost bags ($750 limit)
• Medical coverage: $50,000 in primary medical coverage and $200,000 for evacuation or repatriation
• Age limit: None

Who's this for? Travelex includes a waiver for pre-existing conditions if you purchase a policy within 21 days of your first trip deposit. Many other insurers offer this if you buy coverage within 14 days of making an initial trip deposit, so Travelex's window is quite generous.

Standout benefits: Each adult policy includes free coverage for a companion under age 17. The cancel for any reason (CFAR) add-on covers 75% of nonrefundable trip costs, higher than some competitors, which offer 50%.

Travelex Ultimate plan

• Trip cancellation/interruption: Covered up to 100% ($50,000 maximum)
• Trip delay: Up to $250 per day with a $2,000 limit
• Baggage: $500 for delayed bags, $500 per item for lost bags ($2,000 limit)
• Medical coverage: $250,000 in primary medical coverage and $1,000,000 for evacuation or repatriation
• Age limit: None

Who's this for? Unlike some other insurers, GoReady by Aegis doesn't have an age limit for coverage. Plus, its waiver for pre-existing conditions is an optional add-on, so you don't have to pay for it if you don't need it.

Standout benefits: Aegis's GoReady Choice plan allows you to bump medical coverage from $50,000 to $500,000 per person.

GoReady Choice plan

• Trip cancellation/interruption: 100% for cancellations (up to $50,000), 150% for interruptions (up to $50,000)
• Trip delay: Up to $200 per day after a delay of six hours ($2,000 limit)
• Baggage: $200 per day for baggage delayed more than 12 hours, $500 for lost bags
• Medical coverage: $50,000 in secondary medical coverage, $250,000 for evacuation or repatriation
• Age limit: None

Who's this for? Underwritten by the United States Fire Insurance Company, Seven Corners' cruise insurance includes up to $250 a day for missed connections, up to $5,000 for an itinerary change and $250 each time your ship is disabled or doesn't stop at a scheduled port of call.

Standout benefits: Seven Corners covers pre-existing conditions if you purchase a plan within 20 days of your first trip deposit. Other options include CFAR and interruption for any reason (IFAR), as well as protection for rental cars, sports equipment and event tickets.

Seven Corners Trip Protection Elite plan

• Trip cancellation/interruption: 100% for cancellation (up to $30,000) and 150% for interruptions
• Trip delay: Up to $1,500 per day after a delay of six hours
• Baggage: $600 for bags delayed more than 12 hours, $2,500 for lost bags
• Medical coverage: Up to $10,000 in secondary medical coverage and $100,000 in evacuation coverage
• Age limit: 99 years old

Who's this for? While some insurers still require you to fill out lengthy forms, you can file a claim right in the app with Faye. Then, instead of mailing you a check or depositing funds into your bank account, Faye can send the funds directly to your phone's digital wallet on Apple Pay or Google Pay, typically within 48 hours.

Standout benefits: Faye has just one plan, but add-ons include coverage for adventure activities, CFAR and rental cars.

Faye single-trip plan

• Trip cancellation/interruption: Up to 100% for cancellation and 150% for interruptions
• Trip delay: Up to $300 per day after a delay of six hours ($2,100 maximum).
• Baggage: $2,000 per trip for lost baggage
• Medical coverage: Up to $250,000 in primary medical coverage and $500,000 for evacuation
• Age limit: None

Who's this for? Allianz's OneTrip Prime plan includes free coverage for a child aged 17 or younger with each insured adult.

Standout benefits: The CFAR upgrade on OneTrip Prime and Premier plans covers up to 80% of non-refundable trip costs, more than many competitors. OneTrip Prime also covers trip cancellation and interruptions due to job-related emergencies. 

Allianz Travel Insurance OneTrip Prime

• Trip cancellation/interruption: Up to $100,000 for trip cancellation and $150,000 for interruption
• Trip delay: Up to $200 per day after a delay of five hours, with a $800 limit
• Baggage: $300 for baggage delayed over 12 hours, $1,000 limit for lost bags
• Medical coverage: Up to $50,000 in primary medical coverage, $500,000 for evacuation or repatriation
• Age limit: 75 and under for the basic plan. Comprehensive plans have no age cap.

Who's this for? Squaremouth allows you to compare policies from dozens of top insurers, including Seven Corners, Travelex, Berkshire Hathaway, and its own Tin Leg brand.

Standout benefits: Squaremouth's zero complaint policy means it will help you appeal if you feel your claim was unfairly settled or rejected. If an agreement isn't reached, Squaremouth will remove that insurer from its site.

Tin Leg Gold plan

• Trip cancellation/interruption: 100% for cancellation (to $3,000), 150% for interruption (to $4,500)
• Trip delay: Up to $500 per person, per trip, after a six-hour delay ($150 daily limit)
• Baggage: $200 per person after a 24-hour delay, $500 for lost bags ($100 per item)
• Medical coverage: $500,000 in primary medical coverage, $500,000 for evacuation or repatriation
• Age limit: May vary

A standard travel insurance policy costs between 4% and 10% of your total nonrefundable trip costs. CNBC Select gathered quotes from our top picks for a 65-year-old going on a one-week, $3,000 excursion to the United Kingdom. The policy quoted had 100% trip cancellation coverage, $50,000 of emergency medical coverage and up to $250,000 for medical evacuation coverage, or as close as possible, depending on plans. The average rate among the providers listed here was $174, or about 5.8% of trip costs.

However, prices varied widely. Here's what each company quoted:

Travel insurance is valuable as we get older and face unexpected health issues. A good policy can cover expenses if you're unwell before departure and need to cancel, or if you're injured or become ill while traveling.

Whether you have private insurance or Medicare, your U.S. health care plan likely isn't valid abroad. Your travel insurance policy's medical coverage should cover doctor's visits, hospital stays, prescriptions and more.

If you need to be flown somewhere for treatment or get back home, a good policy will also cover the cost of medical evacuation.

Any good travel insurance policy should have robust coverage for trip cancellation and interruption, along with policies for lost or delayed luggage. Older travelers should also consider plans with high coverage limits for:

Travel medical coverage: Medicare and other health insurance plans are usually not valid outside the U.S. These policies pay for unexpected medical expenses, like prescriptions, doctor's bills and hospitalization. A good policy should provide at least $100,000 worth of medical coverage.

Evacuation/repatriation: You may need to cut your vacation short because of an injury or health condition. Look for plans with at least $250,000 in medical evacuation coverage.

Other things to look for include:

Waiver for pre-existing conditions: If you have a chronic illness or are still recovering from an injury, make sure you choose a provider that covers pre-existing conditions and understand the requirements.

Cancel For Any Reason policies: A CFAR policy allows you to cancel for any reason not covered by standard travel insurance. Most options limit how close to your departure date you can cancel (usually no less than 48 hours) and you'll only get between 50% and 75% of your total outlay back. But it can be a worthwhile addition if your situation is unpredictable.

High age limits: Many travel insurance companies have age limits for coverage, some as low as 65. Make sure you qualify for the providers you're considering.

24/7 customer support: Your travel insurance provider should be available to help you navigate an emergency at any time of day. Some companies will even help you find first-rate medical help in the area.

Some companies do impose an age limit on travel insurance policies, limiting coverage to travelers under 79. Others restrict certain high-risk or physically demanding activities.

But not all companies have an age limit, so travelers of any age should be able to find a policy. However, rates do go up with age. The older you are, the more important it is to shop around and compare quotes from several insurers to find the best deal.

At CNBC Select, our mission is to provide our readers with high-quality service journalism and comprehensive consumer advice so they can make informed decisions with their money. Every travel insurance review is based on rigorous reporting by our team of expert writers and editors with extensive knowledge of travel insurance products. While CNBC Select earns a commission from affiliate partners on many offers and links, we create all our content without input from our commercial team or any outside third parties, and we pride ourselves on our journalistic standards and ethics.

To determine the best travel insurance companies for older people, CNBC Select analyzed leading travel insurers based on the types of policies available, reimbursement levels, coverage limits and customer reviews from the Better Business Bureau. We gathered price data for a 65-year-old taking a one-week, $3,000 trip to the United Kingdom. The policy quoted had 100% trip cancellation coverage, $50,000 of emergency medical coverage and up to $250,000 for medical evacuation coverage, or coverage as close to these limits as possible.

We considered whether providers had age restrictions, and prioritized those that didn't have restrictions or had limits above age 80. We also considered pre-existing condition waivers, prioritizing companies that offered the most generous time frames for waivers. We also looked at reimbursement limits for Cancel For Any Reason policies, giving priority to those with reimbursement limits of 75% or higher.

We also considered CNBC Select audience data when available, such as general demographics and engagement with our content and tools.

Based on these criteria, our picks for the best travel insurance for older people are:

Best for medical coverage: Travel Insured International
Best for pre-existing conditions: Travelex
Best for travelers over 70: GoReady by Aegis
Best for cruises: Seven Corners
Best for easy online claims filing: Faye
Best for traveling with children: Allianz Travel
Best travel insurance marketplace: Squaremouth

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