“To travel is to live” – Hans Christian Andersen. 

Travel opens our hearts and minds. It is the very essence of living regardless of your age. The wake of the pandemic has affected and changed the traveling norms. Whether you are traveling for the first time or a seasoned traveler in your 60s, or planning a trip for your 60 and above aged parents, buying a good travel medical insurance is a must to note in your travel checklist.

While on a trip, you should not only consider plans that cover medical emergencies but multiple factors that may disrupt your trip or have a huge financial setback.

Coverages to look for in your travel insurance:

• Trip Cancellations – Apart from personal reasons, a trip may be canceled due to weather disturbances and other unforeseen circumstances that can affect travelers financially. The standard coverage for trip cancellations is for unforeseen circumstances such as terrorism or extreme weather conditions such as a Tsunami.

• Cancel for Any Reason – As the name suggests, if you want the flexibility to cancel anytime, look for travel medical insurance with CFAR coverage. Usually sold as an add-on, CFAR allows you to protect your money against non-refundable prepaid travel expenses.

• Missing or Stolen Luggage – Not just clothing, medicines, and other valuable items in your luggage are also covered in your travel insurance plan. While airlines provide coverage for missing or delayed baggage, insurance will give you an additional buffer.

• Medical Emergencies – Medical emergencies may arise anytime, anywhere as seniors are more prone to medical emergencies than younger travelers. A travel insurance plan must provide medical coverage covering potential transportation costs when abroad.

• Pre-existing Medical Conditions – If you are 60 years old and above, it is crucial that your insurance policy covers pre-existing medical conditions. Not many insurance policies provide coverage for pre-existing medical conditions, but some provide coverage for an acute onset of pre-existing conditions.

There is no one size fits for travel medical insurance. While these are standard coverages to look for, several insurance policies offer customized coverages, such as medical evacuation if the person insured needs immediate evacuation and travel assistance for older parents that allow you to seek assistance through call-in obtaining medical advice in their native languages.

Know Your Travel Insurance Policies in the US

Certain policies offer a free look period to either cancel or apply for a refund if you give up a policy. General rule of thumb is to read the fine print to thoroughly understand the policy and evaluate what suits yor needs the best.

Specific travel policies make it mandatory to purchase a travel coverage plan before your travel start date. On the other hand, there are travel medical policies that you may still purchase when you have already reached the U.S. Keep in mind that in either cases, your effective date will be used for any claims and coverages.

 To help you make a suitable choice, here are a few points to note in your policy:

• Exceptions: Know all the expenses that are covered under your insurance policy. It is highly recommended to know the exceptions listed in the policy plans and learn about all additional hidden costs.

• Exclusions: Certain conditions or situations with restricted coverage include self-inflicted injuries, trauma caused by extreme sports like bungee jumping, or losses incurred due to intoxication or criminal activity.

• Documentation: It is vital to keep all documents/ bills recorded to submit when filing a claim for travel medical insurance. To support and fill out all paperwork thoroughly and accurately. Failure to do so may delay or cancel coverage.

Types of Travel Insurance Coverage Offered to Seniors Above 60 Years of Age

Travel Insurance policy’s terms and conditions vary from insurance company to company regarding the law, policies, premiums, and coverages. There are two broad categories of travel medical insurance in the USA: Fixed and comprehensive. Fixed are less expensive than comprehensive insurance but offer low coverage.

We recommend buying comprehensive travel insurance policies for senior travelers because it offers higher coverage.

Top travel insurance policies for seniors to get you started with:

Patriot America Plus Insurance 

Administrator: IMG Global

Coverage Type: Comprehensive Coverage

Medical Benefit Options: Upto $500,000

PPO Network: United HealthCare

Benefits of Patriot America Plus Travel Insurance 

• The plan pays up to 100% of the policy maximum after all deductibles
• Coverage for non-U.S. citizens traveling to the U.S.
• Coverage for acute onset of pre-existing conditions up to $500,000 or policy maximum
• Coverage is available from 5 days to 365 days and renewable up to 24 months
• Deductible options from $0 to $2,500
• Policy maximum up to $500,000

Liaison Travel Elite Insurance 

Administrator: Seven Corners Insurance

Coverage Type: Comprehensive Coverage

Medical Benefit Options: Upto 5,000,000

PPO Network: United HealthCare

Benefits of Liaison Travel Elite Insurance 

• Provides maximum policy coverage up to $5,000,000
• After deductible, the plan pays 100% up to policy maximum, in-network
• Coverage available from 5 days up to 3 years
• Acute onset of a pre-existing condition coverage for non-US residents up to $50,000
• Emergency Medical Evacuation up to $1,000,000
• State restriction for Colorado (CO), Maryland (MD), New York (NY), South Dakota (SD) & Washington (WA)

Cover America Gold

Administrator: Seven Corners Insurance

Coverage Type: Comprehensive Coverage

Medical Benefit Options: Up to $250,000

PPO Network: United HealthCare

Benefits of Cover America-Gold Travel Medical Insurance 

• After deductible, the plan pays 100% up to policy maximum
• Policy maximum up to $100,000 for age 70 – 79
• Provides coverage for acute onset of pre-existing conditions up to $30,000.
• For anything other than cardiac and stroke, additional $20,000 can be purchased with optional rider
• Emergency Medical Evacuation up to $1,000,000

Safe Travels USA Comprehensive 

Administrator: Trawick International

Coverage Type: Comprehensive Coverage

Medical Benefit Options: $50,000 to $1,000,000

PPO Network: First Health Network

Benefits of Safe Travels USA Comprehensive 

• After deductible, the plan pays 100% up to policy maximum
• Policy maximum up to $100,000 for age 70 – 79
• Provides coverage for acute onset of pre-existing conditions up to $35,000.
• Emergency Medical Evacuation up to $2,000,000
• Coverage from 5 days to 1 year and Renewable up to 2 years
• $30 copay for urgent care

Patriot Platinum Insurance 

Administrator: IMG Global

Coverage Type: Comprehensive Coverage

Medical Benefit Options: Upto $2,000,000

PPO Network: United Healthcare.

Benefits of Patriot Platinum Travel Insurance 

• After deductible, the plan pays 100% upto policy maximum.
• Coverage available from 5 days to 365 days, renewable upto 24 months.
• Urgent Care copay $25, not subject to deductible.
• Emergency Medical Evacuation up to policy maximum.
• Policy maximum up to $100,000.
• $15 copay for urgent care depending on policy maximum.
• Coverage for medical expenses, emergency evacuation, and repatriation.

Insurance administrators or companies also make a huge difference in the quality of services such as healthcare providers network and claim process. Here are the top travel insurance administrators ranked by OnshoreKare.

Cheap Visitors Insurance for Seniors in the United States 

Cheap visitors insurance usually comes with limited coverage. Travel insurance with limited coverage is also known as fixed coverage travel insurance plans.

Here are the top fixed insurance plans for senior travelers:

Choice America Insurance

Administrator: IMG Global

Coverage Type: Limited or Fixed Benefits Plan

Medical Benefit Options: Upto $150,000

PPO Network: First Health Network

Benefits of Choice America Insurance 

• Coverage from 5 days to 365 days.
• Provides Coverage for U.S., Mexico, and Canada.
• Limited Pre-existing Condition Coverage.
• Emergency Medical Evacuation up to $100,000 per evacuation.
• Also gives coverage for Border Entry Denials, Loss of Passports, Adventure Sports and Amusement Park Injury Coverage.

Visitors Care Insurance

Administrator: IMG Global

Coverage Type: Limited Coverage

Medical Benefit Options: Upto $100,000

PPO Network: First Health Network

Benefits of Visitors Care Travel Insurance 

• Coverage available from 5 days to 2 years.
• Coverage for acute onset of pre-existing conditions up to $100,000.
• Emergency Medical Evacuation up to $25,000.
• Policy maximum up to $100,000.
• Deductible per incident options available at $0, $50 & $100.

In conclusion, travel insurance is a valuable investment, particularly for seniors, who generally experience more health issues than younger travelers. In the age of pandemic and what seems like a long road to recovery, travel insurance with medical coverage will provide you with that sense of security and a safety net for your finances.

Do not let it deter your enthusiasm for travel and your holiday spirit. Get the best quotes for travel medical insurance today through OnshoreKare.