Travel insurance for Australians over 70 with pre-existing conditions is available but requires full medical disclosure through an insurer's online assessment, which decides whether each condition is covered, loaded with an extra premium, or excluded. Non-disclosure is the most common reason claims are refused. Cover-More, InsureandGo and Australia Post Travel Insurance all consider older travellers, but age caps, conditions covered and pricing vary, so confirm current terms directly on each insurer's official website before buying.
Why does this matter so much after 70?
For travellers over 70 who still head off several times a year, the most tedious part of planning — and the most important — is the travel insurance. After 70, a medical event overseas is no longer a remote idea. It is the single thing most likely to turn a lovely holiday into a financial disaster.
An ambulance, a hospital admission and a medical evacuation home from somewhere like the United States or parts of Asia can run into the hundreds of thousands of dollars. Medicare does not follow you overseas, and Australia's reciprocal health care agreements cover only some countries and only some treatment. Insurance is the difference between a difficult few days and losing your home.
How does cover actually work for older travellers?
Most standard policies are priced and underwritten on three things: your age, the destination, and your declared medical history. Age affects price and sometimes the maximum trip length. Pre-existing conditions are handled through a medical assessment, often an online questionnaire, that decides whether a condition is automatically covered, covered for an extra premium, or excluded.
A pre-existing condition is broadly any illness, injury or symptom you have had, or have been treated for, before you buy the policy. That includes common things like high blood pressure, controlled diabetes, a past heart procedure, joint replacements and cancer in remission. Many of these are coverable. The mistake is assuming they are automatically included without going through the assessment.
What do you actually need to declare?
Declare everything you have been diagnosed with, treated for, or are taking medication for, even if it feels well managed. If you are unsure, declare it and let the insurer decide. Non-disclosure is the most common reason claims are reduced or refused, and insurers do check medical records when a large claim comes in.
Before you start a quote, write a simple list: each condition, the year diagnosed, current medications, any surgery, and the date of your last specialist review. Having this in front of you makes the online assessment far quicker and more accurate. If a condition is recent or unstable, your insurer may ask you to wait until you are reviewed by your GP.
Which insurers cover the over-70s?
Cover-More is one of the larger Australian travel insurers and offers medical assessments for a wide range of pre-existing conditions. Age terms and what is coverable can change, so confirm the current details and any age caps directly on the Cover-More website before you rely on it.
InsureandGo is known among older Australians for considering travellers in higher age brackets, including some who struggle to get cover elsewhere. Check their current upper age limits and condition list on the InsureandGo website, as these vary by product.
Australia Post Travel Insurance is widely used and straightforward to arrange, including in branches if you prefer speaking to a person. Confirm age eligibility and the medical assessment process on the Australia Post website. None of these brands publishes a single fixed price for older travellers, because premiums depend entirely on your age, destination, trip length and declared conditions.
What does it cost, realistically?
There is no single figure, but to set expectations: a healthy couple in their early 70s taking a three-week trip to Europe might pay somewhere in the range of several hundred dollars each for comprehensive cover. Once significant pre-existing conditions are added and approved, premiums commonly rise, sometimes substantially. It is not unusual for the medical loading to be larger than the base premium.
Watch the medical excess. A policy may look cheap because it carries a high excess, often a few hundred dollars per claim, and sometimes you can pay a little more to reduce it. Domestic policies for travel within Australia are far cheaper, but remember they mainly cover cancellation and luggage, not medical, since Medicare covers you at home.
Practical tips for solo travellers and couples
If you travel solo, check that your policy covers a return flight home for a companion or family member if you are hospitalised, and that emergency assistance lines operate 24 hours in Australian time zones. Solo travellers carry more risk because there is no one beside you to manage things if you fall ill.
For couples, you can usually insure under one policy, but if one partner has complex conditions it is worth getting separate quotes to compare. Buy your policy as soon as you have paid a deposit, not just before you fly, so cancellation cover starts early. And carry a printed copy of your policy number, the emergency assistance phone number, and your medication list separately from your phone.
Quick planning guide
| Who it's for | Australians over 70, including solo travellers and couples, who have pre-existing medical conditions and need overseas travel insurance |
|---|---|
| How to start | List each medical condition, year diagnosed, current medications, surgeries and date of last specialist review, then complete an insurer's online medical assessment |
| Typical cost | No fixed figure; a healthy couple in their early 70s on a three-week Europe trip might pay several hundred dollars each, with medical loadings sometimes exceeding the base premium |
| Time required | See guide |
| Where to get help | Cover-More, InsureandGo and Australia Post Travel Insurance websites (or Australia Post branches for in-person help); a GP review if a condition is recent or unstable |
| Key documents needed | A written list of conditions, diagnosis dates, medications, surgeries and last specialist review date; printed policy number, emergency assistance number and medication list |
| Main planning consideration | Declare every diagnosed or treated condition honestly, even if well managed, since undisclosed conditions are the most common reason claims are reduced or refused |
| Renewal or review | Buy the policy as soon as a trip deposit is paid so cancellation cover starts early; check the medical excess and 24-hour emergency assistance terms before purchase |
Key takeaways
- Medicare does not cover you overseas, so travel insurance is essential after 70.
- Declare every condition you have been diagnosed with or treated for, even well-managed ones.
- Cover-More, InsureandGo and Australia Post all consider older travellers, but age caps and prices vary, so confirm on each official site.
- Pre-existing conditions are handled through a medical assessment that may cover, load or exclude them.
- Check the medical excess and 24-hour emergency assistance before you buy.
- Buy your policy when you pay your deposit so cancellation cover starts early.
Recommended partners and links
Indicative prices only — always confirm with the operator before booking.
Frequently asked questions
Can I still get travel insurance if I am over 75 or 80?
Often yes, though fewer insurers offer it and prices are higher. Some insurers have upper age caps, while others assess each application. Check current age terms directly with insurers such as InsureandGo and Cover-More.
Will declaring my conditions make my policy more expensive?
It can, particularly for heart conditions, diabetes or cancer history. But declaring honestly is the only way to ensure a related claim is paid. An undeclared condition can void your entire claim.
Does Medicare cover me overseas?
No. Medicare does not pay for treatment outside Australia. Reciprocal health care agreements exist with some countries but cover only limited treatment, not evacuation or full hospital costs.
When should I buy my travel insurance?
As soon as you have paid a deposit on flights or a tour, so cancellation cover applies if you fall ill before departure. Medical cover overseas begins when your trip starts.
What if my condition is recently diagnosed or unstable?
Insurers may decline to cover it or ask you to wait until you have been reviewed and stabilised by your GP or specialist. Speak to both your doctor and the insurer before booking non-refundable travel.
What travellers are saying
Gathered from public discussions on Reddit, YouTube and Facebook — quoted briefly, linked to the original. Not our words.
Community members confirm that shopping around is essential, as different insurers use different risk tables and rates vary significantly. Several over-50 travellers report success with specific providers like Allianz, Covermore, and Southern Cross, though costs remain high for those with multiple pre-existing conditions.
Worth a look elsewhere
Related reading and viewing on this topic from around the web. External links are not endorsements.
Pre-Existing Conditions? Here's Exactly How to Get Travel Insurance — Concise, no-nonsense coverage of the topic from CoverTrip
