I apologise as an insurance question has been asked by ex pats living in Italy, but this is a bit different.
I took up a travelling/housesitting lifestyle in January 2019 and from July was travelling in New Zealand and Australia, sadly cut short by the pandemic.
I was travelling as a backpacker and, being 63, had difficulty finding backpacker type insurance. The companies assume it’s just people in their 20s who travel long term with a backpack and that anyone over 60 is just travelling for 2 or 3 weeks at a time. I eventually found Staysure but I think once I reach 65 they would no longer cover for one long indefinite trip but up to 90 days at a time which would be useless to me.
Has anyone else had this experience? Have you found another insurance company to cover people of a certain age travelling indefinitely?
Thanks for your interest and help
We use Allianz as full time house sitters, but I think @HousesittingMag may have an article on insurance on The House Sitting Magazine! I think she uses/recommends Safety Wing as insurance of indefinite travelers.
Thank you. I’ll check them out.
Yes we’ve used Safety Wing and they have Covid cover now also, but they are expensive if you aren’t under 40. It would cost us as a couple $600 for cover for 3 months in Europe - we are in 50’s. We aren’t using at moment as still on reciprocal cover with EU until Dec 31st. World Nomads or Allianz are our only other recommendations but I don’t know if either have Covid cover yet.
Follow on.
We are a 66 and 60 year old couple finding it impossible to find any sort of travel insurance. We are UK citizens. I thought back packing insurance was the answer but they won’t cover anyone over 40???
It’s not even travel insurance we are looking for it’s more emergency health care and repatriation. The insurance will be an annual policy covering worldwide which will include Panama, Costa Rica, USA, Canada. The trip length is indefinite and we do not have return tickets.
Can anyone help with suggestions? Or do we just wing it and hope for the best?
World nomads certainly used to do over 40’s my husband and I have been travelling since 2012 and he’s just turned 66.
It does however get harder the longer you travel as many want you to have been resident in the UK for at least six months of the last year. Obviously Covid will have reset this for many, but it’ll probably become a problem again!
Which company do you use? Are you British?
I’m at my wits end. As sailors we had no problem for over five years, now we want to travel on land it’s a huge problem…….why………
Have you tried comparison sights like comparethemarket ? I have a pending option for annual insurance at around £450, but that excludes USA, Canada and Mexico and Carribean, however, I have just gone in and amended to include those, ie Worldwide, and it goes up to around £750 per annum.
They won’t give us a quote because of our ages and the fact we want it indefinitely with only very short trips back home.
I know it’s irresponsible but I’m at the stage I’m going without it.
Some countries will be asking for proof of medical insurance now before entry if you need a visa. I am trying to get back to Indonesia, with an extended visa, but need Insurance, which wasn’t asked for before Covid. I believe Singapore is the same.
Yes, that’s what we are up against as well. The UK Government has upped the retirement age because we are all so fit and healthy but the travel industry hasn’t caught on yet. Someone should tell them how fit and healthy we all are now. Oldies unite.
Viva insurance (not Aviva) seems to be one of the best as far as I can see, but not “indefinitely”
Thank you I will try them after I calm down. I’m going to have to start declaring high blood pressure as a medical condition after spending today trying to find insurance
As I said, World Nomads. Take an annual travel policy with which you can then buy more cover once you are travelling.
I’ve just put in 30 September 2021 to 29 September 2022, Europe, couple 62 and 64.
It’s not cheap, but there was a quote.
Yes we are British, so as I say, you may need to look into NHS cover if you are out of the country too long.
Good luck
Oops, just reread your initial message and changing the ages, 66 is s problem, must be under 65!
Try calling them?
Panama and Costa Rica are on the FCDO restricted list, so may be adding problems.
Staysure do insurance for over 50s but wanted more information than I was willing to put in
Staysure single trip cover actually states at the moment 15 months for the price of 12 if the trip starts within the next 30 days
Stay sure is on my phone list for tomorrow. Thank you for all your suggestions. We went sailing for five years and never had a problem with the NHS so fingers crossed the same can be said this time
@ElsieDownie I’m sure you have trawled the internet this information from the Money Saving Expert was updated in July 2021
Another site …
Why choose Free Spirit if you’re over 65
- Single trips covered up to 94 days (45 days if aged 76 years or over)
- Annual Multi-trip provides unlimited number of trips – travel up to 31 days per trip (Super) and 45 days (Super Duper)
- Fully interactive website including online medical screening
- End Supplier Failure and Extended Journey disruption insurance
- Loss or damage to medical aids and prescribed medications
I agree with you health care insurance options for the over 65s is a frustrating minefield … although the temptation to travel without, after all we are healthy etc., unless the owner of very deep pockets or travelling in countries where medical care is of an acceptable standard, readily available and inexpensive then is it such a good idea?
Good luck and just for reference there will be a lot of members in a similar position and COVID hasn’t made the situation any easier.
Hi we have travel insurance with our credit card, they do not cover for Covid, I was wondering if there such a thing as just cover for Covid. Thank you