Hi there, I’m due to set off on a 100 day trip including Australia where I’ve got 2 sits planned.
I’m having a lot of difficulty finding reasonable travel insurance due to being 66 and have a few medical conditions but these are resolved so I’m simply on medications now …. I’m visiting India/KL/Australia/Thailand and I’m usually based in England. I’m pretty healthy tbh and walk 10 miles easily. Any advice would be much appreciated.
Have you looked at Safety Wing @BonnyinBrighton? Not cheap but good especially for longer trips of 30 days plus and when you’re older 
#giveitawhirl
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unfortunately at your age with previous conditions everything is going to be expensive.
You could try something like safetywing SafetyWing - Insurance for Nomads, by Nomads or world nomads https://www.worldnomads.com/ but both are really just for emergent care, not ongoing health care and I’d want to read their fine print about pre-existing conditions. They’ll be at the low end but still probably pretty expensive.
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Hey Bonny,
I don’t know about health insurance, but I do know that Australia & the UK have a reciprocal relationship for healthcare, and you can be covered for emergency & essential healthcare under Australia’s Medicare. Perhaps you already know that, but if not I hope it helps!
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I was 100% committed to using safetywing as I loved the idea until I started reading the trust pilot reviews- also there was a big discussion on a travel forum I’m part of. I’ve lost all confidence using them. Apparently they are no longer based in the USA and increasingly are refusing claims on spurious reasons but can’t be sued. One guy claimed for a stomach issue in Thailand and hospital stay and it was refused on the grounds of his hip replacement as a previous related condition.
I’m giving Genki a whirl having had poor experience both getting treatment and making a claim with SafetyWing. With this ‘emergency travel cover type’ insurance your general health isn’t really factored in, it’s hugely dependent on age - which doesn’t seem particularly fair given the number of accidents younger people have vs older but there it is.
‘Banker on Wheels’ dot com has a good article comparing the two (and World Nomads).
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I don’t know the requirements in UK/ Australia, but I know that here the long term insurances are really expensive. I believe a «normal» travel insurance here have a cap on 90 days (some 60). The time is for each journey. So some snowbirds in my country solve this by going home, and then set out again. For some travels it is much cheaper with a return flight home than the long term insurance for seniors.
I’m not sure though if that makes financial sense going to Australia as the flights are expensive. But the terms I was referred to said that it was «enough» to return to country and not your actual home. So rumor has it that some just take a coffee on the airport in home country and leave again. 
Last year, before going to Australia and New Zealand, I bought Chapka annual policy. I shopped around quite a bit and it was the best price/quality option. Luckily, I didn’t have to use it so I can’t say how they respond but they have a variety of good options for long periods of time and for people over 60. I bought the option with real cost coverage, no limit for medical treatment. I paid 488€ for a year. I am over 60 but below 65.
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Yes I think the issue has arisen since we hit age 66 our regular annual insurance quadrupled!! Which was quite a shock as we’ve never made a claim in 40+ years of travelling.
I am afraid the length of time and age will make it expensive as after your standard 30 day cover it is charged by the day. If you are going to countries where medical treatment is private, that will also bump up the price.
I am going to Thailand and Australia for 69 days and on top of my yearly travel insurance it has cost an extra £149.
I have had to do a new medical declaration, don’t be tempted to leave anything out, even tests or any claim could be refused because of non disclosure. It isn’t worth the risk to try and do it on the cheap.
Also remember to tell your home insurance if your house is going to be empty as that is normally 30 days only. You really need your travel cover as soon as you book a ticket.
You have probably already thought of this, but does your credit card offer any insurance? I normally just add days to it to cover the entire length of my trip.
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Last year, we used a company that provides a novel insurance subscription service. Genki • Health Insurance for Digital Nomads. Two tiers of geographic coverage - world ex US, and world inc US. Monthly payments. Cancel anytime. Underwritten by Axa. Worked great for as bouncing around multiple countries. This year we’ve used a European provider (cheaper) that does not seem relevant to your situation.
Hi Bonny
I used Staysure when I travelled to Australia and New Zealand. I had cover for 20 months but, as you age, they allow less months! However, I don’t think you’re travelling for such a long time, are you? I did get a discount for booking online.
Also, if you want to cover car hire excess I can recommend a company based in Cheltenham. It costs a lot less than the excess insurance car hire companies have
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