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CNBC
3 days ago
- Health
- CNBC
Why travel insurance is a must for seniors
Travel insurance can be a huge help to anyone, especially older travelers who may have a greater risk of health issues or unexpected travel disruptions and greater concerns about protecting their finances. CNBC Select explores why travel insurance is so important for seniors and the policies to consider if you're over 65. Whether you have private insurance or Medicare, your U.S. health care plan probably isn't valid abroad. That's where your travel insurance policy's medical coverage is invaluable. It will cover the cost of 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. We recommend buying a policy with at least $100,000 in emergency medical coverage and $250,0000 in evacuation coverage. If you're visiting far-flung locales or are particularly concerned about your health, however, look at policies with higher limits. Travel Insured International has some of the highest limits we've seen. Plans cover up to $250,000 in emergency medical expenses and $1 million for evacuation or repatriation. Single-trip and multi-trip/annual policies and cruise insurance. Add-ons include Cancel for Any Reason coverage and a travel inconvenience benefit Add-on to Worldwide Trip Protector Deluxe or Platinum plan that reimburses 75% of nonrefundable costs when purchased within 21 days of initial trip payment Available if policy is purchased within 21 days of initial trip deposit. A standard travel insurance policy won't cover pre-existing conditions if they force you to change your plans or seek medical treatment. A pre-existing condition is any injury, illness or chronic condition that requires treatment or medication, including diabetes, arthritis, cardiac disease or COPD. If you file a claim, your provider will typically look back 60 to 180 days before you enrolled to see if there were any changes in your medical status. You can get a pre-existing condition waiver, however, which prevents your insurer from reviewing your records when processing a claim. Many companies offer waivers but require travelers to be medically able to travel and to buy their policy within two weeks of booking. We like Nationwide for its more generous 21-day window in which you can buy coverage and still receive a waiver. Single- and multi-trip plans and cruise insurance, plus add-ons like CFAR and rental car coverage. Add-on to Prime plan that reimburses 75% of nonrefundable trip costs if purchased within 21 days of booking (Not available in New York or Washington state) Available with single-trip plan purchased within 20 days of initial trip deposit (14 days for cruise insurance) Even if you don't have a medical issue on your trip, you might have to cancel your plans because of a health condition, death in the family or other emergency. Trip cancellation and interruption coverage are among the best reasons to get travel insurance. A comprehensive plan will reimburse up to 100% of your nonrefundable costs if you need to cancel and up to 150% if you need to cut your trip your policy's terms to see what events are covered, but common scenarios include: If you're concerned about your situation being covered or don't want to have to submit proof, a Cancel For Any Reason (CFAR) policy will refund a portion of your expenses, regardless of why you scraped your plans. Most CFAR plans limit you to 50% to 75% of your nonrefundable costs, but Allianz reimburses 80% of expenses. Single-trip and multi-trip/annual policies and a rental car plan. OneTrip Prime and Premier plans include coverage for one child 17 or younger when accompanying a covered adult. Reimburses 80% of nonrefundable trip costs if you cancel at least 48 hours before departure. Included if policy is purchased within 14 days of initial deposit Read our review of Allianz Travel Insurance Cruises are particularly popular with retirees, who enjoy the convenience, entertainment and relaxing atmosphere, and have the funds and free time to devote to an extended excursion. Viking, Holland America and Cunard all market cruises aimed at older come with specific risks, though, including the ship breaking down or you missing your connection. We love Seven Corners' cruise insurance policies, which include up to $250 a day for missed connections, $5,000 for an itinerary change and $250 each time the ship is disabled or misses a port of call. Plus, Seven Corners gives you 20 days to buy a policy with a pre-existing condition waiver and covers travelers up to age 99. The best way to estimate your costs is to request a quote Policies provide missed and delayed tour/cruise connection coverage. Cancel for any reason coverage and pre-existing conditions waiver are also available if you buy your plan within the specified time. ***CFAR and IFAR are subject to certain eligibility criteria and are not available in all states Yes Many travel insurance companies put age restrictions on their policies, limiting coverage to travelers under 79 or even 65. The cost of a policy can also be much more expensive for older travelers. Seven Corners will approve coverage for travelers up to age 99 and Faye and Travelex don't have any age restrictions at all. One single-trip plan with optional add-ons for pet care, adventure sports and damage to vacation rentals Up to 75% reimbursement of nonrefundable trip costs if purchased within 14 days of initial trip deposit. Available if policy is purchased within 14 days of initial trip deposit. Essential, Advantage and Ultimate policies plus last-minute Travel Med Go plan and standalone plans for emergency medical and flight coverage. Upgrades include rental car, pet and adventure activities coverage Upgrade with Ultimate plan covering 75% of nonrefundable trip costs if purchased within 21 days of initial deposit and 31 days of departure. Included with Ultimate plan if purchased within 21 days of initial deposit Travel insurance averages between 4% and 10% of your total nonrefundable trip expenses. Because of increased risk, seniors pay on the higher end of that range. CNBC Select gathered rate quotes for a 65-year-old traveler and a 30-year-old traveler taking the same one-week $3,000 excursion to London and looking for $250,000 in medical coverage and $1 million in evacuation coverage. While the 30-year-old's rate was about 4.4% of their nonrefundable trip expenses, the 65-year-old was quoted a rate of about 7.3%. There can be a significant difference in price among carriers, so using a travel insurance marketplace like Squaremouth can help you compare rates in minutes. SquareMouth is a travel insurance marketplace that allows you can compare top-rated providers, including Berkshire Hathaway, Nationwide, Seven Corners and Tin Leg. Yes Read our SquareMouth travel insurance review The best policy for any traveler depends on your specific needs, the length and location of your excursion and other factors. Our top picks for travel insurance for seniors includes Travel Insured International, Nationwide, Seven Corners, Allianz and Faye. Some companies allow you to buy a policy up until a day or two before your departure, although enrolling within two weeks of booking ensures you have access to a pre-existing condition waiver and other benefits. Travel insurance typically costs between 4% and 10% of your nonrefundable trip expenses. For seniors, a policy will more likely be on the higher end of that range. We found coverage for a 65-year-old on a one-week vacation in London was 7.3% of the total expense. Money matters — so make the most of it. Get expert tips, strategies, news and everything else you need to maximize your money, right to your inbox. Sign up here. 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.
Yahoo
16-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
‘I really trusted them': Senior denied travel insurance claim after getting COVID
Orlando senior, Joshula Flowers, was looking forward to a tour of Washington D.C. 'I thought, with it being a bus trip, that it would be good to get the insurance,' Flowers told Action 9 Consumer Investigator Jeff Deal. She booked that trip through the City of Orlando's Beardall Senior Center, but she got COVID shortly before the trip. So, she filed a claim with the trip insurance company, Travel Insured International. She said, 'And so I really trusted them to be able to be on my side if something happened.' Do you have a consumer complaint or need help from Jeff Deal and Action 9? Click the banner below to submit a tip. The 86-year-old lives on a fixed income. She made monthly payments to cover the cost of the trip that added up to $1270. That included a little extra for the travel insurance. In the weeks leading up to the tour, she fell ill, left a message for her doctor and did an at-home COVID test that came up positive. 'I was in bed most of the time and sick, just very, very weak and tired,' Flowers said. She called the senior center to let them know she couldn't make it just in case someone else was on a waiting list. The next day, she said she had a consultation with her doctor who confirmed she had COVID. Joshula Flowers assumed her travel insurance would make her whole, but she said the claims process dragged out. 'Here's some of the letters that they sent me… asking for more information,' she said as she showed the Action 9 team her paperwork. After 5-months, she received another letter that showed Travel Insured International denied her claim. Jeff Deal asked, 'What did you think when you received this letter?' Flowers answered, 'This is… it's just… I was two seconds away from tearing it up.' Under the fine print in the policy, the traveler had to be 'examined and treated by a physician prior to cancellation unless it is not reasonably possible to do so.' Even though she tested positive first, since Joshula Flowers' consultation with her doctor was the day after she cancelled, that appears to be the reason for the denied claim. 'I couldn't cancel. I couldn't do 'A' before I did 'B',' she said. On Yelp, Travel Insured International gets 1.4 stars out of five. Reviewers also complained about the company dragging out the process. One wrote, 'we would provide the requested document. Weeks would go by before they would ask for some other DIFFERENT document.' Another customer wrote, 'This company make(s) a living on saying no' and gave the company 'the royal toilet bowl award.' After Consumer Investigator Jeff Deal went to the company for answers, it sent an email saying in part, 'We are currently reviewing Ms. Flowers' case and will be in touch with her as part of that process.' The whole process left Joshula Flowers frustrated. 'I could not believe it. It was just so devastating,' she said. Two weeks after Action 9 reached out to Travel Insured International, Flowers said the insurance company called her to offer part of her money back. It promised to call back later to discuss it further. City of Orlando Commissioner Tony Ortiz is also trying to help her. He said if the insurance company doesn't come through, the city's Senior Connections program will help her out.
