Turning 70 doesn’t lock you out of travel insurance, but it quietly reshapes your options. Some insurers stop selling to you on your 70th birthday. Others keep you on but shorten the trips they’ll cover, drop you from their annual plan at 75, or hit you with a higher excess. Most of this sits in the Target Market Determination or PDS, not on the quote page. Here’s what actually changes through your 70s, which insurers still compete hard for your business, and the fine print worth checking before you pay.
- Your 70s are a decade of cut-offs, not one cliff: World Nomads stops at 69, Travel Insurance Direct at 74, and many annual multi-trip plans and Tick’s Budget tier close out at 75 to 79.
- Single-trip cover stays wide open: Cover-More and WAS go to 99, Southern Cross to 118, and AllClear has no upper age limit.
- Trip length is the hidden squeeze: AllClear’s annual plan drops from 45 days to 31 days per trip at 70, and Tick caps trips beyond the Pacific at 90 days from 65.
- Price jumps are real: Travellers in their 70s pay more than triple what people in their 30s and 40s pay, so comparing three quotes is worth the effort.
- Check your credit card cover before you rely on it: most complimentary card policies stop at 79 or 80, and medical limits are usually lower than a dedicated policy.
What Changes When You Turn 70 (and Again at 75)
The biggest shifts in your 70s come at three birthdays: 70, 75 and 80. Knowing which one you’re approaching tells you which insurers to shortlist and whether an annual plan still makes sense.
| Age | What typically changes | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| 70 | Adventure-focused and budget brands drop off; annual plan trip lengths shrink | World Nomads only sells to Australians aged 69 or under. AllClear’s annual plan trip cap falls from 45 to 31 days. |
| 75 | Many annual multi-trip plans close to new buyers; some brands stop selling altogether | Travel Insurance Direct is designed for travellers aged 74 or under. RACV and RACQ limit annual plans to 75 and under. |
| 79 to 80 | Lower-cost tiers and most credit card cover end | Tick’s Budget tier stops at 79. Most complimentary card policies cut off at 79 or 80. |
Two things carry through the whole decade. Insurers price on your age at the date the policy is issued, so buying a week before a birthday can matter. And a higher excess for older age bands often applies on medical claims even when the premium looks reasonable.
Compare Travel Insurance for Over 70s at a Glance
| Insurer | Max age (single trip) | What to check in your 70s | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| AllClear | No upper age limit (call if over 99) | Annual Gold plans cap trips at 31 days from 70 | Complex or multiple medical conditions |
| Cover-More | Up to 99 | Acceptance depends on age at purchase, destination and trip length | Mainstream comprehensive cover |
| Southern Cross | Up to 118 | Annual plan available with 30, 60 or 90 day trip options | Annual cover that lasts through your 70s |
| WAS | Up to 99 | Conditions considered subject to disclosure | Active travellers wanting flexible add-ons |
| Freely | Up to 99 | Confirm medical cover limits for your age band in the PDS | App-based cover you can switch on per activity |
| Fast Cover | 89 and under | Check the excess that applies to your age band | Straightforward comprehensive cover |
| Zoom | Under 85 | Medical Only tier stops at 69 | Grandparents travelling with grandkids |
| Tick | Up to 100 (Standard and Top) | Budget tier stops at 79; trips beyond the Pacific capped at 90 days from 65 | Lower-cost cover with simple health |
| Travel Insurance Direct | 74 and under | Not designed for travellers 75 and over | Early 70s only |
| World Nomads | 69 and under | Not available from 70 | Not suitable for over 70s |
Table compiled 4 October 2026. Age limits and acceptance criteria change, so confirm the current figure on the insurer’s own quote page before buying.
Our Top Picks for Travellers in Their 70s
Best for pre-existing conditions: AllClear. No upper age limit and 1,300+ conditions considered, so a birthday or a diagnosis won’t rule you out. The trade-off sits in the annual plan: from 70, each trip is capped at 31 days, so single-trip cover suits longer stays better.
Best for annual cover through your 70s: Southern Cross Travel Insurance. While plenty of annual plans close at 75, SCTI’s age limit is 118 and its annual policy lets you pick 30, 60 or 90 day trips. A strong choice if you travel two or three times a year and want one policy that doesn’t need replacing at 75.
Best mainstream comprehensive option: Cover-More. Cover to 99, subject to acceptance criteria based on your age when you buy, where you’re going and how long for. A well-known name if you’d rather not go to a specialist.
Best for active 70-somethings: WAS Insurance. Cover to 99, with pre-existing conditions considered subject to disclosure. Worth a quote if your trip includes walking tours, cycling or other activities budget brands tend to exclude.
Best for grandparents: Zoom. Sells to Australians under 85, and dependent grandchildren under 19 travel free on a grandparent’s policy. Skip its Medical Only tier, which stops at 69.
Best value with straightforward health: Tick. Standard and Top tiers go to 100 and consider pre-existing conditions. Watch the 90 day cap on trips beyond the Pacific and the Budget tier’s cut-off at 79.
Who to skip: World Nomads (69 and under) and, from 75, Travel Insurance Direct (74 and under). Butter is built for younger travellers and isn’t a good fit either.
The Traps That Catch Travellers in Their 70s
Buying an annual plan at 73 or 74 without checking the renewal age. An annual policy you buy at 74 may run fine for 12 months, then refuse to renew once you’re 75. If you’re close to a threshold, ask whether the insurer will renew you next year, not just whether it will sell to you today.
Assuming the annual trip limit you had at 69 still applies. Annual plans often set a per-trip maximum, and some cut it at 70. AllClear’s Gold annual plans go from 45 days to 31 days. A five-week European trip that was covered last year may now need its own single-trip policy.
Booking a long trip beyond the Pacific on a budget tier. Tick limits travellers 65 and over to 90 days per trip outside the Pacific, and 42 days within it. Planning three months in Europe or a long stint visiting family overseas? Check the cap before you book flights.
Letting a credit card policy run past your 80th birthday. Most complimentary card cover stops at 79 or 80. If you’re relying on your card in your late 70s, check whether your age is assessed when the trip starts or when the card spend happens, and plan the switch to a paid policy before you need it.
Comparing premiums but not excess. Older age bands often carry a higher medical excess. A cheaper quote can cost more the moment you claim, so compare the excess line by line.
Under-declaring “minor” conditions. Blood pressure tablets, a past stent, sleep apnoea: if it’s on your medication list, declare it. A condition left off the application can sink an entire claim, not just the part linked to it.
Treating a cruise as “just a holiday.” Ship-to-shore evacuation and cabin confinement need cruise cover added, even on a domestic cruise. Smartraveller warns a medical evacuation from a ship can run into the hundreds of thousands of dollars.
How to Buy the Right Policy in Your 70s
- Shortlist by your next birthday, not just today’s age. If 75 or 80 is within a year, rule out insurers that will drop you at renewal.
- Get at least three quotes: one specialist (AllClear), one with long-running annual cover (Southern Cross) and one mainstream brand (Cover-More or WAS).
- Decide single trip or annual with real numbers. Count your trips and check each plan’s per-trip limit at your age. Our annual vs single-trip guide walks through the maths.
- Declare every condition and medication, including ones that feel minor or long resolved.
- Match the trip length to the policy cap before you lock in flights, especially for trips beyond the Pacific.
- Compare the excess and medical limits, not just the premium. Unlimited overseas medical and evacuation cover should be the baseline.
- Add cruise cover if any part of the trip is on a ship.
- Use the cooling-off period to read the PDS properly and cancel if something doesn’t fit.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I get travel insurance if I’m over 70?
Yes. Most Australian insurers still sell single-trip cover in your 70s, and several go to 99 or beyond. The main brands that stop are World Nomads (69 and under) and Travel Insurance Direct (74 and under).
Can I get annual multi-trip travel insurance over 70?
Yes, but options thin out from 75, when many annual plans close to new buyers. Southern Cross offers annual cover with a 118 age limit, and AllClear has annual plans with no upper age limit, though trips are capped at 31 days each from 70.
How much more does travel insurance cost in your 70s?
CHOICE found travellers in their 70s pay more than triple what people in their 30s and 40s pay. Your health, destination and trip length all move the price, so compare at least three quotes.
Does credit card travel insurance cover over 70s?
Usually, until 79 or 80, when most complimentary card policies stop. Medical limits and pre-existing condition cover are often lower than a dedicated policy, so check the card’s PDS before relying on it.
Is there a maximum trip length for over 70s?
Often, yes. Tick caps trips beyond the Pacific at 90 days for travellers 65 and over, and AllClear’s annual plans cap each trip at 31 days from 70. Single-trip policies from other insurers may allow longer, so check before you book.
What happens to my policy when I turn 75?
It depends on the insurer. Your current single-trip policy is priced on your age when it’s issued. Annual plans are the ones to watch: several won’t renew you once you’re 75.
Michael has been publishing deals and travel content for Australians for more than 10 years and runs the deals section of The Champagne Mile. With a Bachelor of Commerce and a background in commercial law, he reads the fine print so you don’t have to, from insurance PDSs to promo code terms. Every deal on the site is checked before it goes live and updated when offers change. When he’s not testing codes, he’s planning his next overseas trip or out on his dirt bike.
Last Updated on 11 October 2026
