Past 80, the question stops being “which policy is cheapest?” and becomes “who will actually cover me, and for how long?” The shortlist is shorter, but it’s not empty: several Australian insurers still sell comprehensive cover into your 90s and beyond. The catch is in the conditions. Trips get shorter, excesses get bigger, annual plans mostly disappear, and your credit card cover has probably already ended. Here’s who still says yes, what changes at 80, 85 and 90, and how to avoid paying for a policy that won’t pay out.
- Over-80 travel insurance options still exist: Several Australian insurers continue to offer comprehensive cover into the 90s and beyond, but terms narrow with age: trips shorten, excesses rise, annual plans vanish, and credit card cover is often ended.
- The middle of the market drops away in your 80s: Zoom stops at 84 and Fast Cover at 89.
- Trip length caps bite hardest on long-haul: Tick limits over 80s to 35 days on its top Worldwide Including destination bracket.
- Expect a big price gap: CHOICE found over 80s pay more than five times what people in their 30s and 40s pay, so the excess you pick matters more than ever.
- Credit card cover has likely ended: most complimentary card policies stop at 79 or 80, so don’t assume you’re still covered.
What Changes at 80, 85 and 90
In your 80s, cover narrows in steps rather than all at once. Each birthday below removes a few insurers or tightens the terms on the ones that remain.
| Age | What typically changes | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| 80 | Credit card cover ends; long-haul trip caps shrink; excess loadings appear | Most card policies stop at 79 or 80. Tick caps Worldwide Including trips at 35 days. CHOICE reports Zoom adds a $3,000 medical excess for over 80s and limits trips to 90 days. |
| 85 | More brands drop off; some products narrow; fitness-to-travel checks start | Zoom stops at 84. Southern Cross keeps selling Comprehensive, Domestic and Working Overseas policies past 85. Some insurers ask for a doctor’s letter from 85. |
| 90 | Mainstream options thin to a handful of brands | Fast Cover stops at 89. Cover-More, WAS and Freely go to 99, Southern Cross to 118, and AllClear has no upper limit. |
Insurers set these terms on your age when the policy is issued or the trip starts, so a policy bought at 84 can carry very different terms from one bought a month after you turn 85.
Insurers That Still Cover Over 80s
| Insurer | Max age | What to check over 80 | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| AllClear | No upper age limit (call if over 99) | Annual plans cap each trip at 31 days | Multiple or complex medical conditions |
| Southern Cross | Up to 118 | Over 85s limited to Comprehensive, Domestic and Working Overseas policies | Comprehensive cover into your 90s |
| Cover-More | Up to 99 | Acceptance depends on age, destination and trip length | Well-known mainstream insurer |
| WAS | Up to 99 | Conditions considered subject to disclosure | Flexible add-ons at any age to 99 |
| Freely | Up to 99 | Confirm medical limits and excess for your age band | App-based cover |
| Tick | Up to 100 (Standard and Top) | 35 day cap on Worldwide Including trips; 90 days elsewhere beyond the Pacific | Shorter trips with straightforward health |
| Fast Cover | 89 and under | Check the excess for the 80 to 89 age band | Early to mid 80s |
| Zoom | Under 85 | $3,000 extra medical excess and a 90 day trip cap over 80 | Early 80s, short trips |
Table compiled 4 October 2026. Travel Insurance Direct (74 and under), World Nomads (69 and under) and Butter are not options over 80. Age limits change, so confirm on the insurer’s own quote page before buying.
Our Top Picks for Travellers Over 80
Best overall for over 80s: AllClear. No upper age limit and 1,300+ medical conditions considered, so it’s often the insurer that says yes after others decline. If you’re over 99, you’ll need to call for a quote rather than buy online.
Best for comprehensive cover into your 90s: Southern Cross Travel Insurance. SCTI’s age limit is 118, and over 85s can still buy its International Comprehensive policy. A strong pick for a long-established insurer that doesn’t treat a later birthday as a dealbreaker.
Best mainstream option: Cover-More. Cover to 99, with acceptance based on your age at purchase, destination and trip length. Worth quoting alongside a specialist, because the outcome isn’t always what you’d expect.
Best for flexible add-ons: WAS Insurance. Cover to 99, with pre-existing conditions considered subject to disclosure.
Best for shorter trips in your early 80s: Fast Cover. Sells to travellers 89 and under. Check the excess that applies to your age band before you compare it on price.
Use with care: Tick and Zoom. Both still sell to some over 80s, but Tick’s 35 day cap on Worldwide Including trips and Zoom’s reported $3,000 medical excess make them better suited to short, nearby trips.
The Traps That Catch Travellers Over 80
Assuming your credit card still has you covered. Most complimentary card policies stop at 79 or 80, and some only extend past 80 if you pay for an upgrade. If you’ve been travelling on card cover for years, check the PDS now rather than at the airport.
Booking a long-haul trip longer than the policy allows. Over 80, trip caps of 35 to 90 days are common, and the shortest limits tend to apply to the most expensive destinations for medical care. Confirm the cap before you book a long stay in North America or Europe.
Choosing a policy on premium alone. Some insurers add an age-based medical excess for over 80s on top of the standard excess. A policy that’s $200 cheaper can leave you $3,000 out of pocket on the first medical claim.
Forgetting that a relative’s health can sink your cancellation claim. If you need to cancel because a spouse, sibling or friend falls ill, some PDSs only cover that person up to a certain age, sometimes 85. Read who counts as a “relative” and any age limit attached.
Skipping the doctor’s letter. Some insurers ask for written confirmation you’re fit to travel once you’re 85 or older. Even when it’s not required, having one on file makes a claim easier if something goes wrong.
Answering the medical questionnaire alone. Over 80, the screening often covers medication changes, recent hospital stays and cognitive conditions. If you’re helping a parent buy cover, sit with them and their medication list, and call the insurer if a question isn’t clear.
Relying on Medicare overseas. Medicare doesn’t cover you overseas, apart from limited care in countries with a reciprocal health care agreement. Even there, evacuation home isn’t included.
How to Buy the Right Policy Over 80
- Start with insurers that cover your age for the whole trip. If you’ll turn 85 or 90 before you return, check how the insurer treats a birthday mid-trip.
- Get three quotes: a specialist (AllClear), an insurer with a high age limit (Southern Cross) and a mainstream brand (Cover-More or WAS).
- Have your medication list and recent medical history ready before you start the questionnaire, and declare everything.
- Check the trip length cap for your exact destination, not just the headline limit.
- Compare the total excess, including any age-based medical excess, against the premium saving.
- Ask about a fit-to-travel letter if you’re 85 or over, and get one from your GP early.
- Add cruise cover for any time on a ship.
- Use the cooling-off period to read the PDS before your trip, while you can still cancel penalty-free.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you get travel insurance if you’re over 80?
Yes. AllClear has no upper age limit, Southern Cross covers travellers up to 118, and Cover-More, WAS and Freely go to 99. Expect a medical questionnaire, shorter trip caps and a higher premium.
Can you get travel insurance at 85 or 90?
Yes, though the list is shorter. Zoom stops at 84 and Fast Cover at 89, but AllClear, Southern Cross, Cover-More, WAS and Freely all sell to travellers in their 90s, subject to their acceptance criteria.
How much does travel insurance cost over 80?
CHOICE found over 80s pay more than five times what travellers in their 30s and 40s pay. Destination, trip length and declared conditions make the biggest difference, along with the excess you choose.
Is there annual multi-trip travel insurance for over 80s?
It’s rare. AllClear offers annual plans with no upper age limit, but each trip is capped at 31 days. For most over 80s, separate single-trip policies give more flexibility.
Does credit card travel insurance cover over 80s?
Usually not. Most complimentary card policies stop at 79 or 80, and those that go further often need a paid upgrade. Check your card’s PDS before you book.
Do I need a medical certificate to travel over 85?
Some insurers require written confirmation from your doctor that you’re fit to travel once you’re 85 or older. Check during the quote, and ask your GP early so it doesn’t hold up your trip.
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 6 October 2026
