Schengen Travel Insurance for Senior Citizens & Pensioners (Over 75)

Senior citizens often have difficulties finding Schengen travel insurance for Europe. Even if they do, it is often much more expensive than it is for someone younger or it does not have adequate coverage.

That’s because many travel insurance companies decline to take on clients past a certain age due to the increased risk that comes with insuring someone who is a pensioner or elderly. The way insurance companies see it, someone who is older has a higher chance of needing medical attention and thus making a claim. The cut-off age after which most travel insurance companies will decline to insure you ranges from 65 to 75.

However, although it is tricky to find Schengen health insurance for seniors, it is not impossible.

Where Do I Find Schengen Travel Insurance for Seniors (Over 75)?

Some of the best and most reputable travel insurance companies offer Schengen insurance which does not have age limits, such as Insurte, MondialCare, and DR-WALTER. These companies offer travel insurance plans for pensioners travelling to Europe which are both affordable and adequate.

To purchase a Schengen travel insurance policy for a senior citizen, you must:

• Visit the website of one of the companies which offer it:
  • Insurte (compare prices and coverage options from AXA, Allianz, and Mutuaide)
  • MondialCare
  • AXA
  • DR-WALTER.
• Select the plan which you think is more adequate.
• Complete the application form. You will be asked to give your name, nationality, the duration of the trip, as well as your age.
• Pay for the insurance policy. You must pay via a credit or debit card, or PayPal.
• Download and print the Insurance Certificate. If you need to apply for a visa, you can send this Certificate to the Embassy.

Can I Buy Senior Schengen Medical Insurance for Someone Else?

Yes, you can buy Schengen insurance on behalf of someone else, as long as you make sure to specify that the buyer (you) is different from the person travelling (the senior citizen in this case).

Travel insurance companies that operate online will usually have the option to distinguish between buyer and insuree. For example, you may want to buy a travel insurance policy for your elderly parents or for your minor children.

Best Schengen Travel Insurance Plans for Seniors Over 75

Here are some of the top European travel insurance plans for seniors and pensioners:

Requirements for Schengen Health Insurance for Pensioners

When travelling to a Schengen member country, you have to get travel insurance which is in line with Schengen visa insurance requirements:

• It must cover at least €30,000 worth of medical bills and evacuation.
• It must be valid in the entire Schengen Area.

Is Schengen Travel Insurance for Seniors Obligatory?

Schengen travel health insurance is only mandatory if you need to apply for a Schengen visa to visit Europe. The visa officers at the EU Embassy will ask you to bring an insurance certificate and the other required documents.

What Does Schengen Travel Insurance for Seniors Cover?

Schengen travel insurance for elderly citizens covers costs arising from emergency medical expenses that may occur while being in Europe, such as.

• Medical bills. If you have an accident or fall suddenly ill (from a condition you did not have before) while you are in Schengen, the travel insurance company will pay or reimburse your medical bills. This includes hospitalization, surgery, prescription medication, doctor visits, etc.
• Emergency medical evacuation and repatriation. If you need major emergency medical attention that requires you to be evacuated to your home country or another location, Schengen medical insurance will cover the cost of air ambulance and other resulting costs, as per the policy.

Some insurance policies also offer liability insurance, which covers costs resulting from bodily injury or property damage you may cause to someone else while you are in Europe.

Other travel insurance companies (but not all) also offer insurance for things such as flight delays, trip interruption, and cancellation, or loss and damage of baggage. However, most Schengen travel insurance policies are health-based, because this is the type of insurance required for a Schengen Visa.

What If I Have a Pre-Existing Medical Condition?

Schengen travel insurance plans do not offer coverage for medical expenses related to pre-existing conditions, regardless of whether you are elderly or young. A pre-existing condition refers to any illness, injury or other medical condition you have suffered from before you purchased your insurance policy, such as diabetes, cancer, etc.

Travel insurance will only cover your medical bills for emergency medical treatment, such as an accident.

How Long Is Europe Travel Insurance for Seniors Valid?

You can get Schengen travel insurance to cover you for up to 180 consecutive days. It starts coverage from the moment you depart for your trip, up until you return back home – or are evacuated.

For trips that exceed 180 days, you should get international health insurance or subscribe to a health insurance plan in the Schengen state you are in.

How Much Does Schengen Travel Insurance for Seniors Cost?

The cost of travel insurance is usually higher for the elderly, simply because there is a higher chance of making a claim. However, if you purchase from a reputable company, the difference in price between the policy of a senior citizen and someone younger is not massive or there may not be a difference at all for certain plans.

Other factors which contribute to the price of a travel insurance policy are:

• The duration of the trip. A Schengen insurance policy for a one-month trip will be more expensive than one for a one-week trip since plans are usually calculated by day.
• The amount of coverage you want. An insurance policy that covers only the basic minimum of €30,000 will cost less than a policy with more extended coverage, such as €100,000.

All in all, the price of a travel insurance policy for the Schengen Area is not high. You can expect to pay around €30 to €50 for a one-week trip, but of course, it depends on the specific plan.

How Does Schengen Travel Insurance for Senior Citizens Work?

When you buy a Schengen travel insurance plan, the insurance company agrees to cover any of your medical expenses which happen while you are travelling. So, suppose you get into an accident or become ill and need medical attention. In that case, you simply inform the hospital of your travel health insurance, and they can sort out the payment with the insurance company. You should usually have an Insurance Certificate to give to them as proof of insurance.

In some cases, if the hospital cannot send the bill to the insurance company directly, you have to pay the costs yourself and then send the bill to the travel insurance company and then they reimburse you.

Is There Something Schengen Insurance for Seniors Does Not Cover?

Schengen insurance plans – for senior citizens or otherwise – do not cover the following:

• Medical bills related to a pre-existing condition.
• Medical bills related to a non-emergency condition.
• Medical bills as a result of recklessness or engaging in “high-risk” sports.
• Medical bills as a result of being intoxicated (alcohol or drugs).
• If you have travelled to a high-risk area, such as an area where there is a conflict or civil unrest.

Do I Have Coverage in All Schengen Countries?

Yes, if you buy a Schengen travel insurance plan for senior citizens, you will be covered in all the Schengen countries.

What If I Want to Retire in Europe?

If you want to retire in Europe – that is, actually relocate there – then you need to subscribe to a long-term health insurance policy. This could be an international health insurance plan or a private health insurance plan that you purchase locally in the Schengen country you are retiring to.

You can only get Schengen travel insurance for short-term trips of up to six months.