Why is Travel Insurance Essential When Traveling with Seniors?
Are you planning a trip with your grandparents or parents who are in their retirement years? It feels good to do something nice for them, doesn’t it? They may not have the time to plan for a trip abroad, but when their children or grandchildren plan such an incredible experience for them, they can’t stop gushing about it. They are just so very happy.
Sadly, life has a way of turning immense joy into unexpected sorrow in the blink of an eye. The only constant is change itself. That’s why travel insurance is pivotal when travelling overseas with senior citizens.
Let’s discuss how travel insurance benefits during overseas trips and why it is of such importance, especially when travelling with senior citizens.
What are the benefits of travel insurance for senior citizens?
There are a number of benefits to having travel insurance for anyone planning an overseas trip, but much more for senior citizens in the long run:
- Medical claims -The most common problem that our seniors face is health issues. It is inevitable at their age. Accidents happen to anyone and everyone without notice. The body is sometimes incapable of coping with changes to diet and atmosphere due to reduced levels of immunity. A sudden onset of medical emergencies is covered in travel insurance for the elderly, thus ensuring a safe and hassle-free trip.
- Baggage claims -When travelling alone, or in a group, it is possible to have misplaced their luggage. It could be the fault of the airlines and senior citizens are unable to cope with the extreme cold without their warm clothes or medication. Baggage claims help replace the necessities without hampering the trip.
- Journey-related claims -Flights may get delayed or cancelled. This could result in added expenses at the airport where charges are already high. Plus, if the flights are cancelled, you may need to extend your stay and that means costs of accommodation. Travel insurance helps ensure that you can put up in a good and comfortable place with heating or air-conditioning as required.
There are several benefits within these covers including dental care, which is a major concern for the elderly. You need to have travel insurance before you leave as it cannot be purchased once an emergency arises in a foreign land.
Why do you need to have travel insurance for senior citizens when visiting overseas?
When travelling abroad with senior citizens, you would want them to be safe and enjoy every aspect of their trip. But falling ill or facing medical emergencies becomes commonplace after a certain age. The change in climate and food habits in an overseas country can also disturb the ecosystem of the senior citizen’s body. That is why it is pivotal to have some travel insurance coverage to protect their interests in times of emergencies.
Medical costs in foreign countries can be much higher, especially for senior citizens, due to their advanced age and a myriad of bodily dysfunctions. It is hard to pinpoint the cause of chest pain or sudden onset of other ailments. On several occasions, chest or stomach pain may just be a result of gas or other harmless reasons owing to the change in diet and general atmosphere, such as increased heat. However, due to their advanced age, medical professionals cannot run the risk of dismissing the symptoms as harmless. They will need to conduct several tests to ensure that they provide the correct treatment.
If the symptoms really are no big risk, then without travel insurance, or at least medical insurance for senior citizens, you may end up paying thousands in foreign currency, which is essentially lacs in Indian rupees. If the symptoms indicate something serious that requires immediate medical care, such as surgery, then that’s a lot of unexpected expenses. Not to mention, there are costs associated with hospital beds and rooms, tests, meals, medication, etc.
Also, let’s not forget that senior citizens tend to move slower with age. Accidents can happen at any time due to careless drivers in any country, despite their laws against driving under the influence. They can also occur at random when walking down the street and with somebody else’s oversight. These things simply cannot be controlled or anticipated, no matter how much you try to keep everyone safe.
Therefore, getting travel insurance for senior citizens is a much safer option and is highly recommended. In Schengen countries, it is not even an option as it is mandated by the government that every tourist must have travel insurance. However, when planning visits overseas to Schengen countries, it is also advised to purchase added medical insurance for senior citizens apart from what is included in the travel insurance policy. The Euro is the most expensive currency after all and any medical setback could end up costing much more than the sum insured.
Conclusion
When travelling overseas with anyone, especially with senior citizens, the risks are much higher. That doesn’t mean we deprive them of life experiences. Instead, we equip them with travel insurance so they get to enjoy the trip to the fullest while the family is prepared to bear the costs of any added expenditure in the form of medical bills, loss of baggage, etc. without drilling a hole in their bank account.
So, if you’re planning an amazing experience for the seniors in your family, opt for travel insurance before you leave your home country.
FAQs
1.What kind of travel insurance for senior citizens should I get?
The type of travel insurance for senior citizens depends on the nature of their travel. If they are travelling alone, then you can equip them with individual travel insurance. You can also get the individual plan if they are scheduled to stay longer or leave the trip before others on a family vacation or if they are travelling with friends in a group.
If they travel with their family, then they can be added to the family travel insurance policy for the trip. If you plan on taking them on a world tour or sending them on one with friends or by themselves, you can opt for multi-trip travel insurance. If you want to only cover their medical expenses without the whole package, you can opt for Medical travel insurance for senior citizens.
2.Will travel insurance for senior citizens cover COVID-19 symptoms and treatment abroad?
Yes, as of the dawn of the COVID pandemic, travel insurance covers the cost of COVID-related symptoms and treatment during overseas trips.
3.Do I need separate travel insurance for senior citizens, or can I add them to my plan?
You can purchase travel insurance for senior citizens separately if they are being sent on a trip abroad by themselves. However, if they are travelling with you or other family members, then you can opt for a family travel insurance plan. You will need to provide the details of the senior citizen with respect to their relationship with the primary traveller and their dates of birth.
4.Does travel insurance for senior citizens include emergency medical services, including ambulances?
Yes, if you have travel insurance for senior citizens, it will cover all matters of medical emergencies such as the cost of an ambulance, hospital room, tests, and treatments. Keep in mind though, that these services are only available for travel insurance claims if they are indeed emergencies. Regardless of the individual’s age, if it is a pre-planned trip for treatment purposes alone of a pre-existing ailment, then the insurance provider is not obligated to pay.
5.Is travel insurance for senior citizens mandatory in Europe?
Yes. Much like travel insurance for any other tourist planning a trip to Schengen countries, travel insurance for senior citizens is also mandatory and very strongly advised to be taken with substantial coverage.
Disclaimer: The above information is for illustrative purposes only. For more details, please refer to the policy wordings and prospectus before concluding the sales.
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