Senior Travel Insurance for Elderly with Pre-Existing Medical Conditions (2022)

Finally planning to take your parents or grandparents on holiday this year? You’ve probably got a good handle on the travel itinerary, but you might not have thought about yet is which travel insurance plan to buy for the older folks.

It matters because most insurers drastically reduce their travel insurance coverage for those 70 years old and above. That’s terrible because you want MORE medical coverage for the elderly, not less!

Finding a travel insurance plan for the elderly is a tedious affair. I had to comb through all the major insurers’ boring “summary of benefits” tables to shortlist which are the least bad. 

Contents

1. Best travel insurance for senior citizens
2. NTUC travel insurance for senior citizens
3. Singlife with Aviva travel insurance for senior citizens
4. UOB travel insurance for senior citizens
5. OCBC travel insurance for senior citizens
6. Citibank DirectAsia travel insurance for senior citizens
7. Allianz travel insurance for senior citizens
8. MSIG travel insurance for senior citizens
9. Etiqa travel insurance for senior citizens

1. Best Travel Insurance for Senior Citizens

Here are the most popular travel insurance plans and their premiums and coverage limits for senior citizens. The amounts represent coverage limits for those 70 years and above, i.e. how much you can claim. 

If you pay close attention, most travel insurance policy wordings will show that they decrease coverage eg. only 60% of limit for elderly above age 70. 

Travel Insurance Promotion	Price (Worldwide/week)	Elderly Coverage Limits
FWD Travel Insurance	$42/week	20% personal accident, 20% overseas medical expenses
NTUC Travel Insurance	$137/week	85% personal accident, 33.34% overseas medical expenses + emergency medical evacuation combined
AIG Travel Insurance	$88/week	no personal accident coverage, 1o% overseas medical expenses
AXA Travel Insurance	$138.72/week	37.5% personal accident, 16.67% overseas medical expenses
MSIG Travel Insurance	$117/week	33.34% personal accident, 20% overseas medical expenses
Singlife with Aviva Travel Insurance	$71.25/week	20% personal accident, 100% overseas medical expenses + emergency medical evacuation combined
DBS Chubb Travel Insurance	$171/week	33.34% personal accident, 16.67% overseas medical expenses
Great Eastern Travel Insurance	$99/week	58.34% personal accident, 70% overseas medical expenses
Sompo Travel Insurance	$129/week	50% personal accident, 25% overseas medical expenses
AIA Travel Insurance	$118/week	40% personal accident, 10% overseas medical expenses
Etiqa Travel Insurance	$65/week	20% personal accident, 15% overseas medical expenses
Direct Asia Travel Insurance	$73.12/week	50% personal accident, 50% overseas medical expenses
Citibank Travel Insurance	$61/week	50% personal accident, 16.67% overseas medical expenses
Tokio Marine Travel Insurance	$86/week	37.5% personal accident, 50% overseas medical expenses
UOB Travel Insurance	$87.50/week	33.34% personal accident, 50% overseas medical expenses + emergency medical evacuation combined
OCBC Travel Insurance	$78/week	50% personal accident, 33.34% overseas medical expenses
AMEX Travel Insurance	$227/week	50% personal accident, 50% overseas medical expenses
Allianz Travel Insurance	$112/week	no personal accident coverage, 25% overseas medical expenses

As you can tell from the table above, the coverage limits are lower for elderly above 70 years old. Before we deep dive into the policies, here’s a low down on what the insurance terms mean:

• Emergency medical evacuation: In the event of an emergency, this is the cost of sending you home for treatment via an air ambulance
• Medical expenses (overseas): Reimbursement for hospital and medical expenses overseas during your trip
• Medical expenses (Singapore): Reimbursement for medical expenses in Singapore when you come back from your trip (within a certain time frame)

2. NTUC travel insurance for senior citizens

Since it’s probably the biggest travel insurer in Singapore, I doubt NTUC travel insurance needs any introduction. It’s a household name that most of us are very familiar with. 

What’s special about NTUC is that they offer two types of plans: normal and Enhanced PreX. The latter covers pre-existing medical conditions like diabetes and high blood pressure, which is definitely a big plus for seniors.

However, it’s not a MUST to spring for PreX. In the past, before NTUC PreX came along, it was pretty much impossible to get travel insurance coverage for pre-existing conditions, so everyone just sucked it up and hoped for the best.

If you’re comfortable with that, the regular NTUC travel insurance is also worthy of consideration.

At a low price point, the cheapest Classic plan offers one of the most generous medical benefits for seniors: a $250,000 combined limit for overseas medical expenses + emergency evacuation.

Coverage limits	Below 70 years old	70 years old & above
Personal accident (death or TPD)	$150,000	$100,000
Emergency medical evacuation	$500,000	$250,000 (overseas medical expenses + evacuation combined)
Medical expenses (overseas)	$250,000
Medical expenses (Singapore)	$12,500	$1,000
Chiropractor or TCM	$300	$300
Medical expenses due to COVID-19 (overseas)	$150,000	$150,000
Emergency medical evacuation due to COVID-19	$150,000	$150,000

NTUC travel insurance (PreX) for senior citizens

On the other hand, for elderly with existing health conditions, the NTUC Income Enhanced PreX travel insurance would be an ideal choice. This is the Basic plan which is the cheapest.

Coverage limits	Below 70 years old	70 years old & above
Personal accident (death or TPD)	$200,000	$100,000
Emergency medical evacuation	Unlimited	$300,000* (overseas medical expenses + evacuation combined)
Medical expenses (overseas)	$500,000*
Medical expenses (Singapore)	$25,000	$2,000
Chiropractor or TCM	$500	$500

*Note that there are sub-limits for claims directly related to pre-existing conditions. This is $150,000 for adults below 70, and $100,000 for those aged 70 and up. So, although pre-existing medical conditions are covered, the actual coverage isn’t as high as it looks.

However, a thing to note is that NTUC Enhanced PreX plans are very expensive. A week’s coverage in ASEAN starts from $102 – way, way higher than the usual $30 something you’d expect to pay for regular travel insurance.

That said, NTUC is the only insurer that provides adequate coverage for seniors with medical conditions. MSIG also has a range of insurance for pre-existing conditions, but the benefits are drastically reduced for those above 70. For instance, the overseas medical coverage limit falls from $250,000 to $50,000 for those above 70. Plus, it also includes COVID-19 coverage. 

For more on NTUC travel insurance promotions, claims procedure and T&Cs, read our review here.

3. Singlife with Aviva travel insurance for senior citizens

My personal favourite of the lot is Singlife with Aviva travel insurance because its medical coverage largely does not discriminate against elderly travellers.

Check out the coverage on their cheapest plan (Lite) – there’s no difference for any of the benefits, except the personal accident payout that falls rather drastically. 

Coverage limits	Up to 70 years old	Above 70 years old
Personal accident (death or TPD)	$50,000	$10,000
Emergency medical evacuation	$250,000 (overseas medical expenses + evacuation combined)	$250,000 (overseas medical expenses + evacuation combined)
Medical expenses (overseas)
Medical expenses (Singapore)	$10,000	$10,000
Chiropractor or TCM	$250	$250
Medical expenses due to COVID-19 (overseas)	$50,000	$50,000
Emergency medical evacuation due to COVID-19	$250,0000	$250,000

In particular, I like that the local medical expenses limit is extremely high for seniors – $10,000 compared to $1,000 or $2,000 offered by other insurers.

Aviva travel insurance is also extremely affordable. If you or an immediate family member is an Aviva policyholder, you can get a 30% discount. Otherwise, they’re running a 18% off promotion for selected buyers.

For more on Aviva travel insurance promotions, claims procedure and T&Cs, read our review here.

4. UOB travel insurance for senior citizens

Although I’m really not a fan of UOB’s other products, I honestly think that UOB travel insurance is some of the best in Singapore. They deliver excellent benefits for senior travellers on most fronts. 

UOB travel insurance comes in 3 tiers Basic (cheapest), Essential (cheaper) and Preferred (premium). All plans cover anyone aged 70 and above.

Here’s a look at the coverage for UOB Insure & Travel Basic plan:

Coverage limits	Below 70 years old	70 years old & above
Personal accident (death or TPD)	$150,000	$50,000
Emergency medical evacuation	Unlimited	$100,000 (overseas medical expenses + evacuation combined)
Medical expenses (overseas)	$200,000
Medical expenses (Singapore)	$10,000	$5,000
Chiropractor or TCM	$200	$200
Medical expenses due to COVID-19 (overseas)	$100,000	$50,000
Emergency medical evacuation due to COVID-19	$100,000	$50,000

Of the 7 plans here, if you were to upgrade to UOB’s Essential plan, you would be privy to high benefits for post-travel local medical expenses of $10,000 and $25,000 respectively for those above and below 70, which I think is good because older folks have weaker immune systems and illnesses may linger (or even develop) after the trip. Plus, chances are they have their medical records with a local doctor they might want to seek follow-up treatment from. 

For more on UOB travel insurance promotions, claims procedure and T&Cs, read our review here.

5. OCBC travel insurance for senior citizens

You might not associate OCBC with travel insurance, but it is legit because it’s provided by Great Eastern, OCBC’s insurance arm.

Their plans are also very affordable thanks to near-perpetual discounts. Here’s what the coverage for the cheapest Starter plan looks like.

Coverage limits	Below 70 years old	70 years old & above
Personal accident (death or TPD)	$150,000	$75,000
Emergency medical evacuation	$1,000,000	$1,000,000
Medical expenses (overseas)	$300,000	$90,000
Medical expenses (Singapore)	$15,000	$4,500
TCM	$600	$600
Medical expenses due to COVID-19 (overseas)	N.A.	N.A.
Emergency medical evacuation due to COVID-19	N.A.	N.A.

*Sublimits apply for local medical expenses ($15,000 for adults under 70 / $4,500 for elderly) and TCM ($600).

My key takeaway is that, among the plans compared here, OCBC travel insurance has the highest emergency medical evacuation benefit for senior citizens. And more importantly, it is calculated separately from overseas medical expenses.

This is a travel insurance plan to consider if the medical infrastructure in your travel destination is poor, e.g. a rural/remote place. In a medical emergency, you’re more likely to be evacuated home than rushed to the nearest hospital.

OCBC also has the highest benefits for Traditional Chinese Medicine of $600 for its cheapest Starter plan.

However, the OCBC’s cheapest Starter plan does not offer any COVID-19 coverage. You have to upgrade to the Essential and Ultimate plans for COVID-19 benefits. However, unlike NTUC and Singlife with Aviva, seniors above 70 are only covered a measly $15,000 in medical expenses while overseas. Keep scrolling!

For more on OCBC travel insurance promotions, claims procedure and T&Cs, read our review here.

6. Citibank DirectAsia travel insurance for senior citizens

Another bank offering surprisingly good travel insurance for senior travellers, Citibank is also worth considering if you’re in the same scenario as above – going to a place with poor/no medical care available.

Citibank is a distributor of DirectAsia’s Trip Saviour travel insurance plans. Now, we all know Direct Asia has a reputation for being budget-friendly but is its coverage up to par? In theory, you have 3 tiers to pick from, Classic, Deluxe, and Platinum.

Here’s what the coverage looks like for the cheapest Classic plan:

Coverage limits	Up to 71 years old	Above 71 years old
Personal accident (death or TPD)	$150,000	$75,000
Emergency medical evacuation	$1,500,000	$250,000
Medical expenses (overseas)	$200,000	$100,000
Medical expenses (Singapore)	$5,000	$2,500
TCM	$300	$300
Medical expenses due to COVID-19 (overseas)	N.A.	N.A.
Emergency medical evacuation due to COVID-19	N.A.	N.A.

Note that it’s a little on the pricier side unless there’s a good promotion going on.

Unfortunately, the plans also do not include COVID-19 coverage and it’s not an optional add-on. Unless that’s a chance you’re willing to take, we’d suggest looking at other providers and what they have to offer.

For more on Citibank travel insurance promotions, claims procedure and T&Cs, read our review here.

7. Allianz travel insurance for senior citizens

Allianz isn’t quite as well-known as the other insurers here, but it’s a very established brand in Europe.

The coverage benefits for the cheapest (Bronze) tier of travel insurance is pretty bare bones. If you’re considering Allianz as an option, you’d be better off with the Silver or Platinum plans. 

Here’s the coverage for the mid-tier Silver plan:

Coverage limits	Below 70 years old	70 years old & above
Personal accident (death or TPD)	$100,000	$100,000
Emergency medical evacuation	Unlimited	Unlimited
Medical expenses (overseas)	$500,000	$100,000
Medical expenses (Singapore)	N.A.	N.A.
TCM	N.A.	N.A.
Medical expenses due to COVID-19 (overseas)	$500,000	$100,000
Emergency medical evacuation due to COVID-19	Unlimited	Unlimited

Unlike most other insurers, the benefit limits are almost the same across all age groups except for the medical expenses incurred overseas. However, it’s important to note that the the plan does not cover pre-existing conditions and it does not cover medical expenses when you’re back in Singapore.

The redeeming quality of Allianz travel insurance is that the limits for emergency evacuation and medical expenses are separated. It’s COVID-19 coverage is also on the more generous end. Again, it’s suitable for those travelling to destinations with poor medical infrastructure.

For more on Allianz travel insurance promotions, claims procedure and T&Cs, read our review here.

8. MSIG travel insurance for senior citizens 

MSIG Insurance is yet another provider born out of our friendly neighbours Malaysia, Truly Asia. It is also another provider that offers a plan for pre-existing conditions. Before getting into the Pre-Ex plan, let’s look at the  coverage for the cheapest TravelEasy Standard plan:

Coverage limits	Below 70 years old	70 years old & above
Personal accident (death or TPD)	$250,000	$50,000
Emergency medical evacuation	$100,000	$100,000
Medical expenses (overseas)	$75,000	$50,000
Medical expenses (Singapore)	$25,000	$5,000
TCM	$200	$200
Medical expenses due to COVID-19 (overseas)	$75,000	$37,500
Emergency medical evacuation due to COVID-19	$1,000,0000	$1,000,000

The MSIG TravelEasy Standard plan’s main drawback is its low coverage limit for overseas medical expenses. Comparing across the board, MSIG TravelEasy Standard plan’s coverage of $50,000 is amongst one of the lowest. The coverage for medical expenses due to COVID-19 is also nothing to shout about. However, it does have a very high $1,000,000 limit for emergency medical evacuation should your ah ma need to be airlifted back to Singapore.

MSIG travel insurance (Pre EX) for senior citizens

Let’s see how MSIG Pre-Ex policy fares:

Coverage limits	Below 70 years old	70 years old & above
Personal accident (death or TPD)	$150,000	$50,000
Emergency medical evacuation	$1,000,000	$1,000,000
Medical expenses (overseas)	$250,000	$50,000
Medical expenses (Singapore)	$25,000	$5,000
TCM	$200	$200
Medical expenses due to COVID-19 (overseas)	N.A.	N.A.
Emergency medical evacuation due to COVID-19	N.A.	N.A.

Before your purchase MSIG’s TravelEasy Pre-Ex plan, you’ll have to answer a slew of questions about your medical history. Some of which include:

• I am following my treating doctor’s advice. This includes not refusing or delaying any monitoring, medical appointment, medical test, medication, treatment or surgery.
• I do not have any medical condition or symptom which I have not consulted a doctor for or for which I am waiting for medical test, medical result, diagnosis, treatment or surgery.
• I am not required to stay in a hospital as an inpatient for more than three days in a row in the last 12 months.

On top of having proven that you’ve been attending your doctor’s appointment and taking your meds, you might still not qualify for MSIG’s TravelEasy Pre-Ex plan if you have been hospitalised for more than 3 consecutive days in the past year.

If you do decide to opt for MSIG’s TravelEasy Pre-Ex plan, note that it does not include COVID-19 coverage.

For more on MSIG travel insurance promotions, claims procedure and T&Cs, read our review here.

8. Etiqa travel insurance for senior citizens 

Etiqa might not be a household name amongst Singaporeans but given its very affordable price tag, it’s worthy of looking into. Given how cheap it can be, do Etiqa’s travel insurance plans give you sufficient coverage? Let’s look at the coverage of Etiqa’s Entry plan which is the lowest tier:

Coverage limits	Below 70 years old	70 years old & above
Personal accident (death or TPD)	$150,000	$30,000
Emergency medical evacuation	$500,000	$1,000,000
Medical expenses (overseas)	$200,000	$30,000
Medical expenses (Singapore)	N.A.	N.A.
TCM	N.A.	N.A.
Medical expenses due to COVID-19 (overseas)	$100,000	$100,000
Emergency medical evacuation due to COVID-19	$200,000	$200,000

In fact, even with its low prices, Etiqa’s plans are very competitive with what’s offered by the other providers in terms of its key coverages such as emergency medical evacuation and personal accident. However, with the lowest tier plan, there’s no coverage of medical expenses incurred in Singapore. Should you need follow-up treatment in Singapore, be prepared to foot the bill yourself. Otherwise, you can opt for the second or third tier plans that offer some coverage for medical expenses incurred in Singapore.

It’s also important to know that the COVID-19 plan is an optional add-on. Don’t forget to add it to your cart before you proceed to checkout.

Etiqa travel insurance (Pre Ex) for senior citizens

If you have pre-existing conditions, Etiqa also offers a plan for elderly with pre-existing conditions. Let’s take a look at the key benefits of Etiqa’s Tiq Entry plan:

Coverage limits	Below 70 years old	70 years old & above
Personal accident (death or TPD)	$150,000	$150,000
Emergency medical evacuation	$150,000	$150,000
Medical expenses (overseas)	$75,000	$50,000
Medical expenses (Singapore)	N.A.	N.A.
TCM	N.A.	N.A.
Medical expenses due to COVID-19 (overseas)	N.A.	N.A.
Emergency medical evacuation due to COVID-19	N.A.	N.A.

Etiqa’s Tiq Pre-Ex plan does not include COVID-19 coverage. On top of that, like the non-pre ex version, the pre ex version of the Entry plan does not include any coverage for medical expenses in Singapore. If you’re fully onboard Etiqa’s travel insurance plan, you might want to top up more for each one of the higher tiers for more comprehensive coverage.

Do you have any money-saving tips for travelling with seniors? Share your experiences with us!