Coverage insights for travelers 65+ with pre-existing condition support.

Original Medicare does not provide routine overseas coverage. Certain Medigap plans (C, D, F, G, M, N) cover limited foreign travel emergencies after a $250 deductible, but only for the first 60 days and with a lifetime cap of $50,000—not nearly enough for a major medical event. A stroke in Italy requiring a $180,000 air ambulance home exceeds Medicare Supplement limits.

Most policies require purchase within 10-21 days of initial trip deposit to qualify for waivers. Some senior-focused plans extend to 30 days. If you wait until 30 days before departure, your heart condition, diabetes, or COPD won't be covered if they cause medical issues during your trip. One traveler delayed purchasing insurance and faced a $85,000 bill for diabetic complications in Mexico.

Many insurers have age caps (70-85) or charge significantly higher premiums for seniors. Some policies cap medical coverage at $50,000 for travelers over 70, while senior-specific plans offer $250,000-$1,000,000. If you're 75 and have a major medical event in Europe, $50,000 won't cover a week in ICU ($15,000/day) plus air ambulance ($120,000).

Many policies include 'traveling companion' provisions that let you cancel if your spouse, partner, or designated companion falls critically ill. If your husband has a heart attack 3 days before your Mediterranean cruise, you can cancel and recover your $12,000 non-refundable deposit—but only if the policy lists him as a covered companion.

Yes. Even in countries with excellent healthcare, medical evacuation to your home country can cost $80,000-$250,000. Medicare doesn't cover repatriation, and foreign hospitals may require upfront payment before treatment. A Canadian hospital charged a US senior $95,000 for cardiac care—Medicare paid $0.

Emergency medical covers treatment costs (hospital, surgery, medication). Medical evacuation covers transportation to the nearest adequate facility or back home. You need both. A senior in Thailand needed a triple bypass ($40,000 surgery + $150,000 air ambulance to the US). Policies with low evacuation limits ($25,000) left them with $125,000 out-of-pocket.

Standard travel insurance excludes planned procedures. Medical tourism insurance specifically covers complications from elective surgeries abroad. If you're getting knee replacement in Costa Rica ($12,000 vs. $35,000 in the US) and develop an infection post-surgery, medical tourism insurance covers extended hospital stays and emergency return flights.

Notify insurers in advance if you require ongoing treatment like dialysis, oxygen, or chemotherapy. Some policies exclude pre-arranged care, while others help coordinate providers abroad. A dialysis patient traveling to Spain needed 3 sessions ($900 each)—their policy covered it because they disclosed the need upfront and got pre-authorization.