Compare the Market Travel Insurance: Quotes from £1.03

If you’re over 60 and trying to sort out travel insurance, you’ve probably noticed the price jump — and the confusing fine print around medical conditions. Compare the Market and Go Compare both let you pit dozens of UK insurers against each other, but which one actually surfaces the right cover for your situation? This guide cuts through the sales speak to show you where the real value hides, what Martin Lewis advises, and exactly how kidney stones, pancreatitis, and pre-existing conditions get treated.

Providers compared: 44 · Starting price: £1.03 · Annual multi-trip option: Available · Single trip from: £6.89 · Trusted UK insurers: Yes

The core numbers from the comparison platforms show where UK pricing sits against US market averages and what age bands drive the biggest cost jumps.

What is the best company to purchase travel insurance from?

The honest answer is: it depends on what you’re insuring and who’s travelling. Both Compare the Market and Go Compare aggregate dozens of UK providers, letting you compare single-trip, annual multi-trip, and specialist policies side by side. Neither site is an insurer — they’re lead generators that route you to the actual insurance company once you’ve chosen a quote. For seniors specifically, Compare the Market explicitly flags age-based pricing increases and medical screening as standard steps you can’t skip (Compare the Market).

Compare the Market vs Go Compare

Both platforms display 40+ UK providers, but the interface and filter options differ. Compare the Market emphasises its meerkat mascot brand identity and offers dedicated guides for over 60s, over 70s, cruise cover, and winter sports. Go Compare similarly flags that costs rise with age due to higher likelihood of medical conditions (GoCompare). Neither platform publishes a single “best” insurer — the ranking changes based on your specific trip details, destination, and health declarations.

Trusted providers reviewed

Trusted UK insurers on Compare the Market include major brands such as Churchill, Direct Line, and esure, alongside specialist providers that cater to travellers with pre-existing medical conditions. The platform doesn’t endorse a single provider — it presents quotes ranked by price and cover level based on the information you input. U.S. News lists top companies including Travel Insured International, HTH Travel Insurance, and Seven Corners as standouts for comprehensive senior coverage (Money.com), though those operate in a different market with different pricing structures.

What does Martin Lewis say about travel insurance?

Martin Lewis, founder of MoneySavingExpert, is blunt on travel insurance for older travellers and those with health conditions: the most important thing is to declare every medical condition honestly, no matter how minor it seems. His guidance, widely cited across UK finance blogs, emphasises that failing to disclose a pre-existing condition can void your entire claim — even if the condition seems unrelated to why you’re claiming. He also advises travellers not to accept the first quote: comparing multiple providers can mean the difference between a £15 excess and a £100 one for the same underlying cover.

Key advice from MoneySavingExpert

MoneySavingExpert’s travel insurance guide stresses three non-negotiables: always declare medical conditions, shop around rather than auto-renewing, and check whether your policy covers medical expenses abroad as primary coverage or secondary (which means it pays after your NHS or other insurance first). The site also flags that travellers with conditions like heart disease or diabetes should specifically look for policies that cover their pre-existing situation — which typically costs more but is far better than a policy that simply excludes it.

Pre-existing conditions tips

On Compare the Market, pre-existing conditions are possible to cover for over 60s travellers, but the premium rises accordingly (Compare the Market). The platform uses medical screening questions to match you with insurers willing to cover your specific conditions. Some insurers offer a “load” — an extra charge added to the base premium — while others price it into a tiered rate band. GoCompare echoes this, noting that costs rise with age due to higher likelihood of medical conditions (GoCompare).

Always declare every medical condition on your form — even that prescription for blood pressure tablets you barely think about. Leaving something out because it feels minor can void a claim for something that feels major.

MoneySavingExpert (Consumer Finance Guidance)

What is the best travel insurance for seniors?

“Best” for seniors splits into two questions: value for money, and adequacy of medical cover. Compare the Market quotes a week-long single trip policy for over 60s at less than £23.80 for travellers with no pre-existing conditions (Compare the Market). That’s considerably lower than US equivalents: Squaremouth reports average premiums of $493 for over-60 travellers in 2026 (Squaremouth), though that figure covers longer trip durations and higher medical ceilings.

Over 60 and over 70 options

Travel insurance can become more expensive once you reach the age of 65 due to higher claim risk for medical expenses (Compare the Market). Over-70 quotes rise further: Squaremouth data shows average premiums of $550 for over-70s in 2026 (Squaremouth). For UK travellers, Compare the Market and Go Compare both offer age-banded pricing, meaning you answer health questions and get quotes from providers willing to cover your specific age and medical profile.

Compare the Market senior policies

Compare the Market’s over-60s section specifically flags that policies can be tailored to include medical conditions, though the cost increases. Annual multi-trip policies covering all holidays including UK trips are available from over 40 providers on the platform. For cruise travellers, winter sports enthusiasts, and those over 70, dedicated filter options let you narrow results to providers offering those specific cover types. Squaremouth data also flags IMG, Generali, and Seven Corners as top-rated for seniors over 80 (Squaremouth), with Seven Corners Trip Protection Choice offering up to $500,000 medical evacuation and a 20-day pre-existing condition window (Squaremouth).

What conditions are not covered by travel insurance?

Standard travel insurance exclusions include pre-existing medical conditions unless declared and accepted, high-risk activities without add-ons, incidents during intoxication, and travel to destinations with Foreign Office warnings. The specifics around kidney stones and pancreatitis — both conditions that commonly affect older travellers — depend entirely on how you complete the medical screening questionnaire, and whether the insurer has accepted those conditions as part of your cover.

Common exclusions list

Most UK travel insurance policies exclude: treatment for pre-existing conditions not disclosed on the form, routine medical treatment abroad, dental work beyond emergency pain relief, and issues or self-inflicted injuries. Some policies also exclude conditions diagnosed within a “stability period” — typically 12 or 24 months before travel — making it critical to check whether your condition qualifies as stable under the insurer’s definition.

WorldTrips non-coverage examples

While WorldTrips (an Atlas Travel brand) operates internationally rather than as a UK policy, its exclusions illustrate the pattern: policies typically exclude non-declared pre-existing conditions, routine pregnancy care, elective cosmetic procedures, and expenses incurred after a trip has exceeded its maximum duration. For UK travellers using comparison sites, the same principle applies: what you declare shapes what you’re covered for.

Will travel insurance cover kidney stones?

Kidney stones fall into a grey zone that hinges entirely on your medical declaration. If you’ve had kidney stones in the past — even years ago — and don’t declare them, a claim for abdominal pain abroad could be declined. If you declare a history of kidney stones, some insurers will cover you with a medical loading, while others will exclude urinary tract complications as a related condition. The key variable is the insurer’s definition of a “pre-existing condition” and the look-back period they use.

Go Compare on kidney stones

Go Compare’s senior travel insurance guidance notes that costs rise with age due to higher likelihood of medical conditions, but doesn’t publish condition-specific coverage rules (GoCompare). Individual insurer policy wordings determine whether kidney stones are covered, excluded, or covered with an loading. The practical advice: run the medical screening questions explicitly mentioning your kidney stone history before ruling out a quote as too expensive — some insurers accept it, others don’t.

Disclosure requirements

Both Compare the Market and Go Compare use the same type of medical screening questionnaire: you list conditions by name, indicate when diagnosed, and confirm whether you’ve had any symptoms or changes in the past 12 or 24 months. Kidney stones, pancreatitis, blood pressure issues, and cholesterol management all count as medical conditions that must be declared. The screening result isn’t a single yes or no — it generates insurer-specific quotes based on how each provider classifies your risk.

Five insurers, one pattern: UK comparison platforms like Compare the Market give you access to roughly 44 providers, but the actual quote you receive depends on how honestly and completely you answer the medical screening questions. A rushed declaration can save a few minutes at purchase time and cost thousands at claim time.

The table below shows how the three major comparison platforms stack up across provider count, medical screening, and pricing for single and annual trips.

Six insurers listed, one pattern: pricing for over-60s travellers spans from under £23.80 per week in the UK to $442-$628 for US plans of comparable scope, reflecting different healthcare systems and coverage mandates.

Age bands reveal where premiums climb steepest — with the sharpest increases coming after age 70 and especially after 80 in the US market.

Four age bands, one pattern: premiums roughly double between the 60s and 80+ cohorts, with the steepest jump after 80 — making early purchase before age 80 a genuine cost-saving move.

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While Compare the Market offers travel quotes from £1.03 across 44 providers, this 2025 Guide to Best Deals details top deals from over 20 regulated options for 2025.

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