The Affordable Travel Protection Plan Baby Boomers Are Adding Before Their Next Trip

Updated October 2026 · By Sara Marsden-Ille

Travel with Total Confidence: No unexpected expenses to get you home

As a baby boomer, you’ve worked hard, saved wisely, and now you’re finally enjoying the freedom to travel—whether it’s migrating south with the snowbirds, visiting grandkids across the country, or checking off that bucket-list cruise.

But have you ever paused to think about the one scenario no one likes to talk about: what happens if you or your spouse passes away far from home?

The reality is sobering. Bringing a loved one home commonly costs $3,000 to $7,000 within the U.S., and international repatriation regularly exceeds $15,000. Those costs usually land on the family in the first 48 hours, before grief has even settled in.

Medicare generally doesn’t pay to bring someone home, and any repatriation benefit in travel insurance is usually capped and conditional (see why Medicare, travel insurance and credit cards fall short). That’s why many baby boomers add one simple, affordable travel protection plan to their pre-trip checklist: the Death Away From Home Plan by DFS Memorials.

Imagine locking in complete protection for all your future travels—wherever and whenever you go—for a single, one-time payment of only $450. That’s less than one nice dinner out each month for just a single year… and you’re covered forever.

It’s a one-and-done decision: no renewals, no age limit, and nothing to re-file before each trip. That’s why it suits retirees and seasonal travelers who don’t want to leave their families with the bill.

Why the “Return Home” Risk Hits Baby Boomers Hardest

Older Americans are traveling more than they planned. Adults 50+ took an average of 4.2 trips in 2025, against the 3.6 they had planned, and 64% expect to travel in 2026 (AARP, March 2026).

Snowbirds often spend months of the winter in warmer states, while many others enjoy extended RV trips, cruises, or visits to children and grandchildren.

Unfortunately, this also means more families face the shock of out-of-state or international death arrangements. Here’s what typically happens without proper protection:

• The funeral home where the death occurs usually needs payment before it acts: commonly $3,000 to $7,000 within the U.S. for preparation and transport, and often more than $15,000 from abroad.
• Families scramble for cash, credit, or emergency loans while grieving.
• Delays of days or weeks occur while paperwork and funds are arranged.
• Emotional decisions are made under pressure, which can lead to unnecessary expenses.

The Death Away From Home Plan by DFS Memorials takes these worries off your family. If you die 75 miles or more from your legal U.S. residence, anywhere in the U.S. or overseas, it covers the cost and coordination of bringing you home. Your family makes one call.

What Exactly Does This Affordable Travel Protection Cover?

The plan is designed for simplicity—perfect for beginners who want reliable protection without complicated fine print. Here’s what you get:

• Air and ground transportation home, with final delivery to the local funeral home your family chooses. Or, if your family prefers, a direct cremation where the death happens and the cremated remains delivered home.
• Preparation for transport, an airline-approved shipping container, and all shipping documentation, permits and consular paperwork, including one certified death certificate.
• 24/7 assistance hotline that handles every detail so your family never has to negotiate during their time of grief.
• Coverage anywhere in the world—Canada, Mexico, Europe, cruises…you name it.
• No age limit and no health questions for most applicants.
• Not included: a viewing or ceremony at the place of death before transport. If your family asks for one, that costs extra (see the FAQ).

Check out our Ultimate 4-Step Travel Checklist for Every Over-60 Traveler.

Best of all? This plan offers lifetime protection for just one payment of $450—truly affordable travel protection that fits comfortably into a fixed retirement budget.  No ongoing or complicated travel insurance policies, just a one-time enrollment that protects for life. 

Should the unfortunate happen, your family will be protected from unexpected expenses and the logistical stress of getting you home.

Real Stories from Fellow Baby Boomers and Snowbirds

Meet Jim and Carol from Michigan, typical snowbirds who winter in Arizona. Last February, Jim suffered a sudden heart attack. Because they had enrolled in the Death Away From Home Plan just a few months earlier, Carol didn’t face a single bill or logistical headache.

Everything was taken care of within 48 hours, Carol shared. I could focus on family instead of forms and fees. It was the best $875 we ever spent to protect ourselves.

Or take Susan, a widowed retiree who loves European river cruises.

I used to worry every time I boarded the plane. Now I know that if something happens in Germany or France, my kids won’t be stuck figuring out foreign funeral laws or paying thousands of dollars. It’s pure travel peace of mind.

These aren’t rare cases—they’re the exact reason savvy boomers are making this plan a non-negotiable travel essential before any trip longer than a weekend.

How to Add This Peace of Mind Valuable Travel Protection in Under 10 Minutes

Getting covered couldn’t be easier:

1. Visit our Enroll Now page. 

2. Answer a few simple questions (no medical exam required for most) 

3. Select an Individual Plan ($450) or a Couple Plan ($875, a $25 saving) 

4. Enroll online. Your membership number and the 24/7 assistance number arrive by email straight away; your Welcome Pack, with a plastic membership card, is mailed within 48 hours and usually arrives in 7–10 days.

That’s it, folks. Many members complete the process while enjoying their morning coffee. And remember: you need a legal U.S. residence, meaning your fixed, full-time U.S. address. You can spend up to 180 days in any 12 months at another address, such as a winter home, and stay covered. Enroll while you’re at home: if you enroll while away, the plan takes effect only once you return.

Heading Away This Winter (2026–27)? Three Things to Do First

• Enroll before you leave. The plan starts when you enroll from home; if you enroll while away, it only takes effect once you return.
• Count your days away. Up to 180 days in 12 months at a winter address keeps your home address as your legal residence for the plan. Our snowbird travel insurance guide covers the other gaps for long stays.
• Give your family the number. The plan works only if someone knows to call the 24/7 line, and arrangements a family makes before calling aren’t reimbursed. Heading south of the border? Read what happens if you die in Mexico.

For the full pre-trip list, see the senior traveler’s complete protection checklist.

Travel Freely with Peace of Mind Protection—Because You’ve Planned Wisely

Life is too short to spend it worrying. You’ve earned the right to explore with total confidence, knowing one affordable travel protection plan stands between your family and enormous unexpected expense.

Many baby boomers just like you have already made the Death Away From Home Plan by DFS Memorials part of their pre-trip routine.

They sleep better on the road, laugh louder with grandkids, and savor every sunset—secure in the knowledge that if the unthinkable happens, everything is handled with dignity and zero financial stress.

Don’t wait for “someday” to get this essential coverage. Head to Enroll Now and give yourself—and your loved ones—the gift of true travel peace of mind.

Your next adventure is waiting…and now you can embrace it completely worry-free.

Safe travels—and welcome to the growing family of protected boomers who never leave home without it!