Travel Insurance for the Over 60s

It has long been known that insurers are reluctant to insure older travellers past their 60th birthday and certainly avoid travellers in their 80s. Now, new research from Which? has found that as many a quarter of insurance companies refuse to provide cover for the over 60s while 90 per cent refuse to insure the over 80s.

This problem also applies to cover for single trips for older people. Eighty six per cent had an upper age limit for travel insurance and under 30 per cent would cover the over 80s.

It appears from the study that even when travel insurance is available for such older people the premiums become excessive. Indeed, the cost of premiums often triples on a person reaching their 66th birthday.

Older travellers can get the best deals by looking online, but the problem with that is that six out of ten of over 65s have never used the internet. This is all the more reason for over 60s to take advantage of internet and computer training such as those currently available through various government-backed enterprises.

It is time to address this problem of finding affordable travel insurance for the over 60s and over 80s. At present, Which? is working with the government to set up proposals that insurance would have to supply evidence for high premiums for these age groups? Companies should be required to substantiate their automatic assumption that older people are more likely to make a claim.

Executive director of Which? Richard Lloyd said: "It’s absurd that you could wake up one morning and suddenly be three times more expensive to insure. Older travellers are finding it increasingly difficult to get cover or are priced out of travelling altogether."

Mr Lloyd added that companies should "take a more common sense approach and look at factors other than age when setting premiums".

Meanwhile, over 60s and over 80s can look at the Saga website which offers specific travel insurance for older travellers. The insurance does not have an upper age limit and includes cover for many preexisting conditions, provides discounts for partners and includes an option to protect family and friends of any age even if travelling separately from the person insured. The company provides many other features not found elsewhere such as automatic cover for over 40 leisure activities with an option for protection for winter sports, golf and scuba diving.

Saga insurance provides for 24-hour emergency medical treatment, a return flight home if needed, and will pay for services to take the insured person to hospital if required. The policy also covers daily incidental expenses for a hospital stay.

Other benefits of using Saga for travel insurance is the 24-hour support provided worldwide especially in emergency, replacing lost or stolen passports and other documents, tracing lost and delayed luggage, information on contacting local embassies and consulates, advice on hospitals and medical provision and transferring money out of the country if this is needed.

It is easy to apply - just fill out the form online and get a quote for your journey.

What's this?