Older travellers, and particularly those over 65, can find it difficult to get travel insurance at an affordable level, as many policies carry an upper age limit.
Despite these individuals now having a much greater choice of holidays and travelling further afield, travel insurance for over 65s tends to carry higher premiums, as insurers view them as higher risk as they are more likely to suffer health problems.
While you may feel discriminated against because of your age, it’s not worth taking the risk of travelling uninsured, as you could end up vastly out of pocket should the worst happen. Instead, you need to focus your efforts on finding affordable cover.
Shop around
While some insurers refuse to cover older travellers, one in 10 of all single-trip policies has no age limit, according to financial analyst Defaqto, so it is worth shopping around.
“It is wrong to assume there is no choice or competition for older travellers,” says Mike Powell from Defaqto. “The market has improved in recent years, with more insurers offering cover to the over-65s. However, given the age restrictions that often exist, it is important to ensure you understand the features of a particular policy, and that it meets your needs, before you purchase.”
By researching cover online, you may be able to find a good value policy from a number of insurers who quote for travellers up to the age of 99, such as Club Direct, Columbus and Explorer.
The AA is another good insurer for older travellers, while Explorer and Columbus are also good for specialist cruise cover.
Cheapest policies for over-65s
Upper age limit | Travelling for one week to: | Partners quoting | Cheapest policy |
|---|
| 99 |
Europe |
Club Direct, Columbus and Explorer |
£43.35 |
| Worldwide inc US/Canada |
Club Direct, Columbus and Explorer |
£105.34 |
| 86 |
Europe |
Club Direct, Columbus and Explorer |
£43.35 |
| Worldwide inc US/Canada |
Club Direct, Columbus and Explorer |
£105.34 |
| 76 |
Europe |
Club Direct, Columbus and Explorer (Annual from Explorer or AA) |
£20.81 (Annual from £156.08) |
| Worldwide inc US/Canada |
Club Direct, Columbus and Explorer (Annual from Explorer or AA) |
£77.24 (Annual from £231.06) |
Note: All prices are from Confused.com, and were correct as of 3 Oct 2011
Type of policy
Be aware that many insurers only offer single-trip (rather than annual) policies to travellers over a certain age.
“Unless you are jetting off more than three times a year, multiple single-trip policies will probably be more economical,” says Kate Rose, head of holidays and travel at Confused.com.
Extended trips
Equally, if you’re planning to go abroad on an extended trip, be aware that a standard annual policy is unlikely to cover you, as most are limited to three or four weeks.
For longer trips and gap years, you may be better off finding a specialist extended or “long-trip” policy. Read one middle-aged backpacker's story to find out what you need to know.
Specialist insurers
If you struggling to get cover as an older traveller, it’s also worth trying a specialist insurer that does not impose age limits, such as Age UK and Saga.
But don’t automatically assume the specialists will offer the best deals without checking what else is available; it is best to do your own research by shopping around, as you may find a better deal from a standard insurer.
Check your current account
Some current accounts will offer travel insurance for older travellers as part of a package of benefits.
But note that these accounts often come with monthly fees of between £10 and £20.
The good news is, there are exception: such as Nationwide Building Society is now offering free travel insurance to those aged up to 75 as part of its FlexAccount, a fee-free current account.
“It’s worth checking whether travel insurance is offered,” says Rose. “However, you must read the small print, as current account policies can often be ‘no frills’ so make sure you check the medical cover, as well as the other features to ensure the level of protection is sufficient.”
Pre-existing medical conditions
Those with pre-existing medical conditions such as heart problems or cancer can also struggle to get affordable cover.
Insurers view these individuals as more likely to fall ill while on holiday; premiums are therefore more expensive as insurers perceive an increased risk of a claim being made.
Nonetheless, your condition needn’t stop you going on holiday, as it is still possible to get quality insurance at a competitive price through an insurer who takes a detailed medical history to evaluate risk accurately.
“You can select to only display insurers that quote for medical conditions,” says Rose. “But note that you will only get an indicative price until you inform the insurers of the details of the condition.”
Be honest
Finally, while it can be tempting to lie about pre-existing medical conditions in a bid to keep costs down, this could be a false economy, as if you do, you risk getting turned down when you come to claim.
“It’s imperative that a customer tells the insurer about any pre-existing medical conditions before purchasing,” says Rose. “Insurers which are good in this area include Explorer and Club Direct.”
