Despite the increasing number of older travellers heading for sunny climes, it can sometimes be a bit of a struggle for over 70’s to get affordable travel insurance. We show how you can avoid the pitfalls and get the cover that's right for you.
State of play
Insurance is based on risk and the older we are the greater the risk of suffering injury or illness when abroad. Because of this, many insurers rule out providing any cover for travellers who are over 70 and those that do, often impose much higher premiums than for a traveller aged 65.
If you’re relying on your European Health Insurance Card to provide you with cover on your travels, be aware that you will only be covered for your medical bills. It won’t cover you for things like repatriation back to the UK by whatever means are deemed appropriate (air ambulance, airline etc.) in the case of a medical emergency.
What's out there?
The good news is that there are now more insurers than ever who specialise in insuring the over 70s traveller. Never slow to get in on the action, this has opened the door for mainstream insurance companies to also begin quoting for older travellers.
Single trip and multi trip policies tailored for the older traveller are now readily available both online and in the high street. As always, the best place to start looking for an affordable policy is an online comparison table.
Get the insurance that's right for you
With more of us living fitter and healthier lifestyles, age is no longer a barrier when it comes to what you can get up to on your holiday. Many specialist over 70s insurers offer different levels of insurance, with the higher being able to be upgraded at an additional cost to cover activities such as golf or skiing.
With so many travel opportunities available to the older traveller these days, many will find themselves in the enviable position of being able to go abroad more than once a year. If that is the case then it may be worth investing in a multi-trip policy as this often works out cheaper than taking out two single policies.
What to watch out for
You should always make sure that you declare any pre-existing medical conditions or else you may find yourself being liable for all of your costs. The list of pre-existing medical conditions that are covered vary from policy to policy, so it is always best to check if you are unsure. Most insurers have telephone helplines or even online medical screening available to assist you.
As with any policy, being underinsured is nearly as bad as having no insurance at all. Below is a handy list of things to remember to check in your policy’s small print:
- Amount of Cover – should be at least £1 million for medical (£2 million outside Europe), £1 million for personal liability and £1,500 for baggage. Also does the policy cover things like repatriation?
- Maximum stay – how long will you be staying? Some insurers reduce the maximum duration of your holiday from 90 to 30 days for older travelers. This is out of fear that some people might use their travel insurance as a health insurance if they own a property abroad.
- Upper age limit – these vary from policy to policy. Some stop at 79 while others have no upper limit. Excess – This tends to be higher on cheaper policies. Think about how much you are willing to pay.
- Excess – this tends to be higher on cheaper policies. Think about how much you are willing to pay.
Why you might be refused cover?
Whether you’re filling out a form online or over the telephone, it is always extremely frustrating to have gone through all that only to be refused cover right at the end.
The individual reasons for being turned down are myriad. The safest thing to say is that you have come a cropper against an insurer’s risk evaluation which very often only takes into account a single factor.
Don’t be disheartened, though. ‘Coverable criteria’ differs greatly from insurer to insurer and simply checking the application criteria before you apply could save a lot of bother.
The fact that getting a quote online is so easy these days, firmly puts the odds in your favour. If one insurer turns you down, then you can quickly try another and it will only be a matter of time before you find some affordable cover.
