Snowboarding Exchange

Travel insurers seem to think that people over the age of 65 are more likely to make a claim for medical care so the cost of travel insurance can be more than double the premium of someone under 65.

So, are travel insurance companies missing a trick? There are nearly 10 million people in the UK aged over 65 who, with no commitments and having cleared themselves of a mortgage and their children, are travelling more than ever. There are plenty of over 75s travelling too and this group is even more marginalised by major insurers.

Of course these people are not white water rafting, snowboarding or mountain biking and in most cases are relaxing in the sun or travelling to see parts of the world whey have an interest in.

Healthier lifestyle and medical advances means that age should not be regarded as the major risk factor it once was. There are a lot of people aged over 70 who are perfectly fit and healthy and many of these may now be fitter than the 25 year old binge drinking smoker who is riding his hired scooter in Ibiza or partying on the hotel balcony.

So if you are over the age of 65 and want to travel the world with peace of mind what do you do?

Some insurers won’t cover people over 65 at all, so always check the age limit before buying a policy and get quotes from providers who aim to offer older travellers a good deal. There are some insurers who in certain circumstances provide cover up to age 89.

There are some other factors to consider when looking for affordable over 65 travel insurance. If you plan to travel abroad more than once a year, it could be cheaper to buy multitrip or annual travel insurance policy rather than single trip cover. Not only is it often cheaper, but it also reduces the amount of paperwork involved as you only have to supply the information once, instead of several times.

Another way to keep costs down is to ensure that you don’t pay for cover you will not need. Many standard travel insurance policies for families include coverage for winter sports, for example. Try to get a travel insurance quote based solely upon your travel needs and personal circumstances rather than a one size fits all policy.

Insurers can refuse to cover medical expenses abroad if the treatment is for a pre-existing medical condition. This includes any ongoing medical condition or a condition you’ve had in the past. If you’re not asked about your medical history, so make sure you tell the insurer when you buy the policy, however irrelevant it may seem. Some insurers will cover you but may charge an extra premium or make certain exclusions.

Due to the fact that over 65 travel insurance is often more expensive, it is even more important to shop around when searching for the insurer and policy that will give you the best possible deal.

But whatever you do, make sure do not give up on protecting yourself whilst travelling and certainly dont be put off from travelling because of this, there are good companies who offer good rates that will make sure you are not counting the cost further down the line.