Over 80's Travel Insurance

HOLIDAY INSURANCE FOR OVER 80s

Travel insurance for the over 80s is a rare commodity in today's insurance market - almost, but not quite, as rare as finding a natural hair on Elton John's head. It does exist. You just have to look that little bit harder for it.

First you must be brutally honest with yourself.

Do I Really Need Cover?

Often, once you hit the magic age of 80 plus, you think to yourself, "What the heck" and just want to go for it regardless of the availability of travel insurance for your age group.

After 80-odd years on the planet, you deserve a holiday, so stuff the insurance!

Depending on your attitude to risk, you may decide to forgo travel insurance entirely.

In this respect some over 80s are just like gap year kids - they don't think about the repercussions either.

But the vast majority of people over 80 are much more likely to dwell on the serious repercussions of NOT having travel insurance, once the first flush of excitement wears off.

A Holiday at Your Age?

It could be that you've been tied to the kitchen sink for most of your life or never left the UK and have always dreamed of a holiday in some far-off place.

Maybe you have a sister or brother living abroad, in Canada or Australia, whom you haven't seen for 40-odd years and desperately want to see before you die.

Maybe you just want to see the world. Australia and New Zealand are two increasingly popular destinations for the over 80's.

Also growing in popularity are long-stay breaks in Malta or the Spanish Costas where let's face it, it's often much cheaper to live than the UK. Just think what you'd save in energy bills alone!!

And what old romantic in their heart of hearts, doesn't want to visit Casablanca, to find that gin joint where Humphrey and Ingrid fell in love all over again...?

So what if you're over 80? More and more octogenarians are heading off into the great blue yonder and like everyone else, taking advantage of low cost flights.

There is absolutely no reason in the world why you shouldn't follow your dreams.

What if I fall ill abroad?

For people over 80s, the farther afield you travel - Africa or America as opposed to Europe, say - and the longer you stay away, the risks to your health increase accordingly, as do travel insurance premiums.

So you have to think long and hard not only about the destination but about possible repercussions of falling ill abroad.

Obviously the closer to home you are (eg Europe) the easier things will be - which is why travel insurance premiums are cheaper than, say, North America.

If you are holidaying in Europe, the free European Health Insurance Card (EHIC card) entitles you to free or reduced-cost emergency healthcare when visiting European Economic Area (EEA) countries.

If you or any of your dependants are suddenly taken ill or have an accident during your visit to Europe, free or reduced-cost necessary treatment is available - in most cases - on production of a valid EU Health Insurance Card.

The card is NOT a substitute for comprehensive travel health insurance because it won't cover all your health and medical needs. The EHIC card merely provides back-up cover in emergency situations but it certainly won't cover all of the things you would expect back home.

And it certainly won't cover the cost of your transport home.

The cost of falling ill on holiday can easily run into £1 million-plus so it's vital to have good travel health insurance cover for medical mishaps.

According to the Foreign & Commonwealth Office in Mediterranean countries just 2 days in a general ward could sting you £1,600. For 2 days in intensive care, reckon on £5,000.

Without a comprehensive insurance policy, medical care can cost the earth particularly in Canada and the US where there are no special arrangements for British visitors.

Get stuck in either country without travel insurance then you may need to take out insurance locally. In the USA, for instance, a broken hip or wrist could cost between £20,000-30,000.

Pre-Existing Medical Conditions

If you have a pre-existing medical condition (eg heart disease, diabetes, stroke, cancer), you must declare this to your insurer.

For people with an existing medical problem, obviously the risk of something going seriously wrong is increased considerably which is why travel insurance is a necessity.

It can cushion you and your loved ones against the worst possible scenario.

If you do fall ill abroad - and it's more likely to happen to an octogenarian than it is to someone in their teens or 20s - then you can insure against it, ie, get your medical/repatriation bills paid for you.

Without travel insurance, there are serious repercussions not only for you but your family back home.

The house you hoped to leave them in your will could well be swallowed up by medical costs, if your heart condition, say, deteriorates while you are away or, heaven forbid, you have a stroke and die abroad.

Even if you don't have property or any kind of estate to bestow on your family, you still have to think long and hard about the shockwaves your sickness/illness/death abroad could cause.

Repatriation costs (ie bringing your body back home) are extortionate.

The reality of the situation is that no-one needs travel insurance more than people who are aged 80+, particularly those with a pre-existing medical condition, such as -

• Cardiac/heart disease
• Stroke
• Diabetes
• Asthma

FAQs

I want to take my elderly gran on holiday. She's over 80 and has had a heart bypass. What should I do about travel insurance?

You need to let your travel insurer know about your gran's pre-existing medical condition.

If you don't and she falls ill as a result of her condition while abroad, then the whole family's travel policy is invalidated. You won't be able to claim compensation for shortening of the holiday, for example, or any hospital costs resulting from your gran's condition.

You will be liable for all costs relating to her hospital treatment, and all costs for transporting her back home.

Why is travel insurance so expensive for over 80s?

Age is a key factor in calculating an insurance quote - because of the increased health risk, obviously. The vast majority of insurers discriminate against the over 80s and refuse cover.

Can I Taking Medication Abroad

If you have an existing medical condition such as Insulin for diabetics then you may need to take medication abroad.

Can I Get Cheap Travel Insurance

There is no such thing as cheap travel insurance for the over 80s. Once you hit the big eight-o, you can say goodbye to cut-price premiums. But you can still bag a better deal by going online and getting several quotes.

Single or Annual Cover?

Annual Travel Insurance

Annual or Multi-Trip travel insurance policies cover you for all the breaks you take in a year but very few insurance companies will consider the over 80s for this kind of policy.

It's very likely you will need to take out a single trip policy for each break - so it wise to find a cheap one.

Single Trip Travel Insurance

It's a much simpler process to purchase single trip travel insurance ie, cover for one holiday. Length of stay varies according to the insurer.

If there are no pre-existing medical conditions, there's nothing to stop you buying online. If you do suffer from a particular ailment or have been in hospital recently, you will have to declare it.

Here you will be referred to a medical screening agent, who will weigh up your 'insurability' and levy the premium accordingly.

Travel Insurance Providers For Over 80's

• Citybond Online Quotes (upper age limit 85)
• AmericanExpress.com
• Review of Age Concern travel insurance
• HelptheAged.org.uk

Churchill Insurance

Churchill give cheap quotes and single trip cover for people over 65's and those up to the age of 99 years of age.
Review of Churchill ...

Saga Insurance

SAGA specialises in selling products and services to the over 50s age group, including insurance, holidays, cruises and hotels. You have to be over 50 to be eligible and there's no upper age limit.
SAGA review ...

Post Office

The PostOffice have no upper upper age limit to their policies and to obtain a quote for people over 75 call free on 0800 169 9999. You may need to speak to a medical screening line if you have an existing medical problem and this could increase the cost of cover, some conditions are not covered too.
Post Office review ...

Travel Agents

The deal on travel insurance deal offered by your travel agent, particularly if you have a pre-existing medical problem is possibly not the best deal you can find.

Shop online instead. Internet quotes tend to give you the cheapest travel insurance quotes, so join the growing band of grey panthers out there and surf the net to find a deal that suits you.

Or contact your local insurance broker and let them do all the hard work for you.