Q: I'm 77 years old and want travel insurance for a tour in the USA. Where
do I find it? DJ Timber, by email
Times Online travel insurance expert Elizabeth Colman responds: A good
place to find deals is online, with travel insurers such as the AA and
Direct Line are offering discounts of up to 15%, with certain conditions, if
you buy a policy on their website. Other insurers offering policies to the
over 75s include Help the Aged, Saga, Churchill, Marks & Spencer Money,
Rias, and Aged Concern. Premiums for a four week trip range from £118.64 (M &
S Money) to around £323.25 (Saga) between April and July. Help the Aged,
which specialises in cover for older travellers, offers a two week single
trip policy to USA for 77 year-old for £142.99
It's also a good idea to consider if you are planning to travel again within
twelve months, as some insurers offer a cheaper rate for annual multi-trip
cover than for a single trip. For example, AA's single trip cover to the USA
for the over 75s is £214.66, but a one-year policy covering multiple trips
is £177.15. However, many insurers offer multi-trip cover for trips to
Europe only.
Q: My parents, a young 74 and 82, are generally fit and wishing to spend
two/three periods of four weeks at our flat in Spain. However, the cost of
travel insurance-quotes of between £450-£650 for each visit are too high to
allow them to go. They are really only concerned about: being repatriated if
one of them were to die and obtaining health treatment locally. Is there any
insurance that would cover them for this on annual policy? Helen
Warren, by email
Times Online travel insurance expert Elizabeth Colman responds: There
are cheaper options available for your parents if they purchase an annual
policy. It would also be worth taking advantage of discounts for a couple.
For example, an annual European policy from Help the Aged Travel Insurance for
a couple is £180.30. The policy covers for unlimited number of trips during
the year with a maximum of 31 days away for each trip. Repatriation is
covered and wherever possible, health treatment can be obtained locally.
Q: Help! My 82 year old mother is looking for travel insurance to
USA. She had heart surgery in 1997, has been in good health since, and we
have reached the end of our tether trying to get insurance for her. Even
with a large excess we are struggling. A reasonable request surely. This
ever increasing older population with disposable income and the will and
aspirations to travel, and all we get are barriers. I see this as
discriminatory. Do you have any ideas. We have tried the usual Aged Concern,
BUPA etc, they direct us to a medical questionnaire and there the rot
starts. You have been crusaders for lost causes in the past - please help.
Hazel Mackenzie, by email
Times Online travel insurance expert Elizabeth Colman responds: When we
looked around for a policy for your mother online, we found that unless she
is still taking prescription medication for her condition, she may not need
to fill out a medical questionnaire.
However to be certain that she is covered, it would be wise to approach an
insurer which specialises in pre-existing medical conditions. Some examples
include Free Spirit: 0845 230 5000, and Mediquote 01243 534400 and
Medicover, 08707353600.
If you have a complaint about an insurer or if you feel that you have been
discriminated against you can make a report the insurer to the Financial
Ombudsman Service.
Elizabeth Colman is a business reporter for The Times
Do you have a question for our experts? Email any travel-related question
to us at yoursay@timeosnline.co.uk
Iam 65 and my wife is 62 and we enjoy Skiing along with other holidays. Often we travel freelance using hire cars and local accommadation. Recently we had a flydrive holiday in the USA organised by ourselves, Sun in Arizona and Skiing in New Mexico and Colorado. We would like to repeat this but have found insurance difficult to obtain a). because of my age and 2).skiing as part of another holiday rather than a one or two week skiing holiday is not acceptable to the insurance company. Have you any ideas to help us. Thanks
Ian Cartwright, Leeds, England
How do I send answers to the Where Was I competion on your new website. It seems to have disappeared from your new website
K.Phillips, Reading, UK