Travel Insurance for old folk....................

[SimonV8ster]

My brother and his family are going to Amercia for a couple of years. I was quite surprised when my parents said they would both go and visit, always stay in England normally.

Anyway my dad is 74 and my mum is 70. My dad got a quote from More Than for travel insurance for 700 quid

Apparantly it is because he takes pills to keep his bloody pressure down, I suppose this comes under having some sort of 'heart condition' so hes getting quoted a cost which might prohibit him going. (i would actually cover it one way or another to make sure he goes).

Has anybody else experienced this ? Any companies that specialise in travel for the older person ? He tried SAGA but it was also very high.

[lazy_b]

You could try All Clear travel insurance.

Both Mrs lazy_b and I are the "wrong" side of 55, and have several medical conditions (each) which have to be declared. The annual premium for all-Europe cover isn't much higher than the "vanilla" insurers, though. I don't know how they compare for USA travel, but it's worth a look.

[Beardy10]

I get my Mum annual travel insurance for free by giving her a supplementary card on my Amex account. She never uses it but it's good to know she has the card in case of emergencies and she gets free travel insurance...

I think you need a Platinum or higher Amex card to get this perk. No idea about other companies.

[Matt Harper]

This is an issue for my wife's parents, both of whom are getting on a bit. They have visited us a number of times over the past 4 or 5 years, but each time it has been more expensive than the last.
Her father had a heart bypass operation about 10 years ago and that factor, combined with his age (80 something) has made him pretty much uninsurable now.
Don't be tempted to chance it - an uninsured relative becoming ill/keeling over in the US can bankrupt the host.

[Broomsticklady]

Beardy10 said:

I get my Mum annual travel insurance for free by giving her a supplementary card on my Amex account. She never uses it but it's good to know she has the card in case of emergencies and she gets free travel insurance...

I think you need a Platinum or higher Amex card to get this perk. No idea about other companies.

I think I'd be checking the small print re age, existing health conditions - I've looked into this kind of policy since my cancer diagnosis and it doesn't cover me!!

[Beardy10]

Broomsticklady said:

Beardy10 said:

I get my Mum annual travel insurance for free by giving her a supplementary card on my Amex account. She never uses it but it's good to know she has the card in case of emergencies and she gets free travel insurance...

I think you need a Platinum or higher Amex card to get this perk. No idea about other companies.

I think I'd be checking the small print re age, existing health conditions - I've looked into this kind of policy since my cancer diagnosis and it doesn't cover me!!

I will have another look. My Mum has luckily been in very good health generally...a few minor niggles but nothing as serious as cancer.

[cjs]

Broomsticklady said:

Beardy10 said:

I get my Mum annual travel insurance for free by giving her a supplementary card on my Amex account. She never uses it but it's good to know she has the card in case of emergencies and she gets free travel insurance...

I think you need a Platinum or higher Amex card to get this perk. No idea about other companies.

I think I'd be checking the small print re age, existing health conditions - I've looked into this kind of policy since my cancer diagnosis and it doesn't cover me!!

Also some cards have an age limit of 80, so again check the small print.

[F i F]

Suggest giving these guys a call

http://www.medicitravel.com/travel-advice-older-tr...

Whilst I don't qualify for the older traveller category, at least yet, they gave us reasonably priced annual family cover when other companies wouldn't even quote.

The problem you are having is the destination, USA, it frightens travel insurance companies out of all proportion.

[SimonV8ster]

Thanks for all the advice so far

I think the latest quote he got was just under 200 quid (per annum) that seemed to cover most eventualities although they didn't seem to ask too many questions, hes waiting for the written quote to be sent to him so he can check the small print.

I'll find the name of the insurer and post on here.

[Wildsea]

Try Churchill, The Post Office, Age Concern and Help The Aged. They are the ones we recommend.

[shakotan]

www.travelsupermarket.com

Always use this comparison site for my folks, normally around £60 or so for a week in Europe. They are both over 65.

[Norfolkit]

Saga must be worth a shot, they specialise in that age group

[wobert]

Norfolkit said:

Saga must be worth a shot, they specialise in that age group

This ^-------

My mum has a "few" pre-exisiting conditions, and they pay c£100 for an annual policy for both of them.

[F i F]

wobert said:

Norfolkit said:

Saga must be worth a shot, they specialise in that age group

This ^-------

My mum has a "few" pre-exisiting conditions, and they pay c£100 for an annual policy for both of them.

It all depends on the pre-existing conditions. Anything away from the norm and they may refuse to quote.

Thus the specialist medical insurers should to be consulted, in which case you talk to a nurse who then provides feedback to the underwriter.

With normal insurance companies, and I include Saga as one of these, you just get a medically unqualified call centre bod following a script, and when computer says no, you get refused a quote. Which technically you then need to declare on any future applications.

[pollawyn]

Try the motor caravan club, you don't need to own a van. Found them very reasonable in the past.

[bint]

Apologies for not having the exact info on me, but try searching for insurers who cover UK expats.

I had a nightmare arranging insurance for my parents (70 & 72) who have no UK residency any more, but found a company here that could I insure and at a reasonable cost (was to Tunisia for a week for about £30 each).