Specialist travel insurance cover

In this, the final part of our guide we take a look at travel insurance for the over 65s and other specialist travel insurance policies.

Travel insurance for the over 65s

If you are aged over 65 then finding a suitable travel insurance policy can be challenging. This is because travel insurance providers view the over 65 age group as a greater risk, both in terms of their likelihood of falling ill or having an accident abroad and of making a claim.

As a result travel insurance providers may:

• Impose an age limit and refuse to offer cover to those aged over 65
• Offer cover but at a higher premium
• Only offer single trip cover rather than annual multi-trip policies

Where cover is available, the provider may:

• Ask about pre-existing medical conditions and deal with applications on a case-by-case basis
• Refer the applicant for medical screening
• Impose special terms, exclusions or excesses

If you are aged over 65 then don't be tempted to travel abroad without adequate cover. Competitive policies are available from specialist and non-specialist providers – with gocompare.com you can compare policies from a number of different providers.

Travel insurance and pre-existing medical conditions

A pre-existing medical condition is a health condition or medical problem that was diagnosed or treated before an insurance policy was taken out.

When you do take out a travel insurance policy you must declare any pre-existing conditions – if you don't and you do need to make a claim, then it may be rejected if the pre-existing condition is considered to be relevant to it.

If you do have a pre-existing condition then insurers may:

• Offer cover on standard terms, depending on the condition and its severity
• Choose to exclude medical cover for some or all pre-existing conditions
• Offer cover but at a higher premium
• Impose special terms, exclusions or excesses
• Refuse to offer cover entirely

If you do have a pre-existing medical condition then you should shop around in order to find suitable cover at a competitive price. Policies are available from both specialist and non-specialist providers - with gocompare.com you can compare policies from a number of different providers however if you do decide to buy then you will be required to supply further information relating to your pre-existing conditions before the policy will be accepted.

Scheduled Airline Failure Insurance (SAFI)

In the current economic climate the threat of airlines and holiday companies going bust is a very real concern. In fact, during 2008 there were several high profile casualties, including XL and Zoom.

Most travel insurance policies won't pay out if your trip is affected by an airline going out of business, however there are a few that do include Scheduled Airline Failure Insurance (SAFI). If you are concerned about not having this cover then it is possible to purchase a standalone SAFI policy from ‘Protectmyholiday‚ to complement your travel insurance policy.

Before buying SAFI bear in mind that if you book a package holiday through an ATOL (Air Travel Organisers' Licensing) registered travel agent then you will have ATOL protection. If you do book your travel tickets independently then use a credit card if possible as you'll be protected by the Consumer Credit Act 1974 in the event that the airline goes bust (providing the purchase was for an amount between £100 and £30,000). If you use your debit card then you may not be covered, unless you can prove that the purchase was made using your overdraft facility. If you pay by cash or by cheque then you won't be protected and are unlikely to receive a refund.

In the final part of our guide we explain how you can save money but still find the right cover for your needs.

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