Specialist travel insurance cover
Guide to travel insurance for over-65s and those with pre-existing medical conditions, plus information on scheduled airline failure.
Travel insurance for the over 65s
If you are aged over 65 then finding a suitable travel insurance policy can be challenging.
When you take out a travel insurance policy you must declare any pre-existing conditions
This is because providers view the over-65 age group as being at greater risk of falling ill or having an accident abroad and having to make a claim.
As a result, insurers 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 over 25 insurance brands.
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 take out a policy you must declare any pre-existing conditions – if you don't and you subsequently need to make a claim, it may be rejected if the pre-existing condition is considered relevant.
If you 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
If you 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 over 25 insurance brands.
But bear in mind that if you decide to buy 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 and there have been a number of high-profile casualties.
Most policies won't pay out if your trip is affected by an airline going out of business, but some do include Safi.
If you are concerned about not having this cover then it is possible to purchase a stand-alone Safi policy to complement your travel policy.
Before buying Safi, though, bear in mind that if you book a package holiday through an Air Travel Organisers' Licensing (Atol) registered travel agent you will have Atol protection.
If you book your travel tickets independently then use a credit card if possible. That means you'll be protected by the Consumer Credit Act 1974 in the event that the airline goes bust, providing that 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.
