Travel insurance might have seemed the best option to avoid getting into serious trouble while travelling or globe-trotting. However, how would you feel if the travel insurance itself was a ripoff in the first place? Don’t raise your eyebrows, because this is exactly the case with most over-65 individuals, who find the insurance premiums doubling up or shooting through the roof, just because they happen to be on the wrong side of 65.

Many insurance companies have defended the price jump, justifying that with over-65 travellers the chance of an insurance claim is thrice than young tourists, with the claim value again being thrice the normal claim rates.

Most of the elderly lot will take this into their stride and travel anyway, while the rest simply drop their plan to travel. Many often risk the dangers of travelling without buying travel insurance. But do you really have to be duped like this? Not really. Check out the listed tips to avoid being the latest victim of travel insurance ripoffs that have become so commonplace today:

• You Need to Choose Your Insurance Very Carefully – Shop around for a travel insurance deal. Take into account at least 10 insurance agencies before you settle for one, because most would not pay for existing ailments and have other adverse conditions. Try to find the one that costs the least with the maximum benefits.
• Specialists or Not? – Try to use a specialist insurance agency that has had a client base of over-65 travellers, but do not stick to them as a commandment. In fact, at times, using your neighbourhood bank or travel insurance agency might land you a better deal than specialists who care only for policies and deadlines.
• The Double-Agent – Don’t trust your agent blindly. Most agents try to sell off insurance policies that are of no use to you, except being about 90% more expensive than what other insurance policies would have cost.
• The Fine Print – Read the fine-print, (with a magnifying glass if so needed) in thorough detail. A lot of conditions, claim considerations, etc. are mentioned in fine print deliberately for you to miss them. Don’t give them the satisfaction and pleasure by doing so!

If you have these points in place, even the best travel insurance agent cannot get you to buy a useless policy, even if you are in desperate need of one!

Tags: over 65, travel insurance, Travel Tips

For all those Britons who have always had an unquenchable thirst for travel across the seven seas, there is good news in store! The Post Office, after an intensive survey, has found that aged travellers, especially, the over-65s are the most diligent and fearless in pursuing travel trips and plans – both domestically as well as abroad.

This comes as a pleasant surprise for mature travellers, as the recession has already weakened the finances of many.

Over-65 travel insurance had already become a major issue of concern for those travelling out of Britain and to places such as Africa or Asia, where the security issues and health concerns compel the tourists to have a travel insurance cover.

The Post Office has relieved a majority of such world-trekkers, many of whom were risking travel without travel insurance. It has also relieved a lot of stress from the children of parents who are over-eager to travel.

The travel insurance plan for the over-65s from the Post Office comprehensive yet well priced policy. Annual multi-trip over-65 travel insurance policies save the candidates from spending a fortune every time they decide to travel. Apart from the core travel cover for over 65s, additional benefits such as cover for baggage, waiver on excesses or golf cover are also readily available at through the Post Office.

However, the upper limit of their travel insurance has been set at 74. However good these plans may seem, always check the terms and conditions that have been set down by the Post Office before purchasing the travel policy.

The move from one of Britain’s most reputed and organized institutions has been welcomed by one and all, especially, from the older age group. As Rachel Croft, Head of Travel Insurance, Post Office, asserts, “We understand that finding affordable travel insurance can prove difficult for older travellers and can lead to people having to take out policies that impose high costs or heavy stipulations, which is why we are extending our multi-annual travel insurance policy to the over-65s.”

With a good multi-trip travel insurance to cover your back, you are ready to conquer the world, for travelling is an art that is never too late to practice and enjoy!

Tags: older people, over 65, post office, travel insurance