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!

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!

70% of Englishmen who retire wish to pack their bags and go off on a world tour.

The yearning to travel to distant places doesn’t diminish with age, but the security and health concerns can prevent older people from travelling.

With many conventional health insurance and travel-insurance agencies either charging sky-high premiums or rejecting applications for over 65 travel insurance, seniors have very little choice but to stay at home. Recently, this scenario has changed for the better as we here at 65 Travel Insurance offer online comparisons for the young at heart and all the way up to those who need elderly travel insurance for themselves, a parent or grandparent.

So, before you pick any elderly travel insurance deal, check the following points to reduce your travel insurance premiums and stay out of trouble during the trip –

• Terms of qualification – Check for every minute detail related to the qualifying presets (including age limits) set down by the insurance provider. Honest answers to all personal data for verification, including your age and contact details are mandatory to avoid facing nasty surprises in the deal, in case any unpleasant incident occurs during the trip.
• Health conditions – Double-check whether all health conditions are covered by your over 65 travel insurance policy. Pre-existing conditions that will not be entertained during a claim should be clarified beforehand.
• Follow the right procedure for making your claim – Identify and comprehend the complete procedure of claiming compensation if an accident occurs during the trip. Even though the agents will help you with this, consulting your lawyer is strongly advised. Many claims are denied outright because they ignore the correct procedure.

With all these points in place, you are ready to revel in the sun in Hawaii or revisit the Incas in Peru, while 65 travel insurance covers your wallet!

1st Stop Travel Insurance offers cheap travel insurance online for residents located in the United Kingdom (England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and the Isle of Man).

1Stop can offer cover many for pre-existing medical conditions and their friendly team are available 7 days a week to answer your questions.

Upper age limit for for 1st Stop Travel Insurance

Single trip cover is available for insured persons who are up to and including age 75 years at the time the validation certificate is issued. Annual multi-trip cover is available to people 65 years or younger at the time the validation certificate is issued.

Cover	Per person/ Per trip	Excess
Cancellation or curtailment	Up to £5,000	£75
Emergency medical expenses	Up to £10,000,000	£75
Hospital benefit	£15 per day up to £600	Nil
Personal accident	Max. Benefit £25,000	Nil
Lost baggage	Up to £1,500	£75
Personal money and documents	Up to £500	£75
Personal liability	Up to £2,000,000	£250
Delayed departure	£20 per 12 hour period Up to £300	Nil
Holiday abandonment	Up to £3,000	£75
Missed departure	Up to £1,000	£75
Catastrophe cover	Up to £1,000	£75
Mugging benefit	£40 per day up to £400	Nil
Withdrawl of services	£50 per day up to £500	Nil
Kennel/cattery fees	£20 per day up to £100	Nil
Third party supplier insolvency	Up to £2,000	£75
Overseas legal expenses	Up to £25,000	£250

Single or Multi-trip

Single Trip Policy – If you are planning a specific holiday or trip abroad get travel cover for any length holiday up to 365 days.

Multi-Trip Policy – If you are going away more than twice in one year annual travel insurance is the recommended option. An annual policy will cover you for an unlimited number of holidays up to 45 days in duration and could work out cheaper for you.

Additional Cover

1st Stop Travel Insurance also provides cover for:

• Ski Equipment
• Golf
• Wedding Cover
• Cruise Holiday Insurance

65 Travel Insurance has recently obtained quotes from a variety of travel insurers who cater to people over 65 years. The results are listed below:

Date completed: 21st August 2009
Cheapest travel insurance: Staysure.co.uk – GET QUOTE

• Staysure.co.uk (Single trip – Comprehensive) – £13.43
• Insure for All – £21.49
• Saga – £27.66
• Direct Travel (Silver) – £28.60
• M&S – £32.77

The quotes will be to compare price and is based on the following conditions:

65 year old – male
European holiday
Single trip – 14 days
No medical or pre-existing conditions

PLEASE NOTE: Depending on your circumstances price should not be be sole factor in determining the most appropriate travel insurance for yourself. You should take in to consideration any excess payable, cover for pre-exisiting conditions and you should read the terms and conditions before purchasing any policy.

Staysure Travel Insurance offers both basics and comprehensive travel cover. Their Basics policy is an affordable solution without all the extra bells and whistles. Starting at just £4.53 you’ll find their prices are very competitive. If your looking for greater peace of mind their comprehensive travel insurance policy may be more suitable.

Staysure travel insurance covers over 250 medical ailments for FREE including a number of serious conditions such as Acid reflux, Arthritis, Asthma (if controlled by an inhaler), Diabetes (if controlled & no associated conditions), Hiatus Hernia and Hypertension.

Upper age limit for Insure for Staysure Travel Insurance

Staysure Travel Insurance has a maximum age limit of 85 years and they cover most pre-existing medical conditions.

Cover	Per person / per trip	Excess
Cancellation or curtailment	£5,000	£65
Missed departure	Eurpoe - £500 Worldwide - £1,000	Nil
Delayed departure	Delayed - £300 Abandonment - £5,000	£65
Emergency medical and associated expenses	£10,000,000	£65
Personal accident	£20,000	Nil
Personal posessions	£200	£65
Delayed personal posessions	£100	Nil
Personal money	£500	£65
Loss of passport	£500	Nil
Legal expenses	£25,000	Nil
Personal liability	£2,000,000	£65
Hijack	£5,000	Nil

Single or Multi-trip

Single Trip Policy – Will cover you for up to 100 days per single trip

Multi-Trip Policy – If you have purchased an Annual Multi-Trip policy and are aged 65 or under, no trip must last more than 50 days (100 days when the extra premium has been paid to extend
this limit). No trip must last more than 35 days if you are aged between 66 and 80.

Additional Cover

Staysure Travel Insurance also provides cover for:

• Winter Sports
• Golf
• Wedding Cover

Saga Travel Insurance offers good value for money cover with all the features you would expect from a policy designed with the mature traveller in mind.

A travel policy with Saga is a sensible option for anyone over 65. In fact, travel insurance is available to anyone over 50 with no upper age limit.

Upper age limit for Insure for Saga Travel Insurance

Saga Travel Insurance has no upper age limit and they cover most pre-existing medical conditions.

Single or Multi-trip

Single Trip Policy – Will cover you for up to 90 days per single trip travel insurance policy and is available to all destinations.

Multi-Trip Policy – You’re cover for up to a total of 120 days travel per policy year. It is standard to be covered for 45 days per trip, however this can be extended to 60 – 90 days for trips within the EU and worldwide trips outside the United States.

Additional Cover

If you’re in to adventure and activity Saga Travel Insurance also provides cover for:

• Winter Sports
• Scuba Diving
• Golf

Insure for All specialises in over 65 travel insurance cover, and you’ll get a decision in seconds with their fast online quote system.

At Insureforall.com, their approach is to treat everyone as an individual and tailor each quote to the applicant’s status.

Upper age limit for Insure for All Travel Insurance

Insure for All provide specialist over 65 travel insurance. Single trip travel insurance has no upper age limit. While annual multi trip policies have an upper age limit of 74.

Single or Multi-trip

Single Trip Policy – Up to the age of 84 years. Maximum 45 days.

Multi-Trip Policy – Up to the age of 74 years. Maximum 31 days.

Additional Cover

If you’re in to adventure and activity Insure for All Insurance also provides cover for:

• Winter Sports
• Business
• Golf

Help the Aged provides travel insurance through intune, a wholly owned subsidiary of Help The Aged.

One point that sets intune travel insurance apart from other insurers is profits generated from selling insurance policies are invested back in to charitable activities. Each time you take out travel cover you will know your payment is going towards a good cause.

Upper age limit for Intune Travel Insurance

Intune goes way beyond 65 years of age for their travel insurance. Their policy has no upper age limit and many pre-existing medical conditions may be covered.

Cover	Per person/ Per trip	Excess
Cancellation	£5,000	£50
Emergency medical and associated expenses	£10,000,000	£50
Loss of passport	£500	£50
Delayed personal possessions	£150	Nil
Personal possessions (optional)	£2,500	£50
Personal money (optional)	£500	£50
Personal accident	£25,000	Nil
Missed departure	£1,000	Nil
Delayed departure	£150 - delay £5,000 - abandonment	Nil/ £50
Personal liability	£2,000,000	£50
Legal expenses	£25,000	Nil
Hijack or kidnap	£2,000	Nil
Home help	£300	Nil
Recovery holiday	£500	£50
Cosmetic surgery	£2,500	£50
Medical examination	£300	Nil

Single or Mult-trip

Single Trip Policy – Will cover you for up to 185 days per single trip travel insurance policy.

Multi-Trip Policy – Covered for up to 31 days per trip.

Additonal Cover

Intune Travel Insurance also provides cover you for:

• Winter Sports
• Weddings
• Golf