Travel Insurance for Visiting Parents
 

Hi All, I'm new to this forum although I have been tracking it for many years now. I am originally from Yorkshire but have been residing in Brisbane for a liitle over 6 years now and loving it. The reason for my post now is that I have recently offered to pay for my parents to come over for a visit over Christams this year and was hoping them to come for approx. 10 weeks (from late Nov to early Feb) so they can spend valuable time with their grandkids, the main problem now is that my father is having trouble getting covered for health insurance for that period, only 1 insurance company will cover him for a max of 45 days, it has been a nightmare for him (each time spending over half an hr on the phone to be told no). The main reason is that he is over 65 and on medication inc. water retention tablets which we have been told is the main reason. Can anybody help out there and hopefully point us in the right direction, he has tried most of the specialist insurance companys for pensioners already.

Re: Travel Insurance for Visiting Parents
 

My folks are coming over and have taken insurance with Saga.

Re: Travel Insurance for Visiting Parents
 

Thanks for the reply, have tried them and they will only do a max of 45 days, we are hoping for approx 10 weeks

Re: Travel Insurance for Visiting Parents
 

Its not easy for > 65 with medical issues.

BTW, anybody out there over 65 and hasn't got medical issues? The way the clauses are worded (seen doctor/outpatients/specialist last 6 mths,on meds etc) gives Insurers plenty of wriggle room in the event of a claim.

Maybe try

http://www.insureme4.co.uk/travel-insurance/long-stay

Haven't used them myself but worth a punt. Maybe you do the web searching and phoning first to get a short list then let your parents do the application.

Be prepared to get part way through the online application process only to be told call xxxxxxxxx for a medical questionnaire. I have done it and the process is a tedious but its surprising that they will cover things like recent strokes etc provided applicant is in reasonable nick now. But do prepare for a loaded premium.

As a side issue, you may feel that cover is only needed for the TRAVEL part because Aus has reciprocal emergency treatment with UK. Unfortunately I have yet to find an Insurer who will cover just that so you are left weighing up the risk of a major health event on the flight and being hospitalised at your intermediate stop (e.g. Singapore) and paying yourself.

All in all, not an easy game.b best of luck and lets know how you get on.

Re: Travel Insurance for Visiting Parents
 

Not gone through in detail but try this

http://www.money.co.uk/travel-insura...-insurance.htm

Re: Travel Insurance for Visiting Parents
 

You mention the reciprocal agreement, but bear in mind that is in only for emergencies. It doesn't cover the cost of repatriation back to UK if long term treatment is needed and neither does it cover elective hospital admission. (the example that comes to mind is if the op needs surgery or ongoing treatment for an illness)

Re: Travel Insurance for Visiting Parents
 

You could try www.europesuretravelinsurance.com - they will do a 90 day Annual multi trip policy. They also only exclude medical conditions where treatment or meds have chaged in last 24 months.

Re: Travel Insurance for Visiting Parents
 

Just wanted to say good luck and we had a bit of this when my relatives were out here in 2011.

My mother is in a wheelchair, not great health, missing a hip (botched replacement, infection set in, bone eaten away), diabetic, and she got medical insurance no problem.

My aunt, who has full use of all her limbs, is in better general health, but is on a medication that triggered a red flag on all the applications had to pay double the premium for hers and that was after being refused by a number of companies. Just wild the ways the companies calculate potential risk.

Re: Travel Insurance for Visiting Parents
 

Try Globelink, they specialise in elderly people travel insurance. Here is a list of some other insurance companies - http://www.globespots.com/travelinsurance_uk.php

Re: Travel Insurance for Visiting Parents
 

Do they really need travel insurance? As a visitor from the UK I believe they can go to Medicare and register for the period of their sta and they will be covered for any emergency. When we visited Australia two years ago, we didn't take out insurance - just dropped into the local medicare centre on arrival and got a temporary card. It got used too! I ended up with a fishbone in my finger and had to go to emergency for removal. After several hours and treatment - it didn't cost me a penny thanks to the temporary Medicare card. Go to Medicare and check it out.

I also had to go to doctors later to have stitches removed - again at no cost.

Re: Travel Insurance for Visiting Parents
 

They would not be covered en route however - for instance if they fell ill on the flight and had to be treated in (for instance) Singapore. Or if they became seriously ill and needed to be repatriated. The reciprocal scheme only copvers emergency treatment.

Re: Travel Insurance for Visiting Parents
 

That's very true !