mardyarse

Hi there,

There might be hope that my 81 year old mother and 79 year old might be coming for one last visit to us in Canada.

The problem is because she is over 80 (in fine health) the travel/emergency medical insurance quotes shoot up, has anyone got any experience in this?

If so, can anyone recommend a travel insurance site with competitive quotes so we can make this happen and what do people do? They wouldn't leave the house without insurance so winging it won't be an option.

I'd really appreciate any help, cheers

Souvy

Try talking to Age Concern or Help the Aged. I think they have plans.

It'll still be expensive, though. Very expensive.

Jingle

Hi Mardy ..... my mil is with us at the moment - she is 91 and she got her insurance through Age Concern - $750 for two weeks

Below are some places you could try but I'm sorry the information may be a little out of date - it's something I got from somewhere a few years ago and have just kept it on file as we have various elderlies who visit and the places below are a good starting point.

Hope it helps .... J




Age Concern Travel Insurance (0845 602 9184; ageconcern.org.uk) No upper age limit. Single trip Europe: £25.08 (depends on country and gender – this is for a male travelling to France). Annual worldwide: £124.15.

All Clear Insurance (0845 250 5200; allcleartravel.co.uk) AllClear2Go covers single trips only. Maximum age 79. Europe: £24.04. Enhanced tailor-made "personal" and " cruise" policies covering pre-existing conditions are available.

Columbus Direct (0800 068 0060; www.columbusdirect.com) No upper age limit for single-trip cover. Maximum age is 84 for annual cover. Single trip Europe: £20.04. Annual worldwide: £153.73. An enhanced "Super" policy is available.

Direct Travel (0845 605 2700; direct-travel.co.uk) "Senior Citizen" policy for single trip only. Maximum age, 75. Single trip Europe: £28.60. An enhanced policy is available.

Freedom Insure (01223 454290; freedominsure.co.uk) Freedom Travel Insurance for up to age 85. Single trip Europe: £49.76. Annual worldwide: £231.44. Note that cover is geared to people with pre-existing conditions.

Global Travel Insurance (01903 203933; globaltravelinsurance.co.uk) Up to age 90 for single trip. Up to 75 for annual cover. Single trip Europe: £38.90. Annual worldwide: £138. Medical screening is only required if travelling to the United States and Canada or cruising.

JD Travel Insurance (01689 859102; jdtravelinsurance.co.uk) "Free to Travel" policy has no upper age limit. Single trip Europe: £37.20. Annual worldwide: £108.

Preferential (0843 208 1928; preferential.co.uk) "Deluxe" single trip or "Classic" annual multi-trip cover for up to 75 years. Single trip Europe: £33.36. Annual worldwide: £134.17. Some pre-existing conditions covered.

P J Hayman (0845 230 0631; www.pjhayman.com) Travel Plus "standard" for up to age 85 (single trip), age 79 (annual). Single trip Europe: £39.50. Annual worldwide: £153.10. Enhanced "premier" policies available.

lf1

When my MIL used to visit us in Canada I bought her medical insurance from Blue Cross in Canada. She was in her 70's with a pre-existing condition, but I can't remember what the premium was. Good luck.

JonboyE

When shopping for cheap insurance it is important to study the small print, especially that surrounding pre-existing conditions. Nearly all insurance will exclude pre-existing conditions. You may be required to disclose all pre-existing conditions prior to the insurer issuing the policy. Be thorough. You may not think that having an ingrowing toenail removed by your GP when you were 12 years old has any relevance to hospitalization for a heart defect when you are 81. However, the insurer might and guess who gets to decide what is, and what is not, relevant?

One of the reasons cheap insurance is cheap is because the insureres don't pay claims.

ann m

It does sound a lot, but like all insurances - you need them to pay up if you need them to pay up!

Not putting a downer on the thread, but my mum died while on holiday. Getting her body home was stressful enough, without having to consider how to pay for it. And she was only in another part of the UK. Thank God I didn't have to consider hospital and ambulance fees too.

Minstrels87

Hi Mardyarse I had a thread on this exact same question a couple of years ago and received a number of helpful replies. Sadly I don't know how to give you the link to it but I think if you click on my profile you can see past posts (??). Anyhow, yes it is extortionate when you get over 85. In our case we didn't bring my mother out. My Mother-in-law was just visiting and the discussion arose that after 25 years of visits she may find insurance is prohibitive as she heads towards 80. The devil really is in the small print with regards to pre-existing conditions, sadly it really comes down to what level of financial "risk" you are prepared to take.

Had I realized this 25 years ago...., but hey ho that's a whole different story!

Good luck

Siouxie

This was the thread: http://britishexpats.com/forum/showthread.php?t=684310

There was also another one that had some useful info: http://britishexpats.com/forum/showthread.php?t=696605

London-England-Lads

I believe 85 is a magic number. Above that getting pre-existing is very difficult. also very expensive. I know a friend recently got it for his father (6 months was $5000.00).

AshleighG

Hi there,

I am worried too about parents coming over to visit - does it seem to be a hike in the price after 80 or older people in general?

Ashleigh

London-England-Lads

As mentioned earlier - our friends used an insurance broker and he said there were very few companies, maybe just one that would consider pre-existing conditions in a person over 85.

I know they went with them. I guess it is all comparative depending on time of stage in country.

Former Lancastrian

As much as I hate to say this once you reach a certain age insurance companies are reluctant to insure you or will charge an arm and a leg and a lung if you wish to travel and wont be covered by a countries health system.
Harsh but the truth if you want to travel expect to pay mega bucks.

Souvy

My late mum, who was in her mid-80s and had pre-existing conditions was quoted something like £1500 for a two week trip to see us. She ended up going for much cheaper insurance that covered basically nothing. I was nervous the whole time she was here. Hospitalisation for something serious would have bankrupted her.

dbd33

My Mother, who is 90, is travelling to her Granddaughter's wedding out west later this year. It'd add a whole new dimension to the misery that it is going to BC if she were to suffer an underinsured medical emergency on the trip.

Again I wonder, why, oh why, did I come to this remote and barren land?

Jerseygirl

My MIL came to the US and Canada for just over 2 weeks...she was mid 80's with several health issues. Cost approx £1K...but we made sure it covered everything...including existing conditions.

http://www.allcleartravel.co.uk/cgi-...01+msdw009+alc