Travel Insurance For The Over 70s/Health Impaired

[pupsiecola]

Hi all,

My parents have just asked us about this. I think they may be starting to explore the possibility of coming to see us. But my dad is 71, has had a quintuple heart bypass (10 years ago but is very fit and healthy) and is an insulin dependent diabetic. My mum is 69 with no known health issues.

As we've always had private medical care through work I've never considered that they might struggle to get travel insurance and shouldn't travel without it with my dad's history, especially to somewhere like Singapore.

What do others do?

Thx.

Well, I shouldn't really recommend it but I rarely take out travel insurance because it's so expensive. I have one or two trips a year to South Africa every year and have been to several other countries without it. I did have insurance for a skiing trip in Italy a few years ago and was thankful but that was a bit different.

In all, I've had to pay about £100 altogether in medical fees when abroad. Yes, it's a risk but it would be your parents decision. Are they doing extreme sports when they visit you. No. So why bother.

my mum has had travel insurance through age concern before, they were really helpful to her. I think she also has had it with the Halifax but not 100% sure on that one, she was in her 70's at the time with health issues but always took out insurance as she was once ended up in hospital for a week and the insurance helped.

HTH

So I don't know if they cover over-70s (my FIL is in late 60s but otherwise has scaringly similar medical situation) but he was able to get insurance with DirectTravel at a fairly reasonable price. It's mainly the big/"cheap" travel insurance companies that will refuse to cover people with medical conditions, I have one myself and while it's a pain, I've been able to get decent cover for a reasonable price with companies like the one above that specialise in people without a perfect medical history.

I know that Banner Insurance certainly used to cover 'complicated' cases so you could try them.

My parents had a good experience with MIA . They have complex health needs and are very old. The MIA people were very easy to contact and seemed to understand the medication lists etc (no "and why so you take that" questions which confuse my mum no end).

A friends also had MIA for chest problems and had no difficulties with claiming for a l prolonged stay in hospital in Tunisia with a worsening of her chronic problems.

Thanks everyone. That's helpful.

RuleBritannia. Of course they're not doing extreme sports. The point however is what happens if my dad has a heart attack or some issue relating to his diabetes?! A 12 hour flight alone at that age is stressful. And then he would end up either receiving no treatment or having a hefty bill for thousands of pounds. My 7 year old DS needed emergency surgery for double ear infections and sinusitis when we came her on holiday in March (before we moved here) and we ended up having to pay £3.5k BEFORE they would operate. He was very ill - they wouldn't let him fly without the operation because there was a real risk of burst ear drums which could have a long term effect on his hearing (we were due to fly back the day after the op). Never mind the fact that he was up for 3 nights in such agony. Thankfully a) we had the money to pay the bill there and then and b) we could claim it ALL back except for the £100 excess on the travel insurance policy.

There is absolutely no way I would recommend that my parents travel without any insurance. To do so would be completely irresponsible.