Holiday insurance for the over 80's

Dear fellow Condadoians

From reading previous threads I'm aware that most of us are a family orientated group that like to invite elderly parents and grand-parents etc to our wonderful resort and would greatly accept some advice on travel insurance for my dad. He is over 80 and although he has a pace maker fitted the travel insurance quotes that I am receiving for him are ridiculous. He doesn't smoke or drink and they only fitted the pacemaker as they said that it would enhance his live (he'll probably out live me on his duracell batteries), any advice from my fellow Condadoians would be greatfully received as we are travelling over soon.

Thanks

Bee

Hi Bee

The last 2 years I've insured my Mum who's in her 80's with insureforall.com.  An annual insurance is hugely expensive,

but I've managed to do a basic single trip for around £40.    

http://www.insureforall.com/static/Over80/?cfmSOURCECODE=GOTO75&mkwid=solHuLrjo&gclid=CPyD-YiQzasCFcMOfAodXxqt3Q

Hi Jackie

Thanks for the advice I'll call them or email tomorrow.

regards

Bee

I'll also definately check them out Jackie. I organised insurance for my Mum ( her Bank did it until she was 80) for a one night mini break by coach and that was £40 standard insurance before the additional charges for medical conditions, hardening arteries, made the insurance a similar figure to the price of the trip.

We want to get a price for travel insurance for a cruise for her- so far we have been quoted £250 standard insurance plus £1,000 for the additional cover. That probably won't cover the flights we also have to add- expensive eh?!!

Hi.

By coincidence I'm just back today and had my mum over who is 89.

I trawled on travelsupermarket.com and got a quote of £33.69 for 6 days at condado.

This was through Insure for all and was very painless,just put in details on-line and they email the cover.

I thought that was a good price considering.

John  

Question - is travel insurance a legal requirement? If not what is it intended to do as medical services should be covered under the European Health Insurance Card. I know people are worried about repatriation should someone die, but when your'e gone -  your'e gone, so why worry about it.

Genuine question, as we all get travel insurance but  is it really necessary?

Jon Faulkner

My understanding is that basic medical cover is provided on the European Card but should you need an operation or further treatment then without insurance you'd need to pay your self. It also covers you for cancellations, theft and loss. If you cancel a flight because you're poorly or have a bereavement you loose the money- with a medical certificate you can claim on your insurance. Thats with the standard cover. Also if you have had treatment using the European card but are not fit to travel then your insurance will cover your additional living costs, extra flights etc.

If you have pre -exisiting medical conditions then they add further costs to your cover. If you haven't told them about those then your standard cover is void.

As we are planning a major trip which will include a wedding on board a cruise ship and someone has a pre existing medical condtion we have to organise insurance- its a requirement of the company.It would certainly temper then enjoyment of the holiday is someone fell ill then you have to stump up thousands to pay for treatment and ambulances etc.

If you travel without insurance and pass away then your family have to foot the bill for any treatment beyond what is offered on the European card and then fund all the costs of repatriation of the body. This would run into many thousands of pounds.

There has been a case just recently where an elderly man went to Spain, had a stroke and was ill in hospital  for many weeks before passing away. He had a standard medical insurance but hadn't told the company about a specific medical condition- so his cover was void and the family ended up in the news papers asking for donations to help them pay thousands of pounds of costs and so they could fly his body home..

On the other side of the coin my colleagues son went to Mexico at Christmas and on day 3 of his holiday, broke his neck in a diving accident. He received the best possible care including being flown by private plane into the USA for treatment by a world renowned expert, many weeks being cared for and then was flown home to the UK 1st class with a nurse. Plus he got financial recuperation for loss of his clothing and property whch all went missing during his transfer from Mexico to ther USA and refunds of all the holiday costs that he hadn't been able to make use of. The insurance also covered the cost of one adult and their living costs, flight costs coming out to support him.

I know most of us never have to make a claim so it can seem unnecessary but sometimes it just pays to be sure.

I hear what you say for the lavish trips to exotic and high risk places, but CDA is our second home and something we are all well versed in dealing with emergencies - or should be. I do have insurance that comes with my bank account, but I would really question the need for a guest who is elderly, paying out large sums of money just to cover a risk of ill health.

However, the prices being quoted by others do seem reasonable.  I am some way off being described as elderly (well I think so) but I do intend still being around and visiting CDA well into my 70's and beyond and won't be shelling out on expensive insurance. They can pay for any costs from my estate!

JF

Hi JF

I agree with what you've all said but the insurance companies want to charge ridiculous amounts . My dad may be 85 years old but is not ill, they just fitted a pacemaker as they said he would probably need one in a few years but it would be better for him if he had the operation now whilst he had a better chance of recovery. This was at the beginning of the year and he has not had a problem and is not on any medication.

If he was going to some exotic location as JF has stated then it would be different but he will be flying with us on a short haul direct flight and staying with us, so I'm not bother if the flight is delayed or the luggage goes missing as we are only taking hand luggage over with us anyway. I'm sure that we would not be concerned if we have to stay over at Condado if the flight was cancelled (I wish) but unfortunately with the insurance companies it's the whole package they over or nothing so you end up paying for things that you know that are not necessary.

Thank you all for contributing to this thread. It just confirms that I'm not the only one that thinks the elderly get ripped off in many aspects.

Bee

It is such a lot of money on top of flights even to Spain- if you think we paid £40+ for a one night coach trip in the UK but even then the company insisted on that. It's different if travelling independently and you book it all yourself, you can decide. But my Mum wouldn't travel without insurance, she's worried about putting a burden of cost onto someone else.

The European Health Card

"If you have an accident or suddenly become ill you’ll receive the necessary state-provided medical healthcare at reduced cost, or sometimes free.

You’ll be treated on the same terms as insured nationals of the country you’re in.

Tip: carry your EHIC with you at all times to prove you are entitled to healthcare.

The EHIC does NOT cover:

• all your medical costs
• private treatment (generally not covered)
• repatriation to the UK.

Remember: overseas state-provided healthcare may not cover things you receive for free on the NHS."

I'm going to do a bit of research on the companies mentioned on the thread.

 http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/insurance/cheap-travel-insurance#nationwide