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Stop ‘ageist’ travel insurance

Your Money
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Your Money
Posted:
Updated:
31/03/2010

Age Concern and Help the Aged are demanding that the insurance industry stops discriminating against older people, especially when it comes to motor and travel insurance.

Research carried out by the charity suggests that one-third of insurers place a maximum age limit on their travel insurance policies, while those that do offer cover for older travellers tend to impose higher premiums.

Head of public policy Andrew Harrop said that insurers should be obliged to serve people of all ages.

“Refusing insurance to older people not only sends a harmful, ageist message, but also places an unacceptable restriction on people’s lives,” he said.

Harrop said that older people who perform travel insurance comparisons but can’t get cover could be prevented from visiting friends and family overseas.

However, the Association of British Insurers (ABI) argued that the costs imposed by insurance companies reflect the perceived risks.

“People in their 80s are at least eight times more likely to make a claim on a travel policy than someone under 65,” said ABI spokesperson Malcolm Tarling .

The ABI representative also claimed that prices were still “reasonable” for older holidaymakers thanks to “healthy competition in the market”.