Best Travel Insurance for Senior Flyers?

[get me outta here]

Just quickly looking on line and it says you can get a free o/s sim - did you get that?

If not, maybe call back and say, 'oh I forget to get my free sim..." may or may not work on the ship, but will at some ports I'm guessing.

I'm over 70 and was looking for travel insurance for a 2 week Pacific Island cruise coming shortly. I have a fairly major health issue, which has badly affected my eye sight and so could lead to a fall - not a good idea when overseas. Asked around, and was told by a few people of one well known insurer but when I contacted them, all they wanted to do was to issue the policy and collect my money. Finally, I got them to take note of what I was saying and the consultant tried to get me to say that the eye damage wasn't as a result of the health issue - which it most definitely is.

They referred me to an another organisation within their group who dealt with pre-existing conditions. Called them, on hold for ages, then left a call back message. After some hours, tried again with similar results. The online evaluation form useless.

Finally, I called NRMA Insurance (I'm a gold member). Straight through to a lady, discussed my issues, answered a number of detailed questions, and was given a quote for just under $200 which covered me for everything, including all pre-existing conditions. No medical forms to be completed by the doctor (not that I object to that). Paid my money - and just hope that I don't have to use them.

 

[tgh]

We have used apia for quite a few trips. One party has a stable and well documented pre existing condition and that now costs about 50% extra.
When I go alone I take the cheapest which has lately been Virgin Money (boq owned) with a standard Allianz product.

For an upcoming trip , I interrogated two prospective providers on the hire car wording.
APIA were quite helpful and honest in their answers .
An Allianz rep was so evasive that I decided he was a goose masquerading as a rep… and went with APIA again.


Summary is that you MUST accept any and every insurance cover offered by the hirer or you are not fully covered for the excess.
Of course many hirers do not /will not spell out the full insurance commitment until you are standing at the desk , Jet Lagged , tired and susceptible… Caveat Emptor.
(The desk jockey is on commission to upsell tyres , windscreen, dirt, lipstick… there seems no limit to the subterfuge , it's really a pretty dirty way to do business.)

Travel insurance is getting harder for us oldies.. some car hire companies won't even accept over 70's.

 

[legroom]

I was looking for a policy for my 83 y.o. mother (with no major pre-existing conditions) and learned that some would stop at earlier age e.g. TID at 81.

Ended up buying Allianz backed Worldcare policy with unlimited medical covers.

Quite expensive age loading too !

But it will be my mother's first-ever F flight (courtesy of the info gleaned from AFF) so I didn't quibble much.