Pensioners face huge hike in travel insurance costs

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Pensioners who travel abroad this summer are facing increases of up to 90 per cent in their travel insurance, says a new report.

The steep hikes have been triggered by soaring "medical inflation": high increases in the costs of medical care in the US and parts of Europe for people with certain medical conditions.

Age charities have called the news a shocking example of age discrimination.

At a time when "silver travel" is booming, the news will come as a blow to those planning holidays of a lifetime or "gap years" during their retirement.
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The Association of British Insurers says that part of the reason for the price hike is that foreign hospitals have started charging more for treatment over the last year, and this, along with unfavourable exchange rates and the rising price of aviation fuel, means that the cost of flying an ill person home has risen sharply.

The Daily Telegraph says that some elderly travellers have found that they are unable to get insurance at all.

For example, Bob Champion, the 63-year old jockey who won the 1981 Grand National, said that he had been refused travel insurance by ten companies on the basis that he has a small pre-existing heart condition.