Q – (3.7.26) – I have two trips planned this year – one a land tour to the Canadian Rockies and the other a cruise to ports in Asia operating out of Bangkok. I am 81, my wife is a bit younger, and we are in relatively good health following my bypass surgery two years ago.
I have been quoted an outrageous price for travel insurance by my travel agent, a woman I have known for many years and who we trust. She says that the better policies are age-based and once I hit 80 the price went up. Is that your experience and what do you recommend for your readers in our general age group? These days, it seems really foolish not to have insurance but is there any way a price conscious traveler can find a lower-priced alternative. She uses a company called Allianz.
A – Generally speaking, your agent is correct. The best policies, and Allianz is a respected carrier, tend to be age-based and premiums have skyrocketed in the past several years. If you purchase the insurance offered by your supplier – the tour operator or the cruise line, you will almost always pay a flat rate, the same rate they would charge a 30 year-old so there are some savings. But if you are looking for advocates to seek out the cheapest travel insurance – we’re not it. Always think about the possibility of needing emergency surgery in a destination you will be visiting. Will your medical treatment, necessary surgery, care and accommodations for your spouse, and, if necessary, a medically equipped private flight home to the States be included in your coverage? (Some of this falls under the title “Medical Evacuation”. We want you to have $1 Million in Evacuation coverage on any policy.
That said, if you want to “shop” for travel insurance at a lower rate we will mention the website www.squaremouth.com This site allows you to compare both coverage and cost of a wide range of travel insurance providers. It would be wise to spend some time on the site to get an overview of the coverages available along with sample costs for someone your age. There is no charge to use the site.
Finally, we would point out something about travel insurance that is rarely discussed. Always dig deep to find out if the insurance seller has true “Advocacy” rights on your behalf. That means, if your insurance claim is turned down, does your seller promise, on any reasonable claim, to personally be your advocate with the insurance carrier to try to re-open your claim so that a new underwriter at the company evaluates it.
We have done this several times for our clients and the claim was eventually approved after being initially turned down in every case.
And congratulations on your good health! We hope the beauty of the Rockies and the parts of Asia you will be taking in provide truly memorable moments in a life well-lived.
