Travel Insurance

[chalky]

Thought I would try and get a quote for travel insurance from the company advertised by Cycling UK latest magazine.
No chance, we are over 80. Don't any other cyclists in their 80's try and cycle abroad these days.

[cycleruk]

We are off to Majorca in a couple of weeks time to celebrate a friends 80th birthday.
There will be 20+ of us and the majority are in their 60+s.
One thing you will notice is appalling increase in cost when hitting 70.
I do the usual searches through the dot-com websites but check what's covered etc.

[al_yrpal]

Have a look at UK insurance through the Nationwide Flex Plus account. We pay practically nothing being in good health and mid 70s

Al

[chalky]

It seems that being over 80 is our problem with these Insurers. Saga did quote over £400 for two of us for 2 weeks and we hadn't even got round to discussing the bikes.
I think we will have to stay in this country. Only want some sunshine!

[anniesboy]

Have a look at UK insurance through the Nationwide Flex Plus account. We pay practically nothing being in good health and mid 70s

Al

Im with Nationwide via Flex Plus,as Im shortly 75 there is a £50.00 charge

[cycleruk]

It seems that being over 80 is our problem with these Insurers. Saga did quote over £400 for two of us for 2 weeks and we hadn't even got round to discussing the bikes.
I think we will have to stay in this country. Only want some sunshine!

I have always considered Saga an expensive company.
Have a word with your local insurance agent. See what they can come up with.
Most of the insurance companies I have used don't class cycling as a dangerous sport.
Check out your house insurance for cover for the bikes. How are they covered here at home?

With regard to the bikes, and depending on where you want to go, have you considered hiring at your destination. That would possibly negate insurance cover for them.

[greyingbeard]

Ive used "Go" insurance in the recent past as their standard policies include activities that others consider "dangerous" (read pay extra).
No idea what their attitude to age is.
I think they should charge according to bodyweight, the obese must pose a higher risk.

[ANTONISH]

Travel insurance seems to have a number of underwriting layers.
I used to have CTC insurance and as I aged the cost went up steeply.
Looking at the policy I realised that it was underwritten by another company which offered identical insurance (even the policy documents looked the same) at a lower price.
After digging around a bit more I found another company
I don't know where you are intending to go but if its in the EU there are cheaper methods.
I have an E111 top up policy. It covers those situations where you are not covered by E111.
Things like repatriation costs - loss of valuables etc
I'm in my mid seventies and this is a cost effective method. Obviously if you are going outside the EU this isn't for you. I have to take out full cover when I visit South Africa.
The policy is EHIC Plus Expand (www.ehicexpand.com)

[horizon]

Thought I would try and get a quote for travel insurance from the company advertised by Cycling UK latest magazine.
No chance, we are over 80. Don't any other cyclists in their 80's try and cycle abroad these days.

Off the top of my head I would look at it like this: do you really need insurance?

Lost baggage: you can cover this yourself (and you've got the £400 quote to play with).
The bike: you can cover this yourself.
Delays: not a problem if you're philosophical.
Treatment following an accident: you are covered in the EU AIUI by your EHIC card.
Illness: ditto (AFAIK)
Compensation for loss of limb, eye, whatever: the money won't bring it back

So the thing missing is really getting you back to F+F in the UK in an air ambulance. Hmm. Couldn't they fly out? I get free travel insurance with my bank account but I'm not sure I'd bother with it otherwise.

Just a thought.

[rmurphy195]

I've usually get my travel insurance through Diabetes UK these days - cover all sorts of things the others don't, and more cheaply. Not tried it with cycle touring though but then, they can only say "No" can't they!

https://www.diabetes.org.uk/How_we_help ... insurance/

[climo]

Thought I would try and get a quote for travel insurance from the company advertised by Cycling UK latest magazine.
No chance, we are over 80. Don't any other cyclists in their 80's try and cycle abroad these days.

Off the top of my head I would look at it like this: do you really need insurance?

Lost baggage: you can cover this yourself (and you've got the £400 quote to play with).
The bike: you can cover this yourself.
Delays: not a problem if you're philosophical.
Treatment following an accident: you are covered in the EU AIUI by your EHIC card.
Illness: ditto (AFAIK)
Compensation for loss of limb, eye, whatever: the money won't bring it back

So the thing missing is really getting you back to F+F in the UK in an air ambulance. Hmm. Couldn't they fly out? I get free travel insurance with my bank account but I'm not sure I'd bother with it otherwise.

Just a thought.

The air ambulance bit is the one thing you want if you get injured / ill. I used it 10 years ago to get back. Best £40 I ever spent. A commercial flight was out of the question so I had my very own jet. It cost the insurers £8k.
Oh and forget the British Embassy, they are useless and I mean totally and utterly useless. Shockingly incompetent and just didn't care. Too busy with their G&T's I guess.
As an aside after the Nepal earthquake a while ago, the British Embassy was the very last one to do anything for its citizens. Brits were using sat phones from remote areas to call the embassy to get help only to be told that they could find the relevant help on the Foreign Office website. Bunch of xxxxxxx