* Over 65 and healthy? Forget the over 65 insurance "specialists" then *

Hern

Mrs H and I are lucky enough to be healthy if not wealthy OAPs. Er, 'seniors'. But so-called "specialist" age group insurers seem to think we're healthy and wealthy. Or that we're suffering from some age-related deficieny in our total number of functioning brain cells.

I'm 66 now, Mrs H has just turned 64, and September will see us off on holiday for the first time since I broke the 65-age ceiling. Well-meaning friends said well, you'll be OK because you're as fit as a flea (as is Mrs H) BUT. . . you'll have to pay more now because of the 66-year-old age thing. You'd be well advised (said our friends) to have a look at the insurers who specialise in the, um, higher age group.

So that's just what we've done today. We want single trip cover, for a couple, for 13 days (not 14) in Spain in September. Neither my wife nor I have any existing medical conditions and haven't been treated for any illness in the past 5 years. This is Age UK's "specialist" quote:

£71.41p

Thanks, but no thanks. Let's try Saga. Saga specialises in the older-generation niche market. And we're Saga customers anyway for our home insurance. And what does Saga wish to charge us?

£86.62p

Good God. Forget Saga, then. Let's try another specialist insurer then, one which has a good reputation for covering senior citizens with a dodgy health background so, theoretically, might be pretty good with those who're 100% A1 fit. The specialist is JD Travel Insurance Consultants. And they want. . .

£94.81p

At which point, we gave up on the "specialists" and went to moneysupermarket via Martin's link in the MSE Travel Insurance section and asked for a quote for single-trip cover, 13 days, Spain, traveller 1 aged 66, spouse aged 64, and no, we don't want / need £10 million healthcare cover thank you and we don't mind risking a £100 excess. Here's the result:

Allianz Single Trip Basic £2,500,000 medical expenses / £1,000,000 personal liability / £1,500 baggage / £1,500 cancellation (this last more than covers our flight costs, car hire, and accommodation rental):

£20.05p

On which basis, if you and yours are "early seniors" but fortunate enough to have a track record of good health, then there seems little reason to go anywhere near those insurers who claim to "specialise" in your age group. At £71, £86 and £95, those aren't so much travel insurance quotes as tests to see if the applicant's mental ability is somehow impaired. . .