The grey pound and heaps of leisure time in retirement turns many older people into enthusiastic holiday-makers. Instead of getting sand in the sandwiches somewhere sunny‚ age barriers on holiday and car insurance‚ means that many 60-somethings will find themselves grounded back at home. 

The older you are‚ the more likely you are to travel on holiday by car. Yet many insurance companies impose age barriers on car hire. There is also a widespread practice of insurance companies banning over 65s from taking out multi-trip travel insurance.

Every summer we receive calls from older consumers who are annoyed and inconvenienced because they have been barred from taking out insurance due to their age not the risk they pose.

Mr H (82) is an ex-paratrooper who had hoped to travel to the Pindus Mountains in Corfu‚ where he had served during the war. He tried to get travel insurance with a well-known company but was refused because he is over 79. The company didn’t ask him about his health‚ they simply told him that this was their policy.

“It’s a bit off that you can’t get travel insurance point blank. I understand that insurance is a game of risk and am prepared to pay more if I am more of a risk‚” said Bill “But I don’t like the fact that they can refuse you flat out. I do feel that is ridiculous.”

Age Concern wants:

• Legislation to outlaw age discrimination in the field of goods‚ services and facilities.
• Hard evidence from insurance companies. They need to prove that refusing to quote older people is based on fact and not age prejudice.

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