Multi-trip Annual Travel Insurance Cover for Europe - Couple Aged 67 and 65 years

[Billy R]

I am hoping to visit Europe at the end of August for 4 weeks. I still have an valid EHIC card but also carry Annual Travel Insurance just in case. I am now 67 and not only has my insurance gone up dramatically but because I am now over 65 years my 'length of stay' for any particular trip has gone down from 60 days to only 21 days. Can anyone advise where I might get a good deal please. Many thanks Billy R.

 

[denisejoe]

We use Eurotunnel insurance but as far as I know you now have to have a booking with them to be able to use it. Last year it was less than £90 for the 2 of us. You don't need to declare any medications you are taking. If you need to claim your GP will just need to say that you were fit to travel.

Unfortunately we can't use it anymore as multi-trip as Joe has turned 70 but we will still be able to use them for single trip insurance but no idea how much that would be.

 

[mikebeaches]

I was going to suggest Columbus Direct, who we have used for years for multi-trip cover at a reasonable price. During that time, we have had a couple of very modest claims met in a timely and reasonable fashion. One was for a 3-day flight delay caused by the 'ash cloud' circa 2010, and the second one a couple of years ago, when Mrsmikebeaches was poorly on the eve of flying to Italy, which we had to cancel - we only claimed just over £300 and they paid up in full without even requiring any paperwork - just a telephone review of the details of the claim. So I was quite impressed.

However, I was just checking recent reviews - our renewal is due very soon - and noticed that there are a lot of very unhappy clients at the moment, as a consequence of the pandemic. So as not to be at risk of unreasonably and unfairly posting negative information about the company, I noted the following reply from Columbus on Trustpilot to one complainer, dated 20 November 2020.

"As for the rest of your comments, we cannot deny that it has been a challenging period since the travel restrictions started to be applied in March. This has led to an unprecedented volume of enquiries since, and there have been delays in meeting this demand. As you have commented, this has led to some of our customers being unhappy. Our teams have been working tirelessly to get back to a position of delivering the high standards that we expect."

I guess a lot of travel insurers have faced a wall of cancellation claims, probably resulting in poor outcomes for clients.

Edited to add that we have always taken 'Bronze' level cover for Europe only. I am 70 and Mrsmikebeaches is almost there. We declare a modest list of relatively straightforward health issues. The premiums have been reasonable so far, and the medical cover is £5 million for each of us, which we think should be more than sufficient - and of course is the main reason we buy the insurance!

 

[Al n Val]

You may want to check Staysure, they cover up to and over 70's and you can choose to extend your cover up to 100 days

I'm just looking now and multi trip annual cover with 100 days extension is £267, 68 & 70 years old

I've used them the last 3 years, never claimed yet and hopefully don't ever need to but not heard anything bad up to now

Al

 

[Phill D]

Avanti insurance

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[Al n Val]

Avanti insurance

Phill D

I've just done this quote Phil and the webpage looks remarkably like Staysure, up to 90 days trip cover came out at £355 for slightly less cover than Staysure

mikebeaches

Columbus btw Mike came in at £554 for a max of 45 days


Al

 

[Clipgate]

My only observation is, please check mortal remains repatriation, this now a requirement as a third country.
I was told yes of course it does, read the policy, no it did not.
I appreciate this a morbid subject and an unlikely event, however from personal knowledge it's eye wateringly expensive. Plus a specific requirement now.
Don't be put off merely be blunt with your questions and make sure they put the clause in writing

 

[Lenny HB]

Have a look at the cover banks off with a current account, our Lloyds account covers us up to 80 years old.

 

[Phill D]

Phill D

I've just done this quote Phil and the webpage looks remarkably like Staysure, up to 90 days trip cover came out at £355 for slightly less cover than Staysure

mikebeaches

Columbus btw Mike came in at £554 for a max of 45 days


Al

I believe avanti is part of the same group but tends to be more accepting a pre existing medical issues and a cheaper price.

 

[mikebeaches]

mikebeaches

Columbus btw Mike came in at £554 for a max of 45 days

Al

Blimey, we paid £162.34p for annual cover with maximum trip length of 31 days, which was sufficient for us. We've had the 45-day option in previous years.

Was your quote for 'Bronze' Europe only?

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[Billy R]

Just been looking again on the internet as suggested and from my point of view the best is Staysure. Actually cheaper than my quote when I was under 65. As we are both under 70 years we can get the 'comprehensive cover' with 50 consecutive days and a combined trips total of 183 days which will do us for £98. It would have been slightly cheaper if I hadn't added Cyprus +. You can get extensions of stay for an additional payment. Many thanks for all the advice - appreciated. But I believe my problem is now solved.

 

[138go]

We always use the Caravan Club Red Pennant insurance. We are extremely satisfied with the cover they give us. We have claimed and they were excellent. When my husband was sick in Spain they were brilliant.

Overseas Insurance policies

We offer 3 levels of overseas insurance cover, Personal, Motoring and Motoring & Personal.

www.caravanclub.co.uk

 

[Itsmcb]

Have a look at Nationwide Flexplus, family cover up to 70 years old then a supplement of £65 a year. Their travel insurance is great plus you get UK and European breakdown included all for £13 a month (I think)

Travel insurance with FlexPlus | Nationwide

FlexPlus current account travel insurance provides cover for you and your family including business, wedding, golf and winter sports.

www.nationwide.co.uk

 

[Al n Val]

Blimey, we paid £162.34p for annual cover with maximum trip length of 31 days, which was sufficient for us. We've had the 45-day option in previous years.

Was your quote for 'Bronze' Europe only?

hi Mike

that was for their top cover similar to Staysure's, i've forgotten what it was called now, maybe gold or platinum

 

[GeeCee]

Looking at the advice above I got quotes from Staysure - £120 and C&MC - £333 (I am a member). I'm 67 and my wife is 60, we both have minor pre-conditions which I've declared. Both policies cover repatriation. Staysure was for 50 days in one trip and C&MC was for longer. But we're unlikely to do more than 50 days in a trip so all good! Also Staysure provided an additional 3 months cover, so 15 months for the price of 12.