Holiday nsurance for my elderly parents. Nightmare!

[TheHarrisonFamily]

Hiya All

 

My parents have booked flights to come to Adelaide for 11 weeks from Nov 2013- Feb2014.

They want to book holiday insurance, but now find as they are in there 70s can only get insurance for 28 days.

They both have underlying health issues and usually have to get a letter off their Gp for holiday insurance 1 month prior to travel.

As they will be covered by medicare, via recipricol health ( they are Uk residents), then they only really need to cover the time they are flying.

We have considered ways to do this and the only thing we can think of is to book insurance for 2 journeys. One to cover the flight here ie 1 weeks holiday insurance, from the day they travel, which will cover them for the flight over here, including a 12 hour stop in Singapore. Then book another 7 day holiday insurance to cover them on the flight back, which the return date will be planned to be on the day they are due to return to the UK.

 

This will cost twice the price, but is the only way I can think to do it. Unfortunatly the only hiccup I can see ( fill me in if you can see more). Is that if the travel company want a letter off their Dr, then they wont be in the country to be able to get this.

 

Has anyone else had this issue and how have they got around it?

Mom and Dad are now worried sick, as they had a friend who developed encephalitis on her flight home and they had to divert the aeroplane. Expensive if you have no insurance!!!

 

Thanks in advance

Donna

[kizzy]

Hi Donna

 

Will check with my parents as they have various health problems and managed to get insurance for 3 months, I think it cost them around 700 GBP. Will let Scott/Jess know.

 

Tracey

[Keith & Linda]

Hi Donna,

I recently did this for my parents aged 80 and 84, they return to UK next week. I think you need to be very careful in how you do this, I tried to do the one week each way to cover just the travel time, but was advised by several insurers that you cannot do it, so if you chose to do it this way the risk of not being covered for the return leg is high and you would have paid the premium for nothing, You cannot also get the insurance here for the return leg as it is to do with your country of residence.

 

Also there is a new Australian ruling, that has not been very well advertised, that anyone over 75 has to undergo a medical prior to been given a tourist Visa, this medical is as per the emigration medical at some 200 UK pounds, the Dr whom saw my parents was very apologetic about it as he had someone in earlier whom failed with only days befor their flight. Furthermore Immigration requires that you have adequate medical insurance for your whole visit, but how much effort they put into checking this uncertain. Also the reciprical medical agreement is mainly for the more serious of illness/incident, its not for your odd visit to the Dr because of a cold! but again how this is policed is not known. You must get them a Medicare Card when they arrive, it will be issued to cover them for the period of the holiday on production of their passport and return air ticket.

 

We, after many searches and enquiries, used a web based insurance provider called "good to go" and was by comparrison an excellent price so you could try them. It is all a big worry and needs a lot more effort to give peace of mind. good luck with it all please feel free ask any further questions.

Keith

[Diane]

...Also there is a new Australian ruling, that has not been very well advertised, that anyone over 75 has to undergo a medical prior to been given a tourist Visa,....

 

I'm sure I have read this somewhere before followed by proof that this does not apply to a normal tourist visa. I don't have time to research back and find the link again now, but the proof is in the pudding and my parents (aged 79 and 81) have just been over for a visit on the usual electronic travel authority they always travel on, each of which is usually valid for a year so they have got them successfully for the last five years at least.

 

Here you are - you apply online minimum two weeks before your trip and get instant confirmation - so no need for any sort of expensive medical (as long as you don't have TB!) - the only mention of a medical for this type of visa I can find is on an Indonesian website so perhaps the rules are different if you are coming from there

 

http://www.immi.gov.au/visas/visitor/601/applicants.htm

Edited May 22, 2013 by Diane
I did have time after all!

[Keith & Linda]

Guys, just to confirm, my parents applied on line in the UK (My brother did it for/with them) for the electronic visa and up it popped on the screen 'medical required', if this happens to be a random selection I could not tell you, but my brother contacted Australia house and they said it was a new requirement for over 75's. The examining Dr also confirmed it was a relatively new requirement which he personally thought was not a very good idea and that the whole thing is not advertised very well and that he sees quite a few panicy people.

Lets hope it is a random selection and that in this instance they get lucky with the application, but be prepared and get your visa applications in early, or they had the visa prior to the new requirement coming into force. You can also follow the progress of you visa on line which in my parents instance did say 'awaiting medical report'

 

Still need to be sure on insurance. good luck

Keith

[Keith & Linda]

Just went onto the UK Aus High Commission web site, besides being advised of new requirements for visa application I also found FORM 1163i which shows that the UK is lower risk and quote "no health examination required unless special significance* applies" unquote.

 

Special Significance includes and again I quote " Are you 75years or older and applying for a Visitor visa (subclass 600 ONLY)? Medical examination required"

 

I also noted that the on line electronic visa is subclass 601, I do not know if there is a difference between the two, likewise I do not know if my parents ticked the right box for 600 or 601. I also note that the design date of form 1163i is 04/13, which indicates as to how new the information is, so some applications may have beat the introduction date. How good the system recognising over 75s is questionable and good luck to all those whom somehow circumpass the requirement, but be prepared just in case!

 

I am only passing on that which my parents were made to go through in the hope that it at least makes people aware of possible hurdles to pass.

 

Keith

[Diane]

Yes the normal ETA is Subclass 601

[TheHarrisonFamily]

Hi Donna

 

Will check with my parents as they have various health problems and managed to get insurance for 3 months, I think it cost them around 700 GBP. Will let Scott/Jess know.

 

Tracey

 

Hi Tracey

That would be fantastic if you can do that. I will wait to hear from you.

 

Thanks

Donna

[TheHarrisonFamily]

Hi Donna,

I recently did this for my parents aged 80 and 84, they return to UK next week. I think you need to be very careful in how you do this, I tried to do the one week each way to cover just the travel time, but was advised by several insurers that you cannot do it, so if you chose to do it this way the risk of not being covered for the return leg is high and you would have paid the premium for nothing, You cannot also get the insurance here for the return leg as it is to do with your country of residence.

 

 

 

Also there is a new Australian ruling, that has not been very well advertised, that anyone over 75 has to undergo a medical prior to been given a tourist Visa, this medical is as per the emigration medical at some 200 UK pounds, the Dr whom saw my parents was very apologetic about it as he had someone in earlier whom failed with only days befor their flight. Furthermore Immigration requires that you have adequate medical insurance for your whole visit, but how much effort they put into checking this uncertain. Also the reciprical medical agreement is mainly for the more serious of illness/incident, its not for your odd visit to the Dr because of a cold! but again how this is policed is not known. You must get them a Medicare Card when they arrive, it will be issued to cover them for the period of the holiday on production of their passport and return air ticket.

 

We, after many searches and enquiries, used a web based insurance provider called "good to go" and was by comparrison an excellent price so you could try them. It is all a big worry and needs a lot more effort to give peace of mind. good luck with it all please feel free ask any further questions.

Keith

 

Hi Keith

thanks for that info. So did you get full insurance for your parents in the end? or did you do the week on flying out/ back again?

I think my parents will be 72 and 74 when they leave so wont need to worry about the additional potential or not.

 

thanks

Donna

[TheHarrisonFamily]

also thanks to Ryan D who gave me some info about a travel company who specialise in long holdays for over 70s. Im not sure why you have removed the reply, as the web site is fantastic and offering all the services. It wont give me a quote as its to far in advance at the moment, but I will be looking nearer the time.

 

https://globelink.co.uk/policy-options/over-70-comprehensive-travel-insurance.html

 

i have added the website for others to see.

[snifter]

also thanks to Ryan D who gave me some info about a travel company who specialise in long holdays for over 70s. Im not sure why you have removed the reply, as the web site is fantastic and offering all the services. It wont give me a quote as its to far in advance at the moment, but I will be looking nearer the time.

 

https://globelink.co.uk/policy-options/over-70-comprehensive-travel-insurance.html

 

i have added the website for others to see.

 

The person you are referring to appeared to be a spammer promoting a company in a first post link. Hence the post was removed from the thread.

[Keith & Linda]

Hi Donna,

we got full cover for 11 weeks, I cannot remember the exact cost in pounds but around the 600 mark which was the best by far of many.

From my research and questions, you cannot get the 1week for each way travel, you could do it but run the risk of not really being coverd for the return flight. as you have a bit of time then try some research and ask the question you may find a company whom will maybe give you a quote, try posting the question on a uk insurance forum.

If you have any luck then let this site know for future reference.

Good luck

Keith

[kadj]

I got a quote for my parents through all clear travel insurance who do not discriminate on age, illness or disability - it blew the other quotes out the water

[Jessica Berry]

My parents friends are in their 70's and come out every year for several months as their sons live here. They have their travel insurance we think through their bank account.

 

I asked my parents in the UK and they have travel insurance through their bank account (they are always going on holiday including coming over here to see us), this is the email they sent to me....

 

our insurance is with santander 50+ it covers us up to age 79 years and for 31 days.

we can upgrade to 45 or 60 days for an additional premium, do not know how much it is.

We pay £12 a month but also get card and identity fraud protection and also 2 consultations a year for medical reasons.

there is often adverts on the tv for travel insurance for old and ill people.