Golden oldies? The world’s their oyster

Last year, almost a third of all Age UK Travel Insurance policies were bought by customers aged 80 and over.

Travelleres aged 65 to 69 accounted for a fifth of all sales, and customers aged 70 to 74 accounted for a similar proportion of business.

Europe was the favourite destination among the over 80s with more than half purchasing cover for a trip to the Continent, while one in ten bought a worldwide policy to travel even further afield.

In the last three years, Age UK Enterprises has recorded a 20 per cent increase in the sales of annual trip cover to those aged over 50, which indicates that a growing number of customers are enjoying breaks abroad more than once a year.

Managing director Gordon Morris said: “We believe it’s wrong that so many travel insurance providers impose a maximum age limit which excludes older people purely because of their age.

“ People should be able to fulfil their travel aspirations - no matter how old they are. This is why it’s so important that they can access products, like Age UK Travel Insurance, that have no upper age limit and provide appropriate cover for their needs.

“It’s vital that when buying insurance, you review the terms and conditions and ensure the product offers good value for money. Regardless of your age, it’s essential that you have a policy in place that provides appropriate cover for your situation and will protect you in case you fall ill or have an accident abroad.”

According to the data, January is the least popular time to travel with only two per cent of all departure dates on single trip policies, followed by February and December. Claims made on travel insurance peak during spring and summer when customers are most likely to be abroad.