Upper age limits on travel insurance - family member illness/death

[Horatio]

Hi

My wife and I will be overseas for a couple of weeks in Europe in April. We each have one living parent (me, dad, 86 - wife, mum, 92). They're both actually in decent shape, so a serious illness or death would be a big surprise. But you never know.

We've been thinking for the first about coverage in case something happens while we're away and we need to return quickly. I know for a fortnight the risks are low, but it's also something that will have more relevance the longer they're around, and if we're able to take a longer trip.

I rang Allianz who provide the policy for our St George credit card, and the cut-off age for family issues was 81. Closer with the AMEX Platinum, where the family member has to be under 91 when the trip commences. Another that a travel agent contact suggested also wouldn't suit. So no coverage for MIL at this stage.

Does anyone have direct experience of a company or policy that will cover family in their 90s if the travellers need to return for illness or injury?

I know there are some similar threads/questions in this forum, but all that I was 8+ years old, so perhaps there is some updated info or experience.

Thanks very much,
Horatio

 

[Beer_budget]

Honestly at those ages, throwing yourselves on the mercy of your airline's compassionate fare policies may be the best/only option available. I'm in a similar boat and that's the best I've come up with, but maybe someone here has a better suggestion.

 

[Seat0B]

I too am in a similar boat - my Mum is 91 and FIL is 95. I have not found any insurer that would cover their ages. So we largely “self insure” this risk by booking all accommodation and local tours with flexible cancellation. We would have to suck it up with a non-refundable safari in Africa booked in April this year, and last year we took the risk on a 14 day cruise. It is clearly a high risk for insurers but I do feel like they are maybe not keeping up with the greater longevity being experienced by our parents’ generation.

ETA and we also book flexible airfares and know the costs of making changes if the airline is not compassionate.

 

[AuSammy]

Knowing no insurer is likely to cover 98yo, we made an effort to spend some quality time before departure and hoped for the best. There are some things that are out of our hands.

 

[Seat0B]

Knowing no insurer is likely to cover 98yo, we made an effort to spend some quality time before departure and hoped for the best. There are some things that are out of our hands.

Yes my mum has been very clear with us, and more importantly, with the wider family that anyone who is overseas when something happens is NOT to rush back. She says she knows we love her from all we do with her on an almost daily basis (she lives less than 5 min from me) and a mad dash back home is not needed. She’s even said she will come back and haunt anyone who disobeys But I’m not sure how I will actually feel if something serious does happen while we are away and I don’t come back.

It’s a real blessing to travel. And an absolute blessing to have parents with us for so long. And at some stage, likely to be incompatible with each other.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Yes my mum has been very clear with us, and more importantly, with the wider family that anyone who is overseas when something happens is NOT to rush back. She says she knows we love her from all we do with her on an almost daily basis (she lives less than 5 min from me) and a mad dash back home is not needed. She’s even said she will come back and haunt anyone who disobeys But I’m not sure how I will actually feel if something serious does happen while we are away and I don’t come back.

It’s a real blessing to travel. And an absolute blessing to have parents with us for so long. And at some stage, likely to be incompatible with each other.

The simple answer is we just fly back. Money is usually not the primary consideration. And enjoyment of the holiday if you stay is likely to be severely curtailed.

Sure, once things settle down if you can get something back that’s a small win. But if you don’t, it’s money you wouod have spent anyway, so no major dent on the bank balance - not that that’s the main consideration.

 

[Beer_budget]

I'm far away from all of my family even domestically these days, so the fact it's a mad dash home anyway also tempers my concern about travel. Last time there was a scare we paid last minute QF fares and $450/day for what seems to have been the last rental Corolla in Brisbane I'm not convinced dashing home from a holiday in Singapore would have been much worse.

 

[Horatio]

Thanks everyone for the sage responses. No surprise that there isn't a readily available product.

As you say @Seat0B, there are 2 concurrrent blessings, and at some stage they're probably going to clash.

And we also have the third blessing, which is we can afford to get home if we need to at short notice - even if we have to pay last minute prices. So we wouldn't lose sleep over that. But if we do happen to find a policy that's suitable, I'll post details here.

Yes my mum has been very clear with us, and more importantly, with the wider family that anyone who is overseas when something happens is NOT to rush back.

I like your mum's attitude. There is no such dispensation on my wife's side if something happens to her mum.

 

[Pushka]

I know this is about travel, but in reality many live far apart from close relatives (who might be much younger than us) and there is no cover for such instances regardless of age and people just decide to travel and wear the cost.

My mum suffered a major stroke when we were in Santorini. My brother and SIL decided not to tell me. And that might have been a solution except the local Church Community Social Worker called me early one morning to see how she was doing. I had no idea obviously what she was talking about. That person had been told not to ring me but she thought she knew better. Mum did make it but there was one night where she almost passed. I'm not really sure how I felt about the secrecy.