We all love going on vacation but unfortunately it can end up being a lot more expensive than we anticipated.  So often we try to make cut backs and not bother with taking out travel insurance.  This might be particularly true for people who are over the age of 65 because the cost of taking out travel insurance suddenly jumps up.  However, if you are planning on taking a vacation without insurance then please think again.

In terms of travelling, you have the costs of hotels, flights, car hire and such like.  The problem is that if anything goes wrong (even if it isn’t your fault), trying to get a refund isn’t always very easy.  Any number of things can happen that are out of your control such as the flight getting cancelled or your hotel losing your reservation.  When these things happen it’s very difficult to get compensation from the companies.  So insurance is important whether you are under or over 65 years on age.

Unfortunately as we age, health problems and accidents are more likely to happen.  It might be heat stroke, a heart attack, or simply slipping on a wet bathroom floor.  Pre-existing health conditions such as diabetes and angina are more prevalent in the over 65 age bracket.  So when something does happen and you require medical assistance, you need to think about how much this would cost you if you didn’t have insurance.  It would certainly be a lot of money.

In the case of ill-health, your insurance company will pay for you to be taken to a hospital for treatment.  If you are somewhere remote, such as hill walking or on safari, then you might need to have a helicopter or aircraft sent for you.  These forms of transport don’t come cheap that’s for sure.

There’s also another issue that’s not very pleasant to talk about but that’s death.  Whether we like it or not, people who are over 65 have a much higher risk of dying.  If you were to die whilst on vacation, who would pay for your body to be transported back home?  This is particularly imperative if you are taking a vacation abroad.  Without insurance, having your family deal with this situation would be truly horrific.

Another big problem that people suffer whilst on vacation is theft.  Whether it’s someone mugging you or breaking into your hotel room, you can suffer a great deal of financial loss.  There are many criminals who specifically target tourists because often you are disorientated and too busy looking at the sights you don’t notice someone slipping their hand into your bag to steal your wallet or camera.  If you report the theft to the police and give them a list of everything that has been stolen, you’ll be able to claim your insurance when you get back home.

So if you are over 65 and feel that the cost of travel insurance isn’t worth it, please think again.  There are so many things that can happen whilst you are taking a vacation that the cost of the premium can end up being worth it for you.  There are a number of companies online who allow you to compare quotes very easily so you can get the best price.  Many tour operators will offer to sell you travel insurance as part of the deal, but often these are over priced, so make sure you check with as many companies as possible.