Have you got itchy feet? Raring to go on that holiday you’ve always promised yourself?Maybe you are a seasoned traveller, but are looking for fresh ideas to satisfy your wanderlust. Well you have come to the right place.Here are a few things to consider to help you make the right travel arrangements to suit you. Continue reading “5 or more things for baby boomers to consider when making travel plans”
Article by Iwan Williams
More than most age groups, the over 50s should shop around for their home, car and travel insurance. Often they have been with the same insurer for many years and have simply accepted the renewal deal on offer. Many will have bought their home insurance from a bank or building society when taking out a mortgage and need to be aware that there are better deals and big savings to be had.
Over 50s Should Shop Around for Insurance
It is also important for customers to remember that cheaper premiums do not have to mean less cover. A leading specialist and over 50s insurer, advises over 50s consumers planning to shop around for home, motor or travel insurance to be careful when taking out policies. Cheaper premiums are worth having only if the quality of the cover is not compromised. It is advised customers check the level of cover on policies and ensure that policy limits are suitable for the individual.
Why Over 50s Should Pay Lower Insurance Premiums
There are a variety of reasons why over 50s should expect to pay lower premiums for insurance such as car insurance and home content insurance. Primarily, they tend to have a low risk profile, which means insurers are able to offer cover at lower prices. In addition, the over 50s tend to make fewer claims and are less creative when making a claim, submitting lower value claims than the under 50s. Further savings can be also be made by using a specialist insurer for the over 50s. In fact, research conducted by a leading UK insurer shows over 50s can typically save up to 35% on home and contents insurance by using a specialist insurer.
A specialist insurer, in addition to offering potential savings, will also be able to provide tailored products for the over 50s. Examples include covering a home whilst the occupants are away for extended periods, garden cover, and home help benefit.
These savings are still available for the over 65s, particularly if they use a over 50s insurance specialist. However, travel insurance can attract higher premiums for older people as any claims made tend to be of a higher value. Also, some companies will not provide travel insurance at all to the over 65s.
Again, it is best to talk to a specialist over 50s insurer as they negotiate exclusive rates and cover with a panel of insurers and will be able to offer insurance for the over 65s.
About the Author
To find more information on over 50s insurance please visit http://www.rias.co.uk
Even If You’re Over 50, Don’t Forget Your Insurance
Article by Chelsi Woolz
Now, more than ever, insurance coverage is needed to protect yourself and your loved ones in case of an unfortunate accident. Insurance for people over 50 doesn’t end with life insurance. There are many other situations where it can be instrumental in keeping those golden years valuable.
Life insurance is what many people are thinking about. We want our spouses and children to be taken care of when we pass. In the past, the insurance game was such that life insurance was unavailable to pensioners, but now it is a simple matter to get a deferred term life insurance policy up to the age of 85.
Life and death are not the only matters of importance. Often, death is preceded by costly hospital or long-term care. Health insurance is needed to take care of these costs as they occur, because quite frankly sometimes a doctor knows what he’s doing and you end up living for ten to twenty more years in relative good health. You don’t want those years to be spent drowning in debt. Even if you already have a good health insurance policy, there may be holes in it. In such a case, a second, or gap insurance policy can help to close those gaps and provide true full coverage that includes all prescription medications.
Your car insurance should also not lapse. You have to be honest with yourself. Your senses are not going to be as sharp as they were when you were 20 years old. Accidents do happen and your vehicle should be protected at all times. You may not be planning a new car purchase, and if that is true, then your automobile must be covered for all situations and include rental car benefits in case of an accident.
Lastly, travel insurance for people over 50 is always a good idea. Many retired couples and singles alike spend some of their time travelling, seeing places they’ve always wanted to see and visiting far-away friends and relatives. Travel insurance makes sure that you are covered for medical emergencies even if you are in another country and it also protects your ticket investment should you have to cancel.
Insurance is important at all ages – please don’t let coverage lapse, thinking it doesn’t apply. Insurance can save you from embarrassment and protect your family. That’s really what’s important.
About the Author
People over 50 who are not working full-time should consider specialist insurance catering to their age group. Finding such policies for car insurance and travel insurance could make a real difference to your budget.
With two Bank Holiday Mondays, and therefore two long weekends, May is the perfect chance for people to take a mini-break away to quench their holiday thirst until summer arrives. Thus, popular European countries are preparing for an influx of British tourists wishing to make the most of their extra long weekends.
Unsurprisingly, travel prices reflect this, and holidays over these three-day weekends are often more expensive than normal, as holiday companies cash in on what would perhaps otherwise be a lull in holiday sales. Although when you consider the limited amount of three-day weekends you get in a year, a slight increase in cost perhaps seems more tolerable.
Travelbite.co.uk have compiled a list their top destinations for the bank holiday weekend breaks. Their selections add a bit of variety to holiday, as they suggest more unusual places than holiday makers’ usual, more predictable choices. They reveal Croatian city Split as their top May bank holiday break destination, followed by Tunis in Tunisia and Manama, Bahrain. Berlin and (surprisingly) Washington DC make up the top 5.
Wherever the destination, travel insurance is just as important as ever, and May holiday makers booking last minute short breaks shouldn’t let it slip their minds. Unfortunately, unexpected things can go wrong on short breaks too, and having adequate travel insurance should be considered essential. Getting cover shouldn’t cost much either, as the price for single trip travel insurance is calculated depending on how long you are travelling for (as well as taking into account your destination, travel party size and ages). So, essentially, the shorter the trip, the cheaper the cover. For example, popular travel insurance provider Direct Travel Insurance’s comprehensive policies start from £5.50 for 5 days in Europe.
With the current weakness of the Euro against the British pound, trips abroad could, arguably, not be as good value as they have been, and UK trips may become more common for weekend breaks, especially in May. Seaside resorts such as Brighton and Blackpool are all expected to grow in popularity, as people from inner cities seek sun and sand without leaving the country. Even for weekend breaks within the UK, travel insurance could still be worthwhile. For example, cover for cancellation, money and personal belongings would be covered by most policies, and, with cover starting from £3.50 (based on a Direct Travel Insurance policy for one adult), getting covered for your Bank Holiday break won’t exactly break the bank.
Article Author – Rob James
Rob James is the Communications Coordinator for Direct Travel Insurance, providers of travel insurance.
Article by Soul Patel
Life insurance is often a difficult matter to handle as it may bring you to think about the practicalities of your own death which is not easy for anybody. It is also a comforting thought that the lump sum of cash left behind can clear any debts you may have, left to a grandchild, or cover the expense of a funeral. Most of the UK insurance providers do not require a medical checkup and for those aged 50 or older the good news is that the process is somewhat easier because of over 50s life insurance. It is also quite easy to set up an over 50 life insurance policy with the entire process able to be completed within only a few days. In the case of death, there is a lump sum of cash paid out, and this sum is paid out irrespective of the age at which death occurs.
However, there are of course disadvantages to these insurance policies. The first to know is that the monthly premium cost of the contract is relatively high compared to that of a standard life insurance policy. The closer you are to 50 years old, the lower the insurance premium will be. There is also an initial period, usually of two years, in which the policy will not pay out if you die, instead the premium costs paid over this time are often refunded. Lastly, unlike a standard life insurance policy, the level of pay out on death is significantly lower and is typically around £8,000. Having said this, and as stated above, this is a guaranteed sum.
In the UK, over 50 life insurance is a strongly growing market where many providers running extensive advertising programs. As such, there are many great deals to be found, as the competition is high. Excellent incentives are offered by some providers which include a high payout travel insurance policy where you can be paid three times the usual lump sum if a travel accident results in your death. Find a scheme appropriate for you by making sure you compare the benefits of each policy.
If you’re over 50 in looking into life insurance options, look for over 50s life insurance with provisions that enable you to extend the length of the term of the policy if you’re still alive at the end of the initial term. You should also be aware of return-of-premium term policies, which enable you to get back premiums that you paid into the policy. You might pay more for these provisions but they are worth it.
Interested in Over 50s Life Insurance? Click here
Article by James Zhao
The general media picture is that the gap year is an entity for youngsters, university-goers and college kids. Bounds of paraphernalia speak of the brilliance of taking time out between studying and work, while the travel opportunities are endless and exciting. As the demands of education have spiralled, lifestyle choices have shifted to reflect this. Tourism operators have tapped into an all too wiling generation. Fresh-faced backpackers and rafters line the pages of brochures, screaming go abroad! There you can relax!
But it appears that there is another demographic gradually seeking out the positives such overseas jaunts can bring. Various parties have recently stated that the over-50s wish to fulfil unrealised foreign excursions, with the gap year taking centre stage. One such report came from the Association of British Travel Agents (Abta), which suggested the older generation are getting more adventurous in their travel choices. Whereas a quaint beach holiday or a ramble in the countryside may have once been paramount, over-50s now have greater goals in their sights.
An official at Abta stated that the senior gap year sector is now growing as the young-at-heart look to add a flourish to their lives. Press officer with the organisation Sean Tipton claimed “as part of this growing trend for more daring holidays for the over-50s, the market for senior gap years and career breaks is growing, with many people choosing to travel the world when they are older”.
He added that, because the over-50s have been on a vast number of more traditional holidays, since the vacation trend began in the 60s, they now want to branch out and seek other ways to view the planet.
Indeed, with these things in mind, the new travel savvy may want ensure that they are completely insured while away from home, to make the experience an even better one. There are number of travel insurance products available for this specific age group, which may offer vital support in some of the far-flung and exotic corners of the globe.
While all of these factors may all play a part in the growth of the niche market, another has been touched upon by the Emeritus professor at Cardiff University Phil Thomas, who said that lifestyle and working arrangements have led to more free time for potential travellers. He commented that people are now a lot healthier in general than they used to be, while they are also not working to such a late age – meaning that time is freed up to stretch their wings and embark on a thrilling journey to other climes. They want to explore avenues they perhaps missed out on at an earlier age, he stated.
So, all the evidence is there – travelling is great. Taking a year out abroad is fantastic. Pictures of unfathomably young models adorning the pages of travel books would appear to be myth. The options for the over-50s are boundless, whether it be backpacking, cruising, or even working while away, the ‘old’ are staying in touch with their fresh-faced peers. The travel insurance plan could just add a little bit of a safety net, to make sure the conscience is clear and the possibilities are truly endless.
About the Author
James Zhao is an e-marketer working with various industries including travel, insurance, ebusiness. For more information on travel insurance for over 50s, please visit castlecover.co.uk/travelinsurance
Article by Jean Andrews
Our older generations have been getting some negative press due to their alleged bad behaviour while on holiday abroad – earning them the unfortunate nickname ‘Saga Louts’. The same seniors don’t behave badly and earn themselves an ASBO at home. So what’s going on?
Fun and reckless behaviour is not exclusive to the young. It seems the people we used to look upon as role models are often the ones misbehaving these days. Apparently, the number of mature drinkers is rising while the number of teenage drinkers has dropped. Young people are worrying about their carbon footprints, growing their own vegetables, and spurning drink and drugs. Role reversal? It seems so.
Many older folks are ignoring their health problems and throwing old-fashioned caution to the wind. They are jetting off abroad, often without getting a health check from their GP – or taking out travel insurance! The Foreign Office has expressed concern about this new generation of retirees who are putting themselves at unnecessary risk.
Are these ageing rebels breaking the mold? What happened to our dear old grannies who spent their days baking cakes, knitting mysterious garments for us and trying their luck in the bingo halls? Where is the quiet grandpa who spent his days hiding in the potting shed with the newspaper and racing form? Perhaps they revert to a more staid persona at home, but once they have a taste for foreign travel and adventure there’s no stopping this new silver jet set!
Drinking, or rather binge drinking, is reported to be the cause of most of the problems. Their benders often result in these oldies-but-baddies ending up in jail, hospital or even the mortuary! Why shouldn’t they let their hair down (what’s left of it) or have a knees up (so what if they’re plastic). Many are wealthier than they used to be and feel they deserve to make up for all the years of sacrifice.
The over 55’s are reported to be among the largest group of people participating in dodgy activities like bungee jumping, skydiving, and paragliding! These ‘denture venturers’ as they have been labelled, often outshine younger dare-devils. The young are becoming the new fuddy-duddies, tut-tut-ing the antics of their irresponsible elders!
There’s no question that obtaining affordable travel insurance can be difficult for the older traveller. Cover varies from company to company, so it’s best to shop around for the right policy. Many companies set age restrictions in the mid 60’s for annual multi-trip policies and travel to the USA and Canada – due to the high cost of medical care. The over 70’s may have difficulty finding an affordable policy, especially if they have a medical history which includes conditions like heart disease, stroke or diabetes. Fifty used to be old, but 50 is the new 40 as they say, 60 the new 50, and so on. After working hard all their lives and paying taxes, the over 50s may feel they have earned it. Many won’t get their state pension at 60 as they planned, but will have to work until they are 65, 70 or beyond because the government changed the rules. The retirement carrot is being dangled further down the road now. Who wouldn’t get an attitude! No wonder they’re buying Harley Davidson hogs and hitting the highways while they can!
Maybe older folks feel time is running out and it’s foolhardy to stock up the freezer. Perhaps they don’t care whether they make the return trip from their holiday. In a way you can’t blame them, but one major downside to their rash behaviour is the impact it can have on the holiday plans of others. Older travellers who don’t see their GP for a check-up may not be medically fit to fly. There are reports that in-flight medical emergencies are on the increase, causing distress and chaos and sometimes requiring the pilot to make an unscheduled landing.
So, are they wrong to enjoy their silver or golden years and kick up their heels as they burn up the inheritance money? We probably shouldn’t pass judgment. However, the family may not be amused if grandma has no travel insurance and breaks her neck jet skiing in Spain! Emergency medical treatment abroad can cost a small fortune and emergency repatriation (dead or alive) can be extremely expensive. The house and nest-egg they intended to leave to the kids could vanish as fast as a nice glass of bubbly if there’s no travel insurance to help cover the costs.
Should we reprimand our seniors and send them clucking back to the bingo halls? Whatever your views may be, it’s probably too late anyway. Like free-range hens, they’ve broken free of the coop, scratched some dirt, and had a taste of sunshine and freedom. Why not let them flap those bingo wings and fly while they can!
About the Author
Jean Andrews is a freelance writer living in the UK. She regularly contributes articles for TIA Ltd who offer travel insurance at great prices online.
