In the words of English philosopher Francis Bacon “travel, in the younger sort, is a part of education, in the elder, a part of experience.” To put it simply, you are never too old to travel. It is in fact the most educating experience of life that goes a long way into building your personality and making you more aware about your surroundings and the world. Thanks to the emergence of a formidable urban middle class in the last decade or so, people today not only wish to travel, they also have the financial capabilities to plan a vacation domestically and internationally. Even the elderly are by no means lacking in spirits and as per an estimate nearly 1.3 billion senior went on an outbound travel in 2011, a number which is expected to reach 7.3 billion by 2030.
There are various factors that have contributed towards the rise of elderly travellers in recent years. To begin with, senior citizens of this generation are quite independent. They are financially stable and have the disposable income to make leisure travel plans. Secondly, their children are not dependent on them and have migrated to different countries that motivate them to go on overseas trip pretty often.
Going on a vacation is fun as well as liberating. You are exposed to new traditions and cultures that bring in fresh perspective to your own life. It is also a huge undertaking that involves adequate research in terms of places you will be visiting, booking travel tickets, making a reservation at a hotel etc. Thankfully, there are a number of tour and travelling websites that can help you to chalk out a flawless vacation plan. But, have you ever thought of taking up travel insurance?
If you are senior citizen and is planning oversea trips, it is highly recommendedto opt for a travel insurance plan. While age should never come in the way for your love for travelling, people above a certain age, especially those above 65 years pose certain risks. Travel insurance protects seniors who have a fragile health condition or a specific need while on a vacation anywhere in the country or the world. Most insurance companies such as HDFC ERGO offers travel insurance to senior citizens that provide cover from the following situations or scenarios.
• Sickness caused due to a pre-existing medical conditions
• Trauma caused by accidents
• Theft or loss of baggage
• Loss of documents of high importance
• Accidental deaths
• Flight delays or cancellation
• Loss of passport
Unexpected expenditure while on a trip can have a serious bearing on a savings and finances. Additionally, having to face an unforeseen crisis on a foreign land can be emotionally and psychologically stressful. To help you deal with such situation, a comprehensive travel insurance plan can come in handy.It is therefore wise and prudent to include travel insurance on the checklist of your travel plan. Travel insurance plans are not only easy to procure but are also very customizable and flexible. Key highlights of such plans are:
• Wide range of plans covering different regions of the world and duration of travel.
• Covers individual and family or floater basis
• Customizable policy that can be matched to your travel dates
• Affordable pricing while providing optimum coverage
Anyone above the age of 60 to 70 years can apply for travel insurance policy for seniors. Some insurers also caterto individuals who are between the age group of 71 to 80 years. It is highly recommended to check with you insurance brokerage company to confirm the same.
Having travel insurance is an added advantage. You are at ease and secured from unexpected repercussions of travelling. While it is important to be aware of the scope of your travel insurance policy, it is equally relevant to be aware about the exclusions. Exclusions are those scenarios and situation, where your travel insurance will not apply, such as:
• Civil war or Terrorism
• Self-inflicted injury or a case of suicide
• Negligence or non-adherence to medical advice or precautions
• Reckless behaviour under the effect of alcohol, narcotics or liquor
• Participation in an unlawful or criminal act
• Complications arising from HIV/AIDS
• Treatment of ailments related to mental health
• Accident or death caused due to participation of hazardous sports such as para gliding, skiing, parachuting etc.
