[denisesykes]

Hi everyone, just a quickie, we have paid for my parents to visit us in November and they will be staying for 2 months. They are struggling on pensions so us paying really was the only way for them to travel.
I am therefore horrified to hear from them that the cost of travel insurance is around £700! The tickets themselves were only £1000!
I think that what is driving the quotes up is their ages, 77 and 75 and the fact that they are staying for 2 months.They have no real medical concerns, apart from the usual high blood pressure and my dad has a hernia.
Anyway , to my question, has anyone been in a similar position with elderly parents travelling and how much did they pay?
Thanks as always

Denise

[holland]

Haven't got any experience, but just had a nosey on Martin Lewis' Money Expert website for you, and it appears that 'Help the Aged' offer yearly cover for this age group for a cheaper price, maybe worth a look.

J

[KerryS]

My parents (late 60s and early 70s and copious number of medical problems) used Saga for their travel insurance, when they've been over for an extended visit of 3 months.
My Grandad - who is in his 90s has got insurance from Barclays Bank to come over this December. He's only here for a couple of weeks though, not 2 months, but I know it was nowhere near that amount of money for his insurance as I paid for it all!
Have you shopped around - MSE is usually a good place to get advice from others on saving money.

[nippa&pippa]

my MIL using Nationwide for her 6months trip medical insurance in NZ, coming in oct 2007. She found them willing to cover her as she had a heart attack in past and she is diabetic at low price!

[babscat]

We had similar problem except we are hoping to stay for 6 months plus!! It gave us quite a problem. We are slightly younger - 66 and 73. After much research we booked with www.go-walkabout.co.uk for £349. Should be less for a shorter period of time.
Hope you succeed!
Barbara

[Croft]

Remember that the UK has a reciprocal health aggreement with NZ (http://www.britishhighcommission.gov.uk/servlet/Front?pagename=OpenMarket/Xcelerate/ShowPage&c=Page&cid=1086625930421).

Under a separate health agreement, UK nationals who live in the UK and are on short-term visits to New Zealand are eligible for immediately necessary healthcare under the health system on the same terms as citizens of New Zealand. They should show their UK passport.

If the treatment relates to an existing medical condition, then a medical specialist must agree that it is needed to stop the condition getting seriously worse if it is to be treated under the agreement. If a new condition arises, the medical specialist must agree that you require the treatment promptly. In both cases, the need for treatment must arise during your visit. You will have to pay the same charges as New Zealanders pay (e.g. for treatment at a doctor’s surgery or prescribed medicines).

http://uk.sitestat.com/fcoweb/brithighcomm/s?postnzuk.kfile.nav_home.bil_theukandnewzealand.b il_information.infhealthcovernz.sa8-oct05_pdf&ns_type=pdf&ns_url=[http://www.fco.gov.uk/Files/kfile/sa8-oct05.pdf]

As I understand it the difference between with paying for private health insurance is that under the reciprocal agreement they wouldn't be flown home - it may make for an extended stay in NZ if your parents were to, heaven forbid, fall desperately ill. However, it wouldn't be like a normal holiday, at least they'd have family around.

The High Commission website seems to imply a short visit is under 3 months - 3 months or more and you have to surrender your NHS card.

Something for you to consider?