Although standard travel policies often take numerous situations into account, there are some applicants or situations that they will either charge vastly inflated premiums for or simply not cover at all.

The following are some examples of this -

Those who are not physically or mentally fit

Those who are not aged 18 to 50

Those that are planning on engaging in any “hazardous sport”, this includes the majority of extreme sports

Those that plan on being abroad for an extended or unusually long period of time, backpacking is a good example of this

Within these situations the applicant is likely to require “specialist cover”, two of the most popular of which are outlined below.

Over 50’s

Nearly all standard policies have an “upper age limit”, which is usually 50 or over, with some providers this is 65. Travellers over this age limit will find their premiums a lot more expensive to their younger counterparts, especially in terms of medical cover.

Seniors obtaining a quote may find they have to answer more questions than usual; this is so the insurer can get a clearer picture of any pre-existing medical conditions.

Extreme Sports

With the popularity of extreme sports such as snowboarding, scuba diving, parasailing and skiing soaring in recent years, insurance policies have been adjusted to reflect these changes.

As with over 50’s, those participating in extreme sports are likely to find that the “standard” medical policy will not suffice. With most not covering any injuries incurred as a result of participating in extreme sports.

As well as providing more reasonable travel insurance premiums, a specialist provider is also likely to cover both rented and personal sporting equipment, which is often very expensive to replace.

Obtaining cheap travel insurance for the situations outlined above isn’t that difficult as the number of applicants has increased considerably over the years. A quick search online is generally the best method for comparing the travel insurance market.

Florence