Travel insurance costs for elderly to be scrutinised

THE practice of charging pensioners double premiums for travel insurance will come under scrutiny just days after car insurers were criticised for refusing insurance to a 77-year-old.

Equality Authority chief executive Niall Crowley said a number of cases where travel agents had charged pensioners twice the standard adult rate for travel insurance had come to their attention.

“It is an issue that has come before us. We will be looking to bring these cases forward to test out what contribution the Equal Status Act can make towards improving the situation.”