SOME people look forward to the 'golden years' of retirement and the chance to put their feet up; others don't.

Whichever school you fall into, the chances are that once you do retire, you'll want to make use of some of that new-found leisure time to travel and see a bit of the world.

Ironically, it's precisely when you reach retirement age that many insurance companies decide the time is right to double your travel insurance premiums.

The reasons are understandable enough. A large part of the premium for insurance cover when travelling overseas is to cover medical risks - and for obvious reasons, with older people those risks are greater.

For independent York financial adviser Gerry Gray, though - himself a sprightly 65 - it is a cause for concern.

He said: "It comes just at the wrong time, when older people tend to want to go on holiday more, and it does worry me."

Motor insurance can be another area where "age discrimination" can come into play.

Charity Age Concerns cites a number of cases where elderly people, usually in their late seventies, have been refused car insurance because of their age.

Rosemary Bellin, of York-based BA Insurance Services, admitted that could happen.

She said: "Older people's reflexes perhaps start to slow down, their eyesight is maybe not as good as it was. If you have not got your wits about you in this day and age, you are perhaps more likely to be involved with an accident.

"What I suggest to my clients is that they stay with the insurance company that they are with rather than shop around as some younger people do.

"An insurance company is more likely to want to insure you if you have been with them for some time."

Elsewhere, for household insurance or travel insurance, Gerry Gray says it can pay to shop around if you are older - and reasonable deals can be found.

Age Concern itself runs a comprehensive insurance programme for older people tired of premiums going up simply because of their age.

Its single-trip travel insurance in particular does not take any account of age in its premiums. To find out more contact Age Concern on 627995.

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