BILL MURPHY,
Sir, - Kevin Myers (An Irishman's Diary, February 21st) has great faith in insurance companies providing cover against the "certainty of the sea coming over the sea wall". I don't know if these companies do insure against a certainty, but those of us in the older age bracket have recently discovered that there are areas in which they will not insure us.
The Active Retirement movement exists to encourage older members of our society to be just that, active. We tend, amongst other things, to travel. Recently, however, one of our associations informed us that the company providing their travel insurance would double the cost for those between 70 and 74 (bad enough) and would no longer cover those over 74 at all.
In vain we protested that the bulk of our cover, lost/damaged baggage, theft, delays and cancellations, public liability etc. had nothing to do with age, and that as far as accidents were concerned, us "old codgers", sedate in our coach seats, were less of a risk than those yuppy youngsters on their jet skis and motor scooters. In vain.
We tried elsewhere. An Post does an excellent travel insurance under the name "One Direct". But look at the small print: they will not cover the over-75s. We are still trying, but losing hope.
We have protested to the Equality Authority that this is discrimination on the basis of age, which is outlawed under the Equal Status Act. They have promised to look into it and we keep our fingers crossed. But Kevin Myers, methinks, has too much faith in the insurance business.
Is there an underwriter out there brave enough to take us on? - Yours, etc.,
BILL MURPHY,
Secretary, Federation of Active
Retirement Associations,
Shamrock Chambers,
2/3 Eustace Street,
Dublin 2.