Elderly Brits looking to enjoy a holiday abroad this year as the UK travel red list was scrapped may be in for an unwelcome surprise.

According to consumer website Which?, turning 70 can double the price of travel insurance even if someone is healthy.

Policies can be markedly more expensive and harder to find once customers pass 65, even if they are in good health, the consumer group said.

Which? looked at common barriers to finding affordable cover, gathering the experiences of some members in the past two years.

Medical conditions and age were most commonly identified as the source of problems and travel insurance was the most common problem area.

Mystery shopping research found that once a customer reached 70, they had fewer quotes to choose from and the average price of the cheapest five nearly doubled, compared with customers aged 65.

The average of the cheapest five quotes offered to a 65-year-old was £29 and for a 70-year-old this nearly doubled to £57.

One Which? member said declaring his wife’s irregular heartbeat resulted in “either a refusal to insure or astronomical premiums” for the couple’s annual worldwide cover – with one insurer quoting as much as £3,200.

Another Which? member, 78, added: “I still run, jump in rivers and chase salmon, and run stables and horses. It’s annoying to discover that at this age you’re deemed incapable of even driving.”

Bournemouth Echo: Turning 70 can double the price of travel insurance even if someone is healthy. (PA)Turning 70 can double the price of travel insurance even if someone is healthy. (PA)

Which? offer resources to help older holidaymakers

Jenny Ross, Which? Money editor, said: “If you struggle to get insurance because of medical conditions or your age, there are some resources that can help you locate specialist insurers that lie off the beaten track of comparison websites.

“If there’s relevant context to your history or circumstances that you can’t communicate on an online form – or you’re unsure how to accurately fill one out – contact the insurer directly by phone or email to speak with a human being.”

Association of British Insurers explain hike in price for Brits over 70

Sarah Brodie, senior policy adviser, general insurance at the Association of British Insurers (ABI), said: “Travel insurers aim to offer competitively priced travel insurance to as many travellers as possible.

“The cost of travel insurance will reflect a number of factors, including your age and travel destination.

“The older you are, or if you have a pre-existing medical condition, the more likely you are to need to claim for what can be jaw-droppingly expensive overseas emergency medical treatment costs.

“Travel insurance remains competitively priced, so it can pay to shop around, always making sure that you buy the policy most suited to your needs, not simply on price, and that you answer all questions, especially on any pre-existing medical conditions, fully and honestly.”