The government has delayed publishing proposals to stop insurers hitting pensioners with higher travel premiums
The government has delayed publishing proposals which could stop insurers slamming pensioners with higher travel premiums.
The Discrimination Law Review was expected to be published this month after a lengthy delay.
But Insurance Times has learned it will now be published later in June.
The move could prevent insurers from hitting the elderly with higher premiums for both holiday and leisure cover.
Ed Balls, economic secretary to the Treasury said the government was con-sidering whether there was a case for “prohibiting age discrimination” in the insurance industry, among others.
He said: “We are considering whether there is a case for prohibiting age discrimination in the provision of goods, facilities and services, including insurance.”
However, he added: “The government does not pre-scribe terms and conditions that insurance companies may set when offering insurance, nor does it intervene in the commercial decision of insurers.
“As a rule, insurers use their claims experience and other industry-wide statistics to set the terms on which they offer insurance cover.”
A spokesman for the Department for Com-munities and Local Govern-ment said the anticipated green paper would set out proposals which would then be consulted on.
Demand is growing in Westminster for action, with one in five MPs calling for legislation to be introduced.
More than 100 MPs have signed a Commons motion, by Ashton MP David Heyes, demanding the government urge insurers to overhaul its system to ensure older people get a fair deal when buying travel insurance.
