Holiday Insurance for long stay trip for an 83 and 87 year old?

[Finwoodhill]

My parents (aged 83 and 87) are trying to get insurance cover for a 6 weeks trip to Malta. So far the best premium they have been quoted is £870 (!). They are both in good health, have the type of medications one would associate with their age (gout, cholestrol for dad, hypertension for mum) - dad had three heart attacks 23 years ago, mum is 6 years in remission from breast cancer. I know they are 'high risk' but this premium is stopping them taking a trip to the sun that will be really beneficial. Most insurers won't even cover anyone over 80, let alone for more than 4 weeks - has anyone any experience in this field please?

[bednobs]

to be honest, £870 sounds like a good deal to me, and i really doubt you'd get it any cheaper. Bear in mind the high risk they are of needing medical repatriation (which can run into tens of thousands) Even repatriating a body (i'm not implying they will die, just that they are significantly more likely to than your average 40 year old) is hugely expensive.
If they think that they are at a low risk of something untoward happening, they could always take on that risk themselves and not get insured

[bednobs]

it's a bit misleading to say they extend your nhs cover to europe. What the EHIC does is get you the same deal that a native of that country would have

[bednobs]

i'm not saying it hasn't.