A new bill introduced by Parliament will see an end to ageist discrimination from insurance companies.

The Single Equality Bill will make it illegal for companies to withhold services from customers of a particular age. Pensioners who have been refused travel and life insurance will no longer face exclusion by the 95 percent of insurers that have age restrictions attached to insurance products.

The bill will apply to all areas of society. For example, it will become illegal for older clubbers to be refused entry to nightclubs due to their age. Likewise, younger citizens will legally be able to join clubs that cater for older people.

“People are often surprised to learn that ageism is the most commonly experienced prejudice in the UK,” said Gordon Lishman of Age Concern.

“But both young and old find that they come up against barriers created by their age. People over a certain age pay a huge premium on insurance just because of their age. They can also be denied certain types of health treatment because doctors don’t think it is worth treating them. This is unfair and unjust.”