Travel insurance for cancer patients

Mrs_Baggins_2 · 2 July 2009 at 12:43AM

As a fairly recently diagnosed cancer patient I believe that travel insurance will now be difficult/ expensive to get. I am reluctant to travel without insurance - how have others coped?

mad_rich · 2 July 2009 at 1:07AM

Sorry to hear about your diagnosis.

There's a section on pre-existing medical conditions in the travel insurance article, and that lists some specialist policies. http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/insurance/cheap-travel-insurance

Another option is just to go for a regular policy, inform them of your medical history, and ask them to exclude cover for any claim arising from your cancer.

That way, you are still insured for accidents, unrelated illness, as well as losing your baggage and flight delays etc. It depends on your personal circumstances, of course, but if you've only recently been diagnosed, maybe you don't need the medical cover? How likely are you to require immediate hospitalisation (ie something that can't wait until you are able to return to the UK)? Are you able to book flexible flights or keep enough money to buy a ticket back home (relatively cheap from Europe, much more expensive from further afield).

It's important to inform the insurer - some will be happy for the rest of the policy to stand, but some will want to void the policy entirely.

Good luck with it. I don't think there's going to be a cheap solution, but if you are able to 'self insure' part of it, it needn't be extortionate.

luci · 2 July 2009 at 3:01AM

I am so sorry to hear of your illness and wish you all the best for a full and speedy recovery.

My friend had terminal breast cancer and wanted to go to Zante for 5 months. She was given a booklet of specialist cancer insurers by her nurse and was quoted over £1000 by some. They were all very expensive.

I suggested she contact the ABI, Assocation of British Insurers. One company they suggested was Citibond and they quoted her £67! She had a heck of a job getting the guy on the phone to note that she had both breast and kidney cancer, but they did insure her.

The reason it was so cheap was that she had a standard excess of £50 for everything except anything related to the cancer which was a £250 excess.

This was a few years ago and I have since read of people who had high quotes from the same company, but it's worth at try.

I have seen All Clear and Medici recommended for PEMC's, but not specifically for cancer. I believe Columbus Insurance also impose a higher excess rather than a higher premium. However they wouldn't even quote me for a PEMC which is a lot less serious than cancer.

HERE is a list of companies you could try. Just click on the names to go to the various websites for contact details. You will probably have to call them for medical screening.

As said above, another option is to get cover excluding anything relating to the cancer.

Be aware that any policies underwritten by Axa are not recommended as they have a very poor record of paying out in the event of a claim.

I truly hope you are successful in finding a policy which doesn't cost more than the holiday.

Beenie · 2 July 2009 at 5:06PM

I have been treated for cancer since June last year. When I wanted to go on holiday, the insurance company said that if the doctor thought I was well enough to travel that was good enough for them, and covered me. That was with AXA. Don't know about the pay-out records as I was lucky enough not to have to claim.

Edinburghlass_2 · 2 July 2009 at 5:12PM

Check out Maggie's Centre if you have one near you as they have a list of insurers that will help. Or indeed join the online community.

http://www.maggiescentres.org/maggies/maggiescentres/home/home.html

Incapuppy · 2 July 2009 at 5:22PM

Mrs_Baggins wrote: »

As a fairly recently diagnosed cancer patient I believe that travel insurance will now be difficult/ expensive to get. I am reluctant to travel without insurance - how have others coped?

Sorry to hear about your diagnosis.

Can I ask when you were thinking of travellling? Are you having/due to start some form of treatment? I only ask this as if you are due to have treatment you may wish to postpone any holidays until this has finished. Not only will you be more sure of how you will feel/cope with travelling, insurance should be slightly easier to purchase too.

jonnyjackov · 2 July 2009 at 6:40PM

Hi, as others have said, sorry to hear your diagnosis, and wish you a speedy recovery.

I am suffering from a terminal illness, (in the eyes of the insurers, not the doctors), and managed to get decent travel insurance from insureandgo.com. I couldn't do it online cos of the health issues, but they were great on the phone and charged me £65 for annual eu coverage which covered my illness, but not any depressions or mental illness associated with it.

Travel insurance for cancer patients

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