Terminal Diagnosis, improved after trial - travel insurance

nicholbb

Hi,
When getting travel insurance, my friend was confronted with perfectly reasonable questions along the lines of:
Have you had a terminal diagnosis?
Yes, a terminal diagnosis 15 months ago

How long was the diagnosis for <6 months or 6+ months?
2 years

Are you receiving treatment?
No, treatment finished recently

However, what's not covered is after diagnosis he enrolled in a medical trial (which recently finished), this has vastly improved the outlook. Whilst the cancer is not gone, it is much reduced in size, it hasn't spread (which it likely would have done normally), it's not growing but shrinking and he's in better health than before the diagnosis.
The trial design was to reduce (if not eliminate) the cancer, then keep it in check using the bodies immune system, hopefully indefinitely (they don't know it's a trial) - so this is not a traditional cure.

Any advice on how the question should be answered in future, when is a terminal diagnosis no longer relevant, is it possible to change from 'terminal' to 'chronic' diagnosis (although maybe to early)?
Doctors in the trial won't commit as they just don't know (this is why they are doing a trial to find out), doctors outside wouldn't comment because they know less about the situation - so it's kind of a limbo there.
Unsurprisingly, insurance companies spoken to were not able to factor it in (post office wouldn't give cover) but don't know if there is an area to talk to.

Don't underestimate the impact this had. They were really quite thrown by the situation, it's one of the many after effects of going through cancer.



Edit: Link to article about the type of trial (sponsors are in US so maybe this one) http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/health/news/11641771/Cure-for-terminal-cancer-found-in-game-changing-drugs.html



Thanks

TBagpuss

Has he spoken to an insurance broker? they may have come across a similar situation in the past.

Alternatively, would he be able to get a letter from the doctor treating him to give a factual description of the situation including the fact that a prognosios is dificult at present but that the original diagnosis/prognosis is no longer accurate given the sucess of the trial.

theone999

there is no legal requirement for travel insurance. so I advise you not to buy it.

insurance companies always try to screw you over anyway.

in the very worst case scenario, beg strangers online for money through crowdfunding / social media.

rs65

nicholbb wrote: »

Any advice on how the question should be answered in future, when is a terminal diagnosis no longer relevant, is it possible to change from 'terminal' to 'chronic' diagnosis (although maybe to early)?

The diagnosis is whatever the doctor says it is. You are asking medical questions rather than insurance ones. You would need the doctor to lift the terminal diagnosis.


Have you/they tried an insurer with connections to a cancer charity? It is obviously a rare question so not many insurance sales staff will be able to deal with it.


Where is the destination?