Is annual travel insurance invalidated by a cancer diagnosis?

Jonx999

We took out annual travel insurance in February to cover a short break back then and a potential holiday (fortunately not yet booked) later in the year.  However, my wife has just had a routine mammogram - and they found cancer.  She has to have a mastectomy.

Hopefully we might still be able to have a holiday once she's recovered, but I wonder if the existing travel insurance would be invalidated by her new condition.  Should we inform the insurance company before any future holidays? 

eskbanker

You'll need to check the terms of your policy to see if they specify that significant changes in health need to be advised to them....

heatherw_01

Sorry about the news

Yes, you MUST tell them or yes it will invalidate the policy.

In the past when I had annual insurance and was diagnosed with new conditions, I called them and told them my new conditions, and with some they said I could declare it but it won't be covered until I renewed, and the other one just covered it instantly once I declared it.
It varies between insurers.

But if you don't declare it, that will invalidate your policy as they almost all say in their policy terms.
Read your policy and give them a call.

sheramber

You need to be sure of the position before you book anything,

They may decline to cover her or they may be prepared to cover her but exclude the cancer or anything that can be related to it.

TELLIT01

It's advisable to contact the insurer unless you are certain that it is not required.  Be prepared to be charged an admin fee even if the policy cost doesn't increase.  Pre-covid I informed our travel insurer about a new condition my wife had.  They charged a £20 'admin fee' for putting the information on the system.

katejo

Jonx999 said:

We took out annual travel insurance in February to cover a short break back then and a potential holiday (fortunately not yet booked) later in the year.  However, my wife has just had a routine mammogram - and they found cancer.  She has to have a mastectomy.

Hopefully we might still be able to have a holiday once she's recovered, but I wonder if the existing travel insurance would be invalidated by her new condition.  Should we inform the insurance company before any future holidays? 

Sorry to hear that! Yes you definitely have to tell them. At least you haven't already booked a trip which you now can't go on. I hold back from booking anything or renewing a policy if I am about to have a screening. I have just done the bowel screening for the first time and held back from booking anything until I had received the all clear result.

NoodleDoodleMan

You absolutely must advise your travel insurer soonest - they'll advise you accordingly.