Tommy Lloyd
Author: Tommy Lloyd, Managing Director

Tommy has over 15 years experience within the insurance industry, and his primary focus is helping travellers find the right cover for their medical conditions.

Last updated: 23rd Jul 2020 Originally posted: 13th Feb 2020

COVID-19 Cover Update

We’ll only show you quotes from providers who are able to cover emergency medical expenses if you catch the virus abroad, and some of our providers are able to offer additional cover. Please see the below frequently asked questions, or read our full guide for more information.

Can you get travel insurance if you have cancer?

Yes, it is possible to get travel insurance if you have cancer. While it is not guaranteed (it depends on the severity of your condition), most cancer patients should be eligible.

Travel insurance for cancer patients is offered by many specialist travel insurance providers. We work closely with these providers to ensure you get the best deal on travel insurance for people with cancer.

Travel insurance for cancer is designed to cover you for any issues related to your condition while travelling.

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What information do I have to disclose?

First of all, most insurance providers will expect you to tell them if you’ve ever had a cancerous condition. 

Just to be clear - this applies if:

  • You’ve recently been diagnosed with a cancerous condition 
  • Your cancer is in remission 
  • You’ve been given the all clear following treatment 

However, you should also bear in mind that insurance providers will also take your individual circumstances into account when you purchase a policy. 

For example, once you declare cancer - we’ll ask you a few questions about the nature of your condition, treatment and anything else that can help us determine the type of cover you would need from any given provider. 

This also applies when providers calculate the cost of your cover. For example, if you’ve had cancer in the past, but got the all clear many years ago - your premium will be less than it would be if say you’ve had a recent diagnosis.

Which types of cancers are covered?

We understand that there are lots of different types of cancer. The good news is that we can help you find and compare cover for a range of different cancerous conditions all in one place. 

We know that there are many different types of cancer, but here are a just a few that we can help you find cover for.

What is typically covered in a policy?

Different providers will include different types of cover, but the main things generally include:

  • Cancellation
  • Medical expenses & repatriation
  • Theft/loss of belongings
  • Personal accident

Cover will also depend on the nature of your condition (as per the answers you provide during medical screening, see below) and also whether you choose to select any optional extras.

Optional extras can be selected before comparing quotes. This relates to additional travel insurance that can be added on to your main policy. This includes gadget cover, cruise cover and winter sports cover. 



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Medical screening for cancer travel insurance

Medical screening refers to the questions you’ll be asked about your condition. This helps travel insurance providers get more of an understanding of your individual circumstances and medical history - so they can offer you the right cover. 

If your cancer has spread to any other areas of the body, make sure to declare the primary cancer (where it started) first.

It’s also possible you will also be asked if you take strong painkillers. This refers to patches, Tramadol and anything Morphine based – if you’re not sure, please consult your doctor.

You must answer these questions as accurately as possible to ensure you find policies that fully cover you once abroad.  

If you need any further support or assistance when declaring your condition - just know that our friendly support team is on hand to answer any questions you might have.

Travel tips for cancer patients

  1. Consult your doctor before travelling: Never travel against the advice of your doctor. If you’ve been warned not to travel - some providers will not be able to cover you, so always be sure to bear this in mind BEFORE you purchase travel insurance.
  2. Take medical documentation with you: As well as any travel insurance documentation - make sure you bring copies of medical documents relating to your condition. This might include details treatment, medication etc.
  3. Make a list of all your medication: Check that you can bring your medication with you for starters. Then, it’s up to you to make sure you bring it with you - the last thing you want to do is arrive at your destination without it. 

Compare quotes from specialist insurance providers

Our online quote comparison tool is easy to use - and once you declare your condition, you can compare from a variety of different specialist travel insurance providers in minutes. 

To get started, all you need to do is complete some personal details (including age) and tell us about your trip. 

Following on from this you can declare your pre-existing conditions before comparing quotes. You’ll be able to sort out your travel insurance in a matter of minutes - meaning you can crack on with the more exciting things on your holiday to-do list. 

Once you’ve listed your personal details including age, all you need to do is tell us about your trip and any pre-existing conditions before comparing quotes. 

Again, it’s worth reminding you that we work with the very best and most reputable providers - so you can be sure you’re in good hands.

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Frequently Asked Questions

We’ll only show you quotes from providers who are able to cover emergency medical expenses (including repatriation to the UK) if you catch the virus whilst travelling abroad.

Some of our providers are able to offer additional cover, such as cancellation cover should you catch COVID-19 or have to self-isolate because of suspected symptoms before departure. We’ll make it clear who these providers are when you’re comparing quotes so you can choose the policy that is right for you.

This doesn’t apply to all insurance providers, so unless otherwise stated, for all other sections of cover, you wouldn’t be covered if making a claim as a result of COVID-19.

For more information, we recommend reading our full guide here.

If the FCO are advising against all, or all but essential travel to your destination at the time of your trip, there will be no, or extremely limited cover provided by your policy.

You can still choose to take out a policy now for a future holiday, but it is very important to note that if the FCO are still advising against all but essential travel to your destination at the time of your trip, your cover will not be valid.

For more information, we recommend reading our full guide here.

Yes, we'll need to know if you or any traveller on your policy has ever suffered from a cancerous condition. So, this could be a condition that is present now or a condition that you've had in the past and have made a full recovery from. But don't worry, we'll ask you a set of questions relating to your condition to take your individual circumstances into account.
Once you've declared all of your relevant pre-existing medical conditions we'll only show you quotes based on the conditions you have told us about.
No, we are unable to provide cover with any of your pre-existing medical conditions excluded.
If you don't travel much then a single trip cover is perfect as you can cover specific dates suited to your trip. If you have cancellation cover, you'll also benefit from this as soon as you buy your policy. If you travel 2 or more times a year, it may be cheaper for you to go for an annual trip cover. It's best to start your annual trip cover as soon as possible, as if you have cancellation cover, you'll only benefit from this from your policy start date.
Nearly all insurance policies will come with cancellation cover included. Cancellation cover will start as soon as you buy your single trip policy, or your policy start date for an annual trip (so you may want to start this cover as soon as possible). Cancellation cover will help you with the cost of your trip, including flights, accommodation and, in some cases pre-paid excursions. The cover limits will be the amount per person.

* Price is based on 1 traveller aged 61, who has declared a hernia and is travelling to Spain for 7 nights. Price is correct as of December 2019. Prices may vary according to your individual requirements.

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