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.
Travel Insurance with Cancer
Hundreds of people living with cancer book travel insurance with us every month. The condition does not automatically prevent you from travelling. But if you're unsure, speak to your doctor before paying for any flights, hotels, or travel insurance.
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 insurers. We work closely with these insurers to ensure you get the best deal on travel insurance for people with cancer.
Travel insurance for cancer is designed to protect you should cancer or the medications you take for it cause you any problems on holiday. It can cover you if you have to cancel your trip, require emergency medical attention abroad and for the costs to get you home.
We urge travelling companions to be insured on the same specialist cancer travel insurance policy so that they too can claim if their holiday plans are affected.
Cancer travel insurance
We work with a range of travel insurers that specialise in covering pre-existing medical conditions and many offer cover to cancer patients.
It can be difficult and more expensive to obtain travel insurance while you’re undergoing chemotherapy or radiotherapy.
If you are struggling to get accepted for cover, you may find it easier to apply for travel insurance after you have finished your cancer treatment.
Travel insurance for cancer patients in remission
If your doctor has advised you that your cancer is in remission, then this may have an impact on your travel insurance policy.
In all likelihood, you will still need specialist cover – but this depends on who the insurer is, and how long you have been in remission for. Some insurers will insure a patient who has been in remission for 3 months, whereas other insurers might refuse to cover you until you’ve been in remission for more than three years.
Cancer patients in remission are considered to be a lower risk than those who are not, and this may be reflected in the cost of your insurance policy.
Note: When buying holiday insurance for cancer patients in remission, many insurers will require you to produce a letter from your doctor that proves you are currently in remission.
Travel insurance after cancer
For those who have had cancer and remain in complete remission for a number of years, there are lots of travel insurance options available.
However, even if you’ve been told by your doctor that there are no longer any traces of your cancer, you still need to declare it.
Most insurers require you to tell them if you have EVER had a cancerous condition, but just because you are declaring your cancer does not mean that your premium will automatically be loaded.
When applying, you will be able to disclose what type of cancer you had, and how long ago it was, amongst other things.
The insurer will then take this information into account when giving you a quote. If they feel there is absolutely no risk of you claiming due to your history of cancer, you won’t be charged extra.
Can you get travel insurance with terminal cancer?
As always, the specifics of your condition will determine what sort of policy you will be able to get, and how much it will cost.
It’s isn’t a guarantee that you’ll be able to buy travel insurance for terminal cancer – but it’s possible. Answer the questionnaire honestly, and in as much detail as possible, to ensure you’re properly covered.
Which types of cancer are covered?
We’re confident we can find you a good cancer travel insurance plan, regardless of the type of cancer you have.
Two of the most common types people are looking to get covered are breast cancer and skin cancer.
But other types can also be covered. Simply fill out the questionnaire, including all your details, and we’ll be able to provide you with the necessary information.
Medical screening for cancer travel insurance
Apply for travel insurance with cancer using our online medical system. Here you will be asked questions about the specific type of cancer you’ve been diagnosed with.
If your cancer has spread to any other areas of the body, make sure to declare the primary cancer (where it started) first.
You will then be guided through the medical screening process accordingly, leading to questions about the secondary.
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 correctly so that you can be issued with a policy that covers you properly.
Travelling with cancer – getting advice
Before booking a trip it’s wise to confirm with your doctor that you’re fit to travel.
This article about Travelling with Cancer on the NHS website offers helpful information about air travel and things to consider such as vaccinations and travelling with medication.
Frequently Asked Questions
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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