hi, after 3 years of 4 different cancers, several emergency surgeries and targeted therapy I’m now in total remission! However, the GIST ruptured and I’m now classed as high risk. I’m desperately wanting a holiday abroad before I potentially start on ‘life’ changing therapy. That’s if the other 2 therapies available are not resistant to the newly mutated cancer. So my question is:- are there any travel insurance companies who would cover me? My last surgery was in May this year. Thank you
Hi Shaza,
Thanks for your enquiry. Unfortunately we are unable to recommend any specific companies for travel cover as this is not something we are regulated to do. However I hope the following information helps you with your search.
We often find a good starting place when looking for affordable cover is to use other peoples experiences. If you have not already done so, you can visit the travel insurance section of our online community here. On this page you will find posts from people affected by cancer sharing their experiences of which companies they have approached and who they have managed to get cover from.
I’d also suggest you take a look at the Travel Insurance directory on the MoneyHelper website which you can access here. The directory can be used to search for FCA approved travel insurers who may offer cover to people with pre-existing medical conditions.
Insurance companies use medical screening systems to assess the risk of offering insurance, but many companies use the same system. When you come to apply for cover you might find the medical questions will often be the same. However, the premiums offered by companies using different systems can vary considerably so it is worth persisting and shopping around. If the questions asked don’t seem to fit, or don’t allow you to explain the cancer diagnosis fully, it’s worth asking the insurer if it’s possible for someone to manually underwrite the policy. This is where a person, rather than a computer looks at the health situation of the person looking for cover and decides about whether or not to offer cover and at what price. Some travel insurers may do this as standard. On the directory on the MoneyHelper website it will tell you how each company does their medical screening.
It may also be worth checking to see if you have any travel insurance cover in place through your bank account or credit card. This wouldn’t usually automatically cover pre-existing health conditions, but if you’ve got this cover already through your bank it’s worth checking to see if they are able to offer full cover if a top-up fee is paid.
Another thing to consider is you may encounter some companies that offer a policy with a cancer-related exclusion. This means you wouldn’t be covered for any claims relating to the cancer diagnosis. This could affect the premium considerably but you would need to consider the risk of not being covered if you experienced any problems related to the cancer whilst away.
If you’re travelling within most European countries, a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) or a UK Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC) is free and currently allows a person access to emergency state healthcare at reduced cost or sometimes for free. To apply for the GHIC card, click here.
I hope this helps and that you are able to find suitable travel cover. If you have any further questions please don’t hesitate to get in touch.
Kind regards,
Calum
Financial Guide
