Hello, I'm new to the Community and looking for advice on Travel Insurance. My Husband has been battling 2 separate cancers; Liver and Prostate for 2 years. Sadly he's just been advised it's terminal. He wants to go on a 1 week cruise in the Med next month. We have researched insurance companies who help people with cancer, but most of them exclude terminal cases. We can't book a holiday until we find insurance that is both sufficient for his needs and also affordable.
He spoke to his MacMillan Nurse yesterday, when he asked her about finding insurance, she allegedly said to him "good luck with that" which is not at all helpful.
We went on a cruise last October. This was before the diagnosis was changed to terminal. The only quote we could get was £2900.00 for a 1 week cruise!! We chanced it and just went with the regular insurance. Luckily we got away with it, but I don't think we can do that again.
Can anyone recommend a company that will cover him, and is reasonable? Does anyone know of any charities that could provide a grant or loan to help cover part of the cost? I've saved up the money for a cruise, but worry about the insurance costs. I'm determined that he will get his holiday!!
Thank you for your help.
Hello Lovedogs,
I'm very sorry to hear of your husband's prognosis and the problems you're having trying to secure travel insurance.
I have incurable but treatable prostate cancer and in my experience all insurers ask if you have a terminal prognosis. If you say yes, some will refuse to quote and others will quote with a very high premium and / or excess.
A small number avoid the word terminal and instead ask use if you've reached a point where you cannot be cured, so treatment is intended to extend and/or improve the quality of your life.
In all cases I've seen they then ask if your short term outlook is more than 6 months, less than 6 months or you don't know. Fortunately for now I can honestly answer more than 6 months so I can get quotes. I suspect if you answer less than 6 months or don't know many will refuse to quote or quote a high premium and/or excess, but up to now I have no experience of this.
You may have looked through posts on here and tried suggested insurers. If not, I have obtained cover at reasonable terms via Albert & Eddie. A recent member was recently able to get cover from Allcleartravel.
I don't know if this is helpful for you, but do hope that you can find cover that is suitable. If you do, can you let us know who it is with please?
With my best wishes, Derek.
Macmillan Support Line - 0808 808 00 00, 7 days a week between 8am-8pm
