Good morning all, my first post here and a bit of a long one. My mum was diagnosed with AML in September 2025 and has been a strong fighter going through 2 rounds of Vyxeos, getting remission after the first round but unfortunately spiked back up after the 2nd round. She’s then completed 2 rounds of Venetoclax and Azacitidine with the view of getting to transplant after the 2nd round. Again, unfortunately the biopsy results were not in favour for transplant which has now been cancelled.
On Friday we had the news that my mum would be switching to palliative care and there are no further treatment options available. This has understandably been very hard to come to terms with.
On top of this, we have a family holiday to Florida for 3 weeks coming up in May. Her consultant has said she is fine to travel but unfortunately she does not have insurance. Each insurance company has either declined cover or want at least 6 months of life expectancy from the date we return from the holiday. Having spoken to the consultants they can not give a prognosis outlook which is making it very difficult to secure any kind of insurance.
Currently, my mums bloods are stable and increasing after the last chemotherapy which was only a few weeks ago. She feels fine in herself and doesn’t feel ill. Consultants have said they plan to monitor her bloods over the next few weeks and months to get an understanding of how aggressive her AML is.
I guess my real question is how have people managed to get travel insurance for someone on palliative care with a terminal outlook with potentially less than 6 months to live? Is it even possible to get such insurance?
The trip to Florida means a huge amount to us, it’s where we used to go every year for our family holiday and in the last few years where me and my mum have gone for an annual trip. This isn’t a case of needing a holiday, it’s so much more about the location and memories we have there. Even though my mum is currently stable, I am so scared about going away without any cover, I will be nervous throughout the whole trip.
Any tips, advice or anyone with experience similar to the situation we are in will be so helpful.
Hi Paul91H and welcome to the community but sorry to hear about your mum….. please his us such a challenging time for you all.
As you see, although her consultant says she is fit to go…… insurance companies have their own strict views and as you are experiencing would want her Consultants letter saying that she has 6 months or more to live.
You could try an Insurance Broker and if they did manage to get cover….. in light of this being the USA the cost may well be eye watering.
I am assuming that you have actually talked directly with a number of companies….. rather than on websites.
You may want to have a look through and post in our dedicated Travel insurance group as it's where the majority of recommendations from other forum members can be found.
As for the practical and emotional challenges of supporting your mum and indeed the rest of the family you may benefit from joining and posting in our general cancer…..
Supporting someone with incurable cancer
……support groups where you will connect with others navigating the same support challenges.
I do hope you can get cover.
