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.
Can you get travel insurance if you have cancer?
Yes, it is possible to get holiday insurance with 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 in the UK 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.
Holiday insurance for cancer patients 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 and are cancer-free
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 a cancer diagnosis - we’ll ask you a few questions about the nature of your condition, medical treatment, and anything else that can help us determine the type of insurance 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 travel insurance for cancer sufferers for a range of different cancerous conditions all in one place.
We know that there are many different types of cancer, but here are just a few that we can help you find cover for.
Top tips for travelling with cancer
Dr Sarah Jarvis is the Clinical Director of the Patient Platform, an active medical writer, broadcaster, and the resident doctor for BBC Radio 2.
More and more people are surviving cancer and having cancer certainly shouldn't mean you'll never get away with family and friends again. But cancer, and treatment for cancer, can definitely affect your energy levels, your chance of getting infections and more. However, with the right timing and the correct precautions, there is no reason you shouldn't be able to enjoy time away with your loved ones.
Be sure to check out my full guide with tips for travelling.
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.
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.
Compare quotes from specialist insurance providers
Our online quote comparison tool is easy to use - and once you declare your condition, you can compare quotes 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, 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
Once you've declared all your relevant pre-existing medical conditions, we'll only show you quotes that cover the conditions you have told us about.
No, we are unable to provide cover that excludes any of your pre-existing medical conditions.
If you don't travel much, then 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 two or more times a year, it may be cheaper to get annual multi-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.
* Price is based on 1 traveller aged 61, who has declared Breast Cancer and is travelling to France for 7 nights. The price is correct as of October 2024. Prices may vary according to your individual requirements.
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If we're unable to help you find cover for a pre-existing medical condition, the Money Helper Directory has listings of companies that may be able to assist you. Further details can be found on their website.