Sunday 16 November 2014

Travel Insurance for People With Cancer: Understanding Risk

Cancer is a terrible thing and sometimes you just want to get away from everything and take a holiday. However, people quickly find that there’s a problem: finding adequate insurance. Here, we have provided you with a brief overview of the landscape for holiday travel insurance for people with cancer.

Is It Hard to Find Cover If You Have Cancer?

It is often difficult to find holiday travel insurance for people with cancer, but in many instances, it is possible. The exception would be if you were very ill at the point of travel.



The reason it’s difficult to find cover is that the insurance companies see cancer patients as a high risk for making a claim. The higher their perceived risk of the situation, the higher the insurance premium.

If the cancer is in remission, or if it is very stable, you should be able to find cover. If the cancer is poorly controlled or you are in a serious condition, it is unlikely that you will find cover. However, you can travel without insurance. This is very ill advised because it means that if you fall ill that you will have to cover the costs out of pocket. That can lead to some very high bills. Some countries, such as the USA only allow entry to tourists with adequate medical insurance cover.

Whatever the prognosis for your cancer, whether it’s in remission or unstable, you will need to use a specialist medical insurer. These premiums are more expensive than standard travel insurance, but it is necessary.

Should You Speak With Your Doctor Before Travelling?

Yes, you should speak to your doctor. They will advise you whether it’s safe to travel with your condition. They can also provide a supporting letter to help you to obtain travel insurance. Doctor’s notes can reduce the premium somewhat.