Travel Insurance for Cancer Patients

Can You Get Travel Insurance with Cancer?

This is usually the first question anyone with cancer asks before they even think about a holiday, so it deserves a straight answer.

In most cases, we can cover you, whatever stage you're at. We look at your actual diagnosis and treatment rather than turning you away because of a word on a form.

A few things to know before you get a quote:

• We can cover most cancer types, including breast, lung, prostate, bowel, skin, blood and less common cancers.
• The main condition for cover is being fit to travel. If your medical team has said you're okay to go, that's the starting point.
• For those with a terminal prognosis, cover is usually possible if your prognosis is at least six months beyond the end date of your trip.
• Declaring your cancer doesn't automatically mean a big jump in price. Your quote reflects your actual situation, not a blanket cancer surcharge.

Wherever You Are With Cancer, We Can Help

Cancer doesn't sit still, and neither should your cover. Whether you're in remission, mid-treatment or living with a terminal diagnosis, here's how we approach each situation.

In remission or cancer-free

Being told you're cancer-free is one of the best moments there is, but the history doesn't disappear from a medical screening form. You'll still need to declare it, along with dates of diagnosis and treatment. Most people in remission find their cover is straightforward once that's done, and pricing reflects how long you've been clear and any ongoing monitoring. Get a quote.

Awaiting tests, surgery and medical treatments

Awaiting tests:

We cannot provide cover for an undiagnosed medical condition if you have symptoms or are waiting for a diagnosis, unless we have agreed to cover it or exclude it and have confirmed this with you in writing.

If you are currently on a waiting list for treatment or investigations for a diagnosed medical condition, your policy will not cover Cancellation or Curtailment if:

1. You receive an appointment for treatment or investigations that clashes with your planned trip; or
2. The treatment or investigations you are waiting for mean that you are no longer able to travel as planned.

Being on a waiting list for treatment or investigations for a diagnosed medical condition that you have told us about, and which we have agreed to cover, will not affect your Emergency Medical and Repatriation cover while you are away.

If your diagnosis changes before you travel, please let us know as soon as possible.

Awaiting surgery and medical treatments:

At Total Travel Protection, we can provide comprehensive travel insurance while you are on a waiting list for a treatment, surgery, or investigation.

However, standard cover does not cover cancellation or cutting your trip short if your treatment appointment clashes with your holiday or you become unable to travel because of the treatment or investigation.

For extra peace of mind, you can add our Additional Waiting List Cover, which provides cancellation and curtailment cover in these situations, helping you recover your eligible pre-paid travel costs

Undergoing or planning treatment

Chemotherapy, radiotherapy, immunotherapy, surgery, or a combination, none of these rules you out automatically. You may need to give us full details of your treatment plan if required by our screening process. Please declare any side effects that might affect travel. Plenty of our customers travel between cycles or during a treatment break. Always check timing with your oncology team first. Get a quote.

Living with a terminal or advanced-stage diagnosis

This is where we differ most from many standard insurers. A terminal prognosis doesn't mean the end of travel insurance options. If your prognosis is at least six months beyond your return date, we may be able to offer cover, and we'll always look at your individual case rather than apply a blanket refusal. We know this conversation isn't always easy, so our team are trained to handle it sensitively. Get a quote.

What Does Our Cancer Travel Insurance Cover?

Every valid policy includes emergency medical expenses and repatriation, up to £10 million per person, and 24-hour access to our emergency medical assistance team by phone, wherever you're travelling.

Gold and Platinum policies add cancellation and curtailment cover, so if cancer or its treatment forces you to cancel or cut a trip short, you're not left covering the cost yourself. You're also covered for mobility aids, prescription medication, personal possessions, personal liability and legal expenses, depending on the level you choose.

Compare our cover levels

What isn't covered with our cancer travel cover

Being upfront here builds more trust than it costs. Our policies won't cover:

• Treatment or investigation for cancer if it wasn't declared before you travelled.
• Costs relating to a condition your medical team advised against travelling with.
• Elective or planned treatment sought abroad, including private cancer treatment overseas.
• Claims where the policy excess, exclusions or limits set out in your policy wording apply.

Full exclusions are listed in your policy documents, and we'd always rather you call and check something specific than assume either way.

Does my GHIC or EHIC cover cancer treatment abroad?

A Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC) or the older European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) can help with state-provided medical care in some European countries, but it has real limits if you're travelling with cancer:

• It doesn't cover repatriation home if you need to be flown or transported back to the UK.
• It doesn't cover private treatment, which may be your only option in some regions or hospitals.
• It doesn't cover cancellation or curtailment if you need to cancel your trip due to your health.
• It doesn't guarantee free treatment. Some EU countries still charge a portion of costs, which GHIC won't reimburse.
• It has no validity at all outside Europe.

A GHIC is a sensible thing to carry alongside travel insurance, but it isn't a substitute for it, particularly for anyone declaring cancer.

What could it cost you if you travel uninsured with cancer?

Medical bills abroad can be significant, and cancer-related emergencies are no exception. Costs vary hugely by country and treatment type, but as a guide:

• Emergency hospital treatment in the USA can run into six figures in pounds sterling for anything beyond a short stay, given how private the healthcare system there is.
• Treatment and repatriation from somewhere like Spain can still reach tens of thousands of pounds for a serious complication, even within Europe.
• In destinations such as Thailand, private hospital care is often the only realistic option for anything beyond minor treatment, and costs can escalate quickly without cover.

Why Choose Total Travel Protection?

We've specialised in travel insurance for people with medical conditions and older travellers since 2010, brought to you by Ancile Insurance Group. We're proud members of the Money Helper Directory, which exists specifically to help people with health conditions find appropriate cover.

We don't sell through comparison sites. We think a cancer diagnosis is personal enough that a generic quote engine doesn't do it justice, so screening is done directly, either online or over the phone.

How our Medical Screening Works

Cancer screening can feel like the hardest part of buying insurance, so we've tried to make ours less of a hurdle.

1. Tell us about your trip. Destination, dates and who's travelling with you.
2. Tell us about your cancer. Our screening process will ask you about your cancer diagnosis, stage, current or previous treatments, and any related medical conditions. This takes a few minutes.
3. Get your personalised quote. Priced around your actual situation, not a blanket cancer rate.

We don't apply flat pricing to everyone who declares cancer. Two people with the same diagnosis can get different quotes, because treatment history, current health and trip details all play a part.

How Much Does Cancer Travel Insurance Cost?

There's no single answer, because pricing is personal to your situation. The main things that affect your premium are:

• Your cancer type and stage
• Your current treatment or medication status
• Your destination and how long you're travelling for
• Your age
• The level of cover you choose (Silver, Gold or Platinum)
• Any other medical conditions you declare alongside your cancer

The best way to find your actual price is to get a quick quote. It generally takes under five minutes, and there's no obligation to buy once you've seen it. You may also find that taking out an annual policy works out cheaper if you are travelling on more than 2 occasions, Please note that Annual Multi-Trip policies may not be available depending on your circumstances.

Get a quote

Tips for Travelling with Cancer

Plenty of people travel well during and after cancer treatment. A little extra planning goes a long way.

• Ask your cancer team and a travel health professional about vaccinations well before you travel.
• Protect your skin.  Many treatments make skin more sensitive to the sun. Pack a high-SPF sunscreen and cover up during the hottest parts of the day.
• Check vaccine timing. Some travel vaccines are live and may not suit your treatment stage. Your GP can advise on timing around chemotherapy or other treatment cycles.
• Reduce infection risk. Hand sanitiser and a mask for crowded, poorly ventilated spaces can help if your immune system is affected by treatment.
• Sort medication storage in advance. If anything needs refrigerating, confirm your accommodation has a working in-room fridge before you arrive.
• Keep medicines in original labelled packaging, taking enough plus extra for delays, carrying a prescription/medication letter where appropriate, and checking destination restrictions - particularly for controlled drugs.
• Build in rest days, particularly if you're travelling somewhere with a hot climate or long flight time. Fatigue is common during and after treatment.
• Check destination healthcare standards, especially outside Europe as places such as the USA may only have private hospitals, which we do not cover.
• Consider access to appropriate healthcare at your destination and ensure your insurance covers your cancer and treatment-related complications.
• Consider your risk of blood clots. Cancer and some treatments can increase the risk of blood clots, and long periods sitting still while travelling can add to this risk. If you're planning a long journey, ask your medical team whether you need to take any additional precautions.