Travel Insurance for Brain Cancer

What is brain cancer?

Brain cancer means that there is a malignant tumour in the brain. Some start there (primary tumours, such as gliomas), while others are secondary tumours that have spread from cancer elsewhere in the body, often the lung, breast or skin. Symptoms depend on which part of the brain is affected and can include headaches, seizures, changes in vision or speech, weakness, and changes in personality.

Treatment can be a combination of surgery, radiotherapy, and chemotherapy, and many people also take steroids to reduce swelling and medicine to prevent seizures. Not every brain tumour is cancer, and a benign brain tumour is screened differently. The NHS brain tumours page covers both types.

Why do I need to declare brain cancer for travel insurance?

A brain tumour, whether primary or secondary, is a pre-existing medical condition that we need to know about. It can bring on a myriad of symptoms, and any of these could lead to emergency care while you’re away or force you to call off a trip at short notice. Treatment with steroids or chemotherapy adds its own risks, including infection. If brain cancer isn’t declared, a claim linked to it could be refused or a claim payout reduced..

You won’t need to declare every medical condition you’ve ever had or been diagnosed with, only those that fall into the initial set of medical questions.

Can I get travel insurance with brain cancer?

Depending on your circumstances and the answers you provide during the medical screening, cover may still be available. Recent surgery, ongoing radiotherapy or chemotherapy, seizures, a recent hospital stay and whether the cancer is primary or secondary can all make a real difference as to whether brain cancer can be covered.

What we’ll ask about your brain cancer

It only takes a few minutes to get through the online medical screening. The questions about your brain cancer focus on the treatment you’ve had and the medication or steroids you take. Once that’s done, carry on declaring any other relevant pre-existing medical conditions.

Once everything is declared, you’ll reach the quote page. If cover is available for your brain cancer and your other conditions, you’ll see a choice of quotes, each with the cost of your medical cover included in the premium. Should we be unable to cover you, you’ll know before proceeding.

If your health changes before travelling

Brain tumour care often involves regular scans, and results can change plans. If, before your trip, your medication or steroid dose changes, you have a hospital admission, you’re given a new referral, or you receive a new diagnosis, you must let us know. We may need to review your cover or refer your medical situation to the underwriters, and occasionally we may not be able to proceed with cover. Any change in your medical you don’t tell us about could mean a future claim is affected or denied.

What can brain cancer travel insurance cover?

Once brain cancer is accepted, an emergency connected to it abroad is treated in the same way as any other medical emergency. If you had a seizure in Greece and were taken to hospital, emergency treatment there can be covered, along with medically supervised repatriation if it’s needed. Everything is subject to the policy terms, exclusions, limits, and excess.

If a scan result or a change in symptoms means your doctor tells you not to travel, cancellation cover may help you recover non-refundable trip costs.

The policy won’t pay for treatment you’d already planned to have abroad, or for claims linked to anything you didn’t declare.

Will brain cancer affect the cost of travel insurance?

The cost may well be affected, and it’s your screening result that settles the figure. Our online medical screening could ask about how your brain tumour is being treated and whether things are under control at present. Answer as accurately as you can, since that is what the quote is built on. Other everyday factors count as well, including your age, the destination and how long you’re travelling for.

Single trip or annual cover with brain cancer

Most people in active treatment travel occasionally, so single trip cover is often the natural fit. If your condition is settled and you go away more often, annual cover may be offered, depending on your screening result.

Travelling with brain cancer: practical tips

This is general guidance to help your trip go smoothly and isn’t part of your policy.

Talk to your neuro-oncology team about flying, especially after surgery. Airlines and your doctors decide when it’s suitable to fly, and the timing can depend on the operation you had. Ask for a letter summarising your diagnosis and medicines, which is useful if you need care abroad.

If you take anti-seizure medication, try to keep to your usual timings. Crossing time zones can make that tricky, so ask your pharmacist how to adjust. Tiredness, alcohol and missed sleep can all make seizures more likely, so an overnight flight followed by a busy first day isn’t ideal. There’s more on this on our epilepsy page.

Steroids such as dexamethasone can raise blood sugar and affect sleep and mood. Pack enough for the whole trip plus spare, keep them in your hand luggage, and don’t stop them suddenly. Some countries restrict certain medicines, so read our guide to travelling abroad with medication.

Fatigue after radiotherapy can last for weeks. Shorter journeys, direct flights and a quiet place to stay are worth considering. Most airports offer free assistance if you’d find long walks or busy terminals hard, and it’s best to book this when you book the flight.

It can help to travel with someone who knows what to do if you have a seizure, and to wear or carry something that explains your condition.

How to get a quote

Start with your trip details, then work through the medical screening for brain cancer and anything else you need to tell us about. You’ll see the price and what’s covered before you commit.

Get a Quote

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Don't worry if your condition is not listed above - we cover plenty more medical conditions.
* Please note that cover will vary depending on individual medical screenings.