Cancer Travel Insurance

What is cancer?

Cancer is the name for a large group of disease in which cells grow and divide in an abnormal and uncontrolled way. These cells cause tumours, which can affect any part of the human body, and there are more than 200 types of cancer. In the UK the most common are breast, prostate, lung and bowel cancer. You’ll find pages for many other types in our cancer conditions section.

Cancer can affect people in various and multiple ways, depending on combinations of where it started, if or how it has spread, when the diagnosis was made, and the treatment involved. Surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy, hormone therapy, immunotherapy, and targeted drugs are all examples of available treatmens, and they can be administered in conjunction with each other, often over many months. Some people are treated and then monitored for years, while others live with cancer as a long-term condition. The NHS cancer pages are a good starting point for more information.

Why do I need to declare cancer for travel insurance?

Any cancer, current or past, can be classed as a pre-existing medical condition, so it might need to be declared even when it’s in remission. We ask because cancer and its treatment can make illness abroad more likely. Chemotherapy weakens the immune system, some cancers raise the risk of blood clots, and a sudden change in your health might mean cancelling a trip you’d paid for. If cancer isn’t declared and you need to claim for something linked to it, the claim could be refused or 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 cancer?

It’s often possible. With cancer, the details carry a lot of weight when it comes to whether cover can be offered: the type and stage, whether it has spread, how recently treatment ended, any hospital admissions and whether you’re waiting for treatment or results.

What we’ll ask about your cancer

The online medical screening is short and easy to get through. It asks a few things about your cancer, the treatment you’ve had and whether you’re still having it. When you’re done declaring this condition, carry on declaring any other relevant pre-existing medical conditions.

After the declaration, you’ll be taken to the quote page. You’ll be shown a list of quotes if your cancer and your other conditions are coverable, and each premium includes the cost of cover for your medical. If we’re unable to offer cover, you’ll be told before you proceed.

If your health changes before travelling

Cancer treatment plans change, sometimes at short notice. If your medication changes, you’re admitted to hospital, you’re referred for more tests, or you receive a new diagnosis before you travel, you must let us know. We may have to review your cover and refer your medical details to the underwriters, and sometimes we may not be able to proceed with cover. If changes in your medical go unreported, a future claim can be affected or denied.

What can cancer travel insurance cover?

When your cancer has been accepted, a medical emergency linked to it is dealt with like any other. If you developed a serious infection on holiday in Florida and needed hospital care, emergency treatment can be covered, and so can bringing you home with medical support if that’s needed. That is subject to the policy terms, exclusions, limits and excess. Medical costs in the USA are high, so expect destination to affect the price.

Cancellation cover may help if your doctor advises you not to travel because of your cancer, letting you claim back non-refundable costs.

Any treatment planned in advance to take place abroad isn’t covered. Neither is anything linked to a condition that wasn’t declared.

Will cancer affect the cost of travel insurance?

Whether cancer changes the price, and by how much, is something your screening result decides. As part of our online medical screening you may be asked how the cancer has been treated and how well it is controlled now. Those answers sit alongside the usual details of age, destination and trip length that go into every quote. There’s no need to guess beforehand, as the price is shown before you buy.

Single trip or annual cover with cancer

If you’re mid-treatment and planning one break, single trip cover is usually simplest. Once things are more settled and you’re travelling more often, annual multi-trip cover may be worth a look. Availability of annual cover depends on your screening result.

Travelling with cancer: practical tips

Here are some general tips that may help. They’re not part of your insurance.

Plan around your treatment calendar. Your team will know when your blood counts are likely to be lowest after chemotherapy, and travelling in that window carries a higher infection risk. Ask them when the best time to go would be, and what to do if you get a temperature while away.

Check vaccines well in advance. Live vaccines may not be safe during or after some cancer treatments, and certain destinations require them. Speak to your specialist or a travel clinic, and check the TravelHealthPro country pages early.

Protect your skin. Radiotherapy, some chemotherapy and several targeted drugs make skin more sensitive to the sun. Shade, clothing and high-factor sunscreen matter more than usual, and anyone who has had skin cancer will already be used to this.

Think about clots on longer journeys. Cancer and its treatment can both raise the risk of a DVT, so move around regularly and drink plenty of water.

Carry a short medical summary from your team with your diagnosis, treatment and medicines, and keep medication in your hand luggage. Our guide to travelling abroad with medication has more detail.

How to get a quote

Add your trip details, complete the screening for your cancer and any other conditions, and pick a level of cover. The price is shown before you pay.

Get a Quote

Other Useful Cancer Pages

• Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia Travel Insurance
• Acute Myeloid Leukaemia Travel Insurance
• Anal Cancer Travel Insurance
• Bladder Cancer Travel Insurance
• Bone Cancer Travel Insurance
• Bowel Cancer Travel Insurance
• Brain Cancer Travel Insurance
• Breast Cancer Travel Insurance
• Cancer Travel Insurance
• Cervical Cancer Travel Insurance
• Chronic Lymphocytic Leukaemia Travel Insurance
• Chronic Myeloid Leukaemia Travel Insurance
• Endometrial, Uterine, or Womb Cancer Travel Insurance
• Kidney Cancer Travel Insurance
• Lung Cancer Travel Insurance
• Melanoma Travel Insurance
• Ovarian Cancer Travel Insurance
• Pancreatic Cancer Travel Insurance
• Prostate Cancer Travel Insurance
• Skin Cancer Travel Insurance

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.