Getting Travel Insurance With Terminal Cancer?
Q.
My nan is terminally ill with cancer but she is wanting to go on one last holiday.
How can I get holiday insurance for her?
(R.P, 16 February 2009)
A.
Travel insurance provides essential cover for any medical expenses you may incur, and can cover the cost should you need to be flown back home in an emergency. Travel insurance companies make their money from travellers who do not have to make a claim, and because of this insurance companies may turn down a request, for coverage, if they feel the risk of having to pay out on a claim may be too great.
If You Have Cancer
The current state of your health, when travelling, will affect the amount of insurance you may need, and if you have cancer you may be viewed by many travel insurance companies as a bigger risk. This is because you may need medical assistance whilst on your travels, or because your illness may mean that you cancel your travel arrangements at the last minute.Provided you have a certificate from your doctor, stating you are well enough to travel, an insurance company will consider providing the level of insurance you require. However, you must clearly state that you have cancer when you apply for cover, as failure to do so will mean you will not be able to make a claim, should you need to. If you have undergone medical treatment, in the 12-month period before your trip, an insurance company will only provide you with coverage for treatment that is unrelated to your illness, whilst you are away. In other words, you will be responsible for covering the cost of medical expenses for your cancer treatment.
Specialist Insurance
A specialist insurance policy is designed to provide insurance coverage for people with serious or terminal illness or a disability. This type of policy may have many restrictions so it is worth making an informal enquiry before you plan to travel. You must remember however, to disclose all information about existing or pre-existing medical conditions, and if you have an annual policy you will have to provide a confirmation of fitness certificate from your doctor on each occasion you travel. A specialist insurance policy is the best option for anyone who finds it difficult to obtain standard insurance coverage.
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Me - 25-Dec-17 @ 3:18 PM
I was diagnosed with bowel cancer in December last year and am going through a course of chimo at the moment. As my cancer is inoperable I would be classed as terminal but it cannot be said how long that would be. Do insurance companies have a time frame for the word terminal? My specialist has initially indicated it is in years not months.
Your comments would be gratefully received.
Roger - 8-Apr-16 @ 2:06 PM
Violyn - Your Question:
Hi there my mother has slow growing cancer it's a matastisized paraganglioma and she is resident in the Republic of Ireland. It is essentially a terminal illness but we have not been given an amount of time for life expectancy. My sister and I have booked a 3 week 'bucket list' holiday for her in the USA/Canada in June of this year. I have spent the last week trying to get a quote for my mum and nobody will even quote me. We are willing to pay anything if we could just get health cover for while there we would be happy. My sister and I are now possibly looking at loosing the €10000 this holiday has cost us or else travelling to USA with no health insurance. Please if anyone could help I would be so grateful. Thanks
Our Response:
I am very sorry to hear this. Please see Cancer Research link herewhich is about travel insurance and the options available for people who have or have had cancer and via the Money Supermarket here. I hope these help.
TerminalIllness - 12-Feb-16 @ 12:15 PM
Hi there my mother has slow growing cancer it's a matastisized paraganglioma and she is resident in the Republic of Ireland. It is essentially a terminal illness but we have not been given an amount of time for life expectancy. My sister and I have booked a 3 week 'bucket list' holiday for her in the USA/Canada in June of this year. I have spent the last week trying to get a quote for my mum and nobody will even quote me. We are willing to pay anything if we could just get health cover for while there we would be happy. My sister and I are now possibly looking at loosing the €10000 this holiday has cost us or else travelling to USA with no health insurance. Please if anyone could help I would be so grateful. Thanks
Violyn - 11-Feb-16 @ 7:14 PM
I have been trying to get travel insurance for my husband who is terminally ill and is on maintenance chemotherapy every third week but currently feeling in reasonably good health.
It is like finding hens teeth and the only quote I have had so far only covered medical expenses and repatriation, didn't even cover bag loss or flight cancellation, was for up to 8 days and only seemed to cover countries bordering UK despite claiming to be Europe cover(Excluded Spain amongst many others).
The cost? £1716 plus change!
Needless to say, still looking so any advice or recommendations would be greatly appreciated as a holiday to visit friends in Spain, probably for the last time, would be much welcomed after the stresses of dealing and coming to terms with such a diagnosis.
J Clarke - 31-Dec-15 @ 12:11 AM
I've been diagnosed with terminal cancer 2 months ago and don't have a time frame of how long I got,I'm still undergoing chemotherapy but feel and look healthy,wondering if anyone knows the best and cheapest travel company and has anyone got any idea how much id have to pay, i only want to go away for a long weekend,be grateful for any advice,thanks x
Honey - 21-Jun-15 @ 9:29 PM
@Coll -If you are based in the UK, then the British Insurance Brokers Association (BIBA) should be able to give you details of brokers may be able to arrange such a specialised travel insurance. I hope this helps.
TerminalIllness - 13-Feb-15 @ 10:21 AM
My husband and I have two overseas trips coming up and need to insure against the fact that my mother has a diagnosed terminal illness. If she where to pass away just before we left we would need to cancel our trip. I have looked but cannot find a insurance company to cover us for this any suggestion of where to look please i would even be happy to pay more for a policy.
Coll - 12-Feb-15 @ 1:11 AM
My father has been diagnosed with Cancer earlier this year. I have planned a short break in the lake district in May and would like to take out insurance against my father passing away the week before we go which would mean i have to cancel for the funeral.
Is this something you can help me with?
Please get back to me asap.
Many thanks
Paul
paul - 14-Apr-14 @ 12:08 PM
i am desperately looking for travel insurance for my mum. she has terminal cancer but is very well at the moment. we need it for her peace of mind if nothing else. has anyone found an insurance company that will cover this illness?
jo - 24-Sep-13 @ 1:16 PM
i am looking for travel insurance for my aunty she has been told she has 6 months to live and would like to take her two sisters away but we cant get travel insurance for less then 1500 do you know were we could get it any cheaper
sammie - 19-May-13 @ 1:54 PM
My friend can not get a fitness to travel letter from his onc; as he is possibly not expected to live beyond 6 mths, he wants to pay and take his wife and son on one last trip to USA. Does anyone know of an insurance company who would cover him, even just to fly him back home if he becomes unwell? Does anyone know when the 'make a wish' foundation take terminally ill kids to Disneyland who they use?Penny.26 feb 2013
Penny - 26-Feb-13 @ 9:45 AM
I've been offered cover from InsureCancer (referred from Orbis)
01252 780190.I apparently have terminal cancer, but feel very healthy.They required a fitness to travel letter from my onc., and charge an arm and a leg, but I'm going to the States for a month, so need to be covered.If anything happened out there it would cost a small fortune.£1,700 for a month's cover.Apparently cost will go down once I am more than a year from diagnosis, and also if I was travelling to other places (USA charges more in medical fees so costs more to go to).
Emily - 2-Jul-12 @ 10:00 PM
My mum has terminall cancer , but myself my wife and two sons are due to go on holiday in august to spain , is there any holiday insurance which would cover incase the worst happens please
nigm10 - 27-Jun-12 @ 12:02 PM
My neice has terminal cancer { neurblastoma} we are looking for the best insurance for her any one know of any.
flippyfloyde - 24-Feb-12 @ 11:57 AM
I have Mesotheleoma and have been dignosed as terminal although when asked for a time frame I was told it was impossible to say. Patients such as I are still walking around after 10 years, so where is the DIFINITION of terminal?
Anyway, I would love to find out if anyone has any luck with these leeches oops I mean Insurers!
Tony
obx - 20-Feb-12 @ 3:04 PM
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Lulu - 4-Apr-11 @ 11:04 PM
I am looking into terminal cancer travel insurance.
JOJO - 31-Mar-11 @ 4:46 PM
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