For many people, a cancer diagnosis can be a big factor that can motivate you to want to travel more. After recovering, many people want to take a trip, to start living their life to the full. But then the difficulties of getting travel insurance get in the way. Here are some of my tips for how do I get travel insurance after cancer.
Disclaimer: Some of the links below are affiliate links, which means if you click on the link and make a purchase, I’ll get a small commission at no extra cost to you. Please note that all sales are processed by the linked website, not Rays of Adventure, so you’ll be subject to their privacy policy.
Travel after cancer
A cancer diagnosis can be a really difficult time, for both yourself and for your close friends and family. Suddenly, your life’s routine is completely disrupted. The diagnosis can be a complete shock, and it can be difficult to tell other people and deal with their emotions as well as your own. You might have to face cancer treatments, and some of these can make you feel more unwell than the cancer did. The side effects of some treatments can be gruelling.
And then when treatment finishes, many people are left with mixed emotions. There many be happiness, that the treatment has come to and end and you won’t need to deal with it anymore. But many people feel anxious at this point as well. You might not feel like the same person that you were before. You might still be dealing with some side effects and health issues, but you don’t have the same medical support team around you like you did when you were on treatment. Other people might not understand why you haven’t suddenly bounced back to normal, why you’re not ‘fine’ now you’ve got the all clear. But it’s not always that simple.
After going through all this, it’s no surprise that some people want to make changes in their post-cancer lives. And for many people, travel is one of the changes they want to make. Some people just want a nice holiday after treatment, a chance to get away and relax. Other people want to travel to try to rediscover themselves, and work out who they are after cancer. Other people might suddenly feel motivated with a new zest for life, determined to live life to the full now they’ve realised how fragile life can be. There so so many reasons why travel might help after cancer.
But then you’re suddenly faced with the travel insurance dilemma. Just when you want things to be simple, when you want things to go your way for once, you’re facing another block. Travel insurance after cancer can be a minefield.
What are the issues with travel insurance after cancer?
Many people don’t even realise that the question ‘how do I get travel insurance after cancer’ can be such a minefield. It’s often not at the front of people’s minds when they think about travelling after cancer. But it’s sometimes not easy.
Insurance companies can view people who have recently had cancer as more ‘risky’. This can lead to them charging very high prices when you declare your medical conditions and ask them for cover. For the insurance company, they have concerns that if the cancer returns when you are abroad, you might need some treatment abroad which can be very expensive.
There are also concerns from travel insurance companies about the side effects of treatment as well. Some side effects of treatment can cause other issues that may be viewed by insurance companies as more ‘risky’. For example, some treatments can affect your heart, which could be viewed as ‘risky’ if you’re planning on going on a flight. There are so many side effects of cancer treatment, and all of them can affect what medical conditions your travel insurance will cover. And many will affect the price as well. Once you declare all your medical conditions, you could end up facing a travel insurance cost that’s even higher than the price you’re paying for your entire holiday.
How do I get travel insurance after cancer?
It can be incredibly frustrating to have to deal with issues with travel insurance after cancer. Just when you want a nice, simple break, it can be the last thing you want to have to deal with. But don’t despair. It’s not easy, but there are some ways that you can make travel insurance after cancer a bit easier and get some reasonable prices. Here are some of my tips for getting travel insurance after cancer.
1. Get quotes from a variety of companies
When you’re looking for how to get travel insurance after cancer, my first tip is to talk to a variety of companies. Different companies will have different policies, and different costs. Don’t just take the first quote you get. It can save you a lot of money if you look around. Consider some smaller insurance companies as well as the big names – sometimes a smaller, more personal company can be more flexible.
2. Talk to companies on the phone, rather than using online forms
Another top tip can be to talk to companies on the phone, rather than using online forms. Online forms often force you to give a yes/no answer, but in reality medical conditions can be more complicated than that. If you talk to someone on the phone, you can explain all the ‘maybe’s’ and ‘well, sort of, but…’ etc. Try to get a record of the phone conversation in writing afterwards, just so there’s no confusion about what was agreed.
3. Be honest about your medical conditions
Although it can be frustrating having to talk about your medical conditions and seeing the prices increase, it’s best to be honest. Hopefully you’ll never need to make a claim on your travel insurance. But if you do, and they find you haven’t been honest about something, it can invalidate all your insurance cover. It’s not the worth the risk to try to hide something.
3. Think about the region you’re travelling to
Some regions of the world can be more expensive for insurance than others, depending where you’re travelling from. For example, if you’re travelling from the UK, it can be more expensive to get insurance for a trip to the USA. But a trip to Europe might be more affordable. It’s worth being flexible about your travel destination and thinking about a different region that might be cheaper.
4. Think about the duration of your trip, and extra activities
Generally, a longer trip will cost more in travel insurance than a short trip. And including more adventurous activities, like skiing for example, can also add to the cost. If you’re trying to keep the cost of your travel insurance down, consider taking a shorter trip and not including extras. In time, you might find affordable travel for a longer trip. But at first, a shorter trip might be best. If you’re struggling with long term side effects of cancer such as fatigue, a shorter trip might be a good idea so you can test what you’re capable of and not push yourself too far too soon.
5. Talk to the companies about exclusions
If you’re getting really stuck trying to find affordable travel insurance after cancer, there is also the option of talking to the insurance company about exclusions. This is where you get travel insurance that will cover some things, but not others. For example, it might give you cover if your suitcase is lost by the airline, or if you break your leg falling down the stairs. But it might not cover you if you need treatment for something related to your cancer. Personally, I’m wary of this, because I think it can be difficult to prove whether something is related to your cancer or the side effects of treatment. So be careful if you’re planning this. But it can be an option to keep costs down.
6. Look at online forums for personal recommendations
The topic of how do I get travel insurance after cancer is widely discussed online. A lot of people are frustrated about the costs! Online forums can be a good place to get personal recommendations. You might find an online forum specifically for people with your cancer type as well. For example, this online forum from Macmillan Cancer Support (UK) has comments from many people about insurance companies they have personal experience with. However, be careful with any recommendations you read online. That person might have a very different set of medical issues and personal circumstances to you. Even if they have the same type of cancer, there may be a lot of differences. I’d recommend only using the online forums to get ideas of company names that you can then contact yourself. You’ll definitely still need to talk to the company yourself.
Does it get better?
The short answer is: yes. The longer after treatment you are, the easier it is to get travel insurance. For many companies, 5 years after treatment seems to be a magic number. If your treatment was more than 5 years ago, the insurance companies don’t tend to mind as much. And when you’re 10 years after treatment, then there are even fewer issues. Of course, if you have other medical issues come up during this time, then these can impact your insurance again. But as a general rule, the longer after treatment you are, the easier it is.
Don’t get disheartened
So if you’re really struggling to find affordable travel insurance, don’t be disheartened. I know how frustrating it can be. After you’ve gone through the ordeal of cancer treatment, it can just feel too much to deal with. But my steps above will hopefully help, and the length of time after treatment can also help a lot.
Don’t forget the beauty in your home country as well for travel. Travelling abroad is lovely, but it’s also possible to have a lovely holiday in your home country as well. And for your first holiday after cancer, while you’re still building your strength back up after treatment, a holiday in your home country can be better. Just be patient. And in time, you’ll be able to travel the world like you’re dreaming of.
Hopefully this helps answer your question of how do I get travel insurance after cancer! If you’re struggling with not being able to travel after cancer, check out my blog about how to look after your mental health when you can’t travel. If you’re based in the UK, there are some beautiful areas for a holiday, such as the Cardigan Bay coast in Wales, North Devon, and the Isle of Skye. Or sunny Spain can be a great choice for a trip after cancer – consider visiting Seville, Granada or Barcelona. And the California coast in the USA can be an unforgettable trip as you watch whales on Big Sur and see bears in Yosemite National Park. Enjoy your travels!
