Travel without Insurance?

Hi, I’m 15 yrs in, 6 with secondaries, 2 on chemotherapy tablets. Disease stable. 3 questions.

  1. has anyone ever travelled abroad with no insurance? Possible?

  2. Has anyone travelled to Europe and been given insurance whilst on chemo tabs?

  3. Has anyone managed to get insurance but with a policy that excludes existing illness. I.e., covered for all but cancer?

After hrs trawling, phoning companies and getting knocked back, the only quote I got was for 1 wk in Maderia,  £1000 for the policy (just bc, not covid!). I’m so depressed about this. Travel is my thing.

Thanks, Irene 

I would also like to know people’s experiences with travel insurance.

Just before lockdown I had a total duct excision followed by a further operation to test the surrounding tissue. It was declared clear and I was told I did not need to advise the travel insurance because the cancerous cells were in the duct and not outside. Therefore I did not have breast cancer. We have yearly insurance through our bank so I didn’t tell them and we booked a holiday for September.

Well 18 months on I have now been diagnosed with first degree invasive breast cancer our holiday is in 7 weeks time (if we can even travel that is) I have a feeling I won’t be covered because they will say it was an existing condition but also will I be able to obtain cover at all? I’ve heard of people being charged astronomical amounts as soon as the word cancer is mentioned.

Moneysavingexpert has some useful information moneysavingexpert.com/insurance/pre-existing-travel-insurance/

We were going on a big holiday last year and I’d managed to find reasonable quotes before the holiday was squashed by the pandemic.

Hi

I have SBC in bones and liver. I have been looking at quotes to cover a holiday to major a in August. Best price I can find is just over 500 with All clear travel insurance. All other sites I have tried have said no quotes available. Not sure if this helps.

X

Hi. I’m not currently on chemo, just immunotherapy. They may not cover you because of the chemo, but Mark’s and Spencer have covered me for Spain next year for everything including COVID, just not the cancer, although I have declared it to them. Worth a try if you haven’t already contacted them. Good luck. X

Hi Irene,

I travelled in Europe recently with the insurance that comes with my bank account (excluding cancer, which I’ve declared) and a GHIC, (replaces expired EHICs).  The GHIC will get you emergency treatment but not repatriation expenses.

I couldn’t get cover for less than £1150, if at all, owing to recent brain met stereo radio.  Will be trying again including cruise cover when my 1st 3 month scan results are in.  Not having got that far seemed to be the main barrier.

It’s frustrating if you’re having difficulty, given your stability.  I know others have travelled in the past on tablet chemo, pre-pandemic.  I’m interested to hear if you find any options that will cover, given it’s my likely next step.

I used to get long haul cover for 2-3 weeks for about £270 with Insure Pink pre-pandemic.  They stopped providing it.  I’m going to try Insure Cancer next, as they underwrite cases individually, using scan results.

People used to talk about using Eurotunnel insurance for cheap cover that didn’t ask questions.

Happy travels.  Sarah

I go no insurance last 5 times , taking my chances x