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Travel Insurance Advice
Travel Insurance is often a bit of a minefield when you have a low-grade brain tumour, because, for some companies, you don't fall neatly into one of the insurance categories.
In many cases you will need to provide a letter from one of your medical team to confirm your medical status, though usually a letter from your GP will be acceptable.
Getting travel insurance if you are going to travel overseas is important. When you look for insurance, you should consider all the risks associated with travelling, including cancellation of the holiday or loss of baggage, as well as health-related issues.
When you approach companies you may be offered insurance with a higher premium because of your, or a member of your family's, medical condition, or you may be offered insurance with a cancer-related exclusion - this means that you would not receive cover for a claim that is related to your condition. If you take any kind of exclusion you should make sure you understand exactly what you are and are not covered for.
European Health Insurance Card
The European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) entitles UK residents to free or reduced cost emergency treatment when temporarily visiting the European Union (EU) and certain other European countries.
You get the same care as the people who live in that country, which may not be the same as you would expect on the NHS here. You may need to pay and claim back the money in the country you visit. It doesn’t cover travelling to a country for health treatment, medical evacuation or help getting back to the UK.
You can apply for an EHIC:
- online at ehic.org.uk or by post, using an application form you’ve downloaded from the website
- by phoning 0845 606 2030.
The EHIC is free and renewals are also free, so you should avoid any websites that charge to apply for an EHIC or renew it on your behalf.
More information about the EHIC and health advice for travellers can be found on the NHS Choices website. The website lists the countries covered by the EHIC, as well as non-EU countries that have mutual agreements to provide health services to visitors from the UK.
If you have travel insurance, you still need an EHIC because your insurance company may not cover the cost of treatment that the EHIC covers. If you try to claim in full, they may say you should have had an EHIC.
www.ehic.org.uk
Below are details of some companies that offer travel insurance and have been recommended by brain tumour patients or their families:
Insure Cancer
This company’s sole purpose is to provide travel insurance to those affected by cancer. As the UK's only specialist cancer insurance provider their policies provide protection that includes full cover for the diagnosis of cancer. Their policies are therefore specially designed for those living with cancer and they routinely provide cover for those with active, metastatic, relapsed or terminal cancer to destinations worldwide including North America. Each case is individually underwritten.
www.insurecancer.com
Medici Travel
This company has been recommended by a brain tumour patient – they provided cover for a 6 day trip to the USA for around £90.
www.medicitravel.com/
Free Spirit
Offers specialist travel insurance for people with pre-existing medical conditions, including cancer. A medical assistance service is included in the policy and is available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Will consider worldwide cover for secondary cancers and terminal conditions.
www.free-spirit.com
Insure and Go
“I bought my son annual travel insurance with the Insure and Go online. However, I clarified with them (twice) on the phone and was open about my son’s condition. Where it asks you to disclose medical conditions you say none. They told me that it was quite alright to do this and it would not invalidate the travel insurance to in effect tell a fib. Of course it is understood that you will not be covered for anything related to the BT”.
www.insureandgo.com
Columbus Direct
Columbus can provide you with an online quote for travel insurance - insurance for two weeks in Crete cost a family just £37, which included cover for a member with brain cancer.
www.columbusdirect.com
World First
World First have been insuring travellers with health problems since 1973. They offer specialist medical travel insurance for thousands of pre-existing conditions.
www.world-first.co.uk
Other companies to try are:-
Freedom Travel Insurance
Specialises in arranging travel cover for people with pre-existing medical conditions. Attempts to provide a ‘one-stop shop’ where a medical screening is undertaken and premium quoted in a single phone call. They won't insure anyone with a terminal diagnosis.
www.freedominsure.co.uk
Insurance with
Insurancewith is a travel insurance provider that specialises in covering cancer. The company was created by someone who was diagnosed with cancer and covers primary and stable secondary cancer. It offers worldwide cover, including the USA.
www.insurancewith.com
JD Travel Insurance
“Sympathetic, confidential, and experienced in arranging travel insurance for people with all types of conditions”.
www.jdtravelinsurance.co.uk
Another good source of advice and help can be found on the MacMillan Cancer Support website