Breast cancer and travel insurance Factsheet. This factsheet suggests some points to bear in mind when you are looking for travel insurance.

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1 Breast cancer and travel insurance Factsheet This factsheet suggests some points to bear in mind when you are looking for travel insurance.

2 02 Introduction Breast cancer and travel insurance 03 Some people find that they have difficulty getting travel insurance because of their breast cancer. If you do have problems, it can be frustrating and may make you feel that you are being penalised for something beyond your control. Breast Cancer Care does not approve specific insurance companies or products. However, you can find recommendations for insurance companies from other people affected by breast cancer on our discussion forums at Points to bear in mind It is a good idea to check the cost of travel insurance before booking your holiday in case the cost of the insurance premium (the amount you pay for insurance) means you are unable to take the particular trip you want. It can be easier to get travel insurance cover for some countries (for example European destinations and Australasia) than for others (such as the USA and Caribbean). Insurers telephone lines can be busy at times and you may be held in a queuing system. As many insurers telephone lines are not free of charge, bear in mind that waiting can be expensive. Give yourself plenty of time to get quotes for travel insurance as you may need to call a number of companies before you find suitable cover. Shop around as premiums and terms vary widely. You may find considerable differences in what some insurers are willing to cover you for in comparison to others. You will need to give details of your medical history in order to get a quote. You will be asked questions about your cancer and any other medical conditions you may have. This is known as medical screening. Some people find some of the questions quite personal and sometimes insensitive. It is important to remember that medical screening is necessary for the insurer to work out if they are able to offer you a policy. Your travel insurance will not cover you for any claim relating to your breast cancer or any other pre-existing medical condition if you don t tell the insurance company about it when you buy the policy.

3 04 Points to bear in mind Breast cancer and travel insurance 05 Some people find it difficult to talk about their breast cancer diagnosis in this way several times in one day. You might want to consider having a friend or relative with you while you do this and you may want to limit the number of companies you call in one day. Some companies let you medically screen yourself online first. You may want to start with these to get an idea of the type of questions you may be asked. If you are asked about your cancer and treatment, the following reminders may help. Surgery: what type (for example mastectomy, wide local excision)? Chemotherapy: do you know which drug combination you were given? Hormone therapy: which drug was prescribed (for example tamoxifen, Arimidex)? Radiotherapy: have you had or are you having radiotherapy? What drugs are you currently taking? If you do not have all the information you need on all aspects of your treatment, you can contact your breast care nurse who will be able to tell you. You may need a doctor s letter from either your hospital team or your GP (local doctor) confirming that you have had a diagnosis of breast cancer but that you are fit to travel. Some doctors may charge for this. You may also need a letter from your doctor confirming that it is safe for you to travel while taking a particular medication. Some companies may not be able to offer you cover if you have only just finished a course of treatment or recently come out of hospital. If you have secondary breast cancer some general insurers may be unable to offer you cover. Most insurers base their decision to offer cover on individual circumstances, so while one person may be offered cover another may not. Check the wording of an insurance policy carefully to make sure it covers your requirements. If you have finished your treatment and your cancer is unlikely to cause you to seek medical treatment while you are away, you may be considering getting an insurance policy that excludes claims relating to your breast cancer. This is not a recommended option, even if travelling in Europe with an EHIC card (see page 6). This option not only excludes your breast cancer but any claims arising from the breast cancer or its treatment. For example, if you are taking tamoxifen and you have DVT (deep vein thrombosis), this would not be covered as it could be attributed to the Tamoxifen you are taking as part of your breast cancer treatment. Picking up an infection that needs treatment could be attributed to the chemotherapy you may have had for your breast cancer. It is a good idea to speak to your doctor before considering this option and you must still give your full medical details to the insurance company that is providing your cover.

4 06 European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) Breast cancer and travel insurance 07 Travel insurance is not the same as private health insurance. It only covers the cost of essential emergency treatment, usually in a public/state hospital. If you need longer-term treatment your travel insurer will bring you home. Always ensure you understand exactly what you are covered for. If you are in any doubt, ask your insurer to confirm this for you. If you have an existing annual travel insurance policy or free travel insurance (for example through your bank) you should inform your insurer about your breast cancer diagnosis. If you are asked to exclude cover for your breast cancer from the policy, do not agree to this without clarifying with the insurer what exactly you are excluding as you may end up with a policy that is not suitable for your needs. Macmillan Cancer Support produces a factsheet called Travel insurance which contains a list of companies that may be able to offer you cover. See the Other organisations section for contact details. An EHIC will not cover you should you need to be repatriated (brought back to the UK for treatment) and it can cost as much as 20,000 for an air ambulance from Europe to the UK. You will need to fill out a form to get an EHIC and take it with you on holiday. Application for an EHIC is free of charge. EHICs need to be renewed every three years and you must ensure yours is in date. If it is out of date it may be refused at the hospital. Some insurers will waive an excess on medical expenses if travellers use this mutual agreement. You can apply for an EHIC: online at (delivery within 7 days) via telephone on (delivery within 10 days) by post with an application form available from the Post Office (delivery within 21 days). European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) If you are travelling to a country within the European Union (EU) there are mutual health arrangements that you can benefit from if you need medical care while you are on holiday. This will entitle you to free or reduced cost emergency treatment in the EU. It is important to remember that you must go to a public/state run hospital. Holiday-makers are often taken to private hospitals which will not accept the EHIC. If you are not in a position to check (for example if you are unconscious) you could end up with a big bill if you are relying on your EHIC instead of travel insurance to cover medical expenses. Before you travel Make a note of your insurer s 24 hour helpline in your mobile before travelling so that you can get immediate advice in an emergency. If your health has changed between buying insurance and travelling, you must tell the insurer in case this affects the level of cover offered. Check that your EHIC is in date and still valid.

5 08 Further support Breast cancer and travel insurance 09 Further support Breast Cancer Care Breast Cancer Care is here to support you. From diagnosis, throughout treatment and beyond, our services are here every step of the way. Our free, confidential helpline is here for anyone who has questions about breast cancer or breast health. Your call will be answered by one of our nurses or trained staff members with experience of breast cancer. Our website gives instant access to information when you need it. It s also home to the largest online breast cancer community in the UK, so you can share your questions or concerns with other people in a similar situation. Our One-to-one support service can put you in touch with someone who knows what you re going through. Just tell us what you d like to talk about and we can find someone who s right for you. Through our professionally-hosted discussion forums you can exchange tips on coping with the side effects of treatment, ask questions, share experiences and talk through concerns online. If you re feeling anxious or just need to hear from someone else who s been there, they offer a way to gain support and reassurance from others in a similar situation to you. We host weekly Live chat sessions on our website offering you a private space to discuss your concerns with others getting instant responses to messages and talking about issues that are important to you. If you find it difficult to talk about breast cancer, we can answer your questions by instead - our Ask the nurse service is available on the website. Telephone support groups offer the chance to be part of a regular support group which you can join easily by phone. We run Information and support sessions and courses for people living with and beyond breast cancer, bringing people together to share experiences. We also offer practical sessions to help with issues such as hair loss and finding a suitable bra after surgery. We also offer specific, tailored courses to younger women, and people living with secondary breast cancer. Our free information resources for anyone affected by breast cancer include factsheets, booklets and DVDs. You can order our publications by using our order form, which can be requested from the helpline. All our publications can also be downloaded from our website. To request a free leaflet containing further information about our services please contact your nearest centre (contact details at the back) or visit

6 10 Further support Other organisations Macmillan Cancer Support 89 Albert Embankment London SE1 7UQ General enquiries: Helpline: Website: Textphone: or Text Relay Macmillan Cancer Support provides practical, medical, emotional and financial support to people living with cancer and their carers and families. Over the phone, its cancer support specialists can answer questions about cancer types and treatments, provide practical and financial support to help people live with cancer, and are there if someone just wants to talk. Its website features expert, high-quality information on cancer types and treatments, emotional, financial and practical help, and an online community where people can share information and support. Macmillan also funds expert health and social care professionals such as nurses, doctors and benefits advisers. A large print version of this factsheet can be downloaded from our website, It is also available in Braille or on audio CD on request by phoning This leaflet has been produced by Breast Cancer Care s clinical specialists and reviewed by healthcare professionals and people affected by breast cancer. Centres London and the South East of England Telephone src@breastcancercare.org.uk Wales, South West and Central England Telephone cym@breastcancercare.org.uk East Midlands and the North of England Telephone nrc@breastcancercare.org.uk Scotland and Northern Ireland Telephone sco@breastcancercare.org.uk We are able to provide our publications free of charge thanks to the generosity of our supporters. We would be grateful if you would consider making a donation today to help us continue to offer our free services to anyone who needs them. Please send your cheque/po/caf voucher to Breast Cancer Care, FREEPOST RRKZ-ARZY-YCKG, 5 13 Great Suffolk Street, London SE1 0NS Or to make a donation online using a credit or debit card, please visit Visit All rights are reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored or transmitted, in any form or by any means, without the prior permission of the publishers.

7 Breast Cancer Care is here for anyone affected by breast cancer. We bring people together, provide information and support, and campaign for improved standards of care. We use our understanding of people s experience of breast cancer and our clinical expertise in everything we do. Visit or call our free helpline on (Text Relay 18001). Interpreters are available in any language. Calls may be monitored for training purposes. Confidentiality is maintained between callers and Breast Cancer Care. Central Office Breast Cancer Care 5 13 Great Suffolk Street London SE1 0NS Telephone Fax info@breastcancercare.org.uk Breast Cancer Care, June 2010, BCC19 Registered charity in England and Wales ( ) Registered charity in Scotland (SC038104) Registered company in England ( ) Printed on recycled paper please recycle