Travel insurance for cancer

Leave worries at home with our travel insurance for cancer

We understand that finding travel insurance when you have cancer can feel a little daunting.

You can get travel insurance for many types of cancer, which can give you the reassurance you need to feel protected on your travels.

Flexibility to change details online

When you buy a policy from us, you can manage it yourself by logging in to your My Avanti account. Here you can:

• access policy documents
• update traveller details
• change your single trip dates (limits apply)
• renew an annual policy if you have no changes to make
• and more.

How travel insurance can put things right

Richard¹ found himself having to claim on his Avanti Travel Insurance twice in 12 months and was delighted with the swift and supportive service he received.

Then, just a few days before rebooking his Golden Anniversary Cruise, he had to declare a new health condition.

Within hours, we were in touch to say his new condition had been accepted so his plans could go ahead.

Health matters can be complex. But by keeping your travel insurance up-to-date like Richard, you can be confident that if something goes wrong on holiday, you’ll have the support to get you back on your feet.

How to buy travel insurance 

Sorting travel insurance might feel like a hassle – but with us, it doesn’t have to be. 

1. Get in touch

 Tell us about your trip so we can get things moving. 

We’ll ask: 

• where are you going? 

• when are you travelling? 

• do you need cover for a single trip or multiple trips? 

2. Simple medical screening

This part’s important. We’ll guide you through a short medical screening to understand your health needs. You’ll need to tell us about: 

• any conditions you’ve had symptoms, treatment or tests for in the last 2 years 

• any heart or circulatory conditions, past or present 

You can do this online, or over the phone if you’d rather speak to someone. 

3. Get your quote

Once we know a bit more about you and your trip, we’ll walk you through your quote. 

Choose from our three levels of cover and add any extras like cruise and winter sports cover if they suit your plans. 

If we can cover your medical conditions, they’ll be included in your quote – so you’ll know exactly where you stand before you go. 

Get a quote

Do I need to tell you about my cancer when buying travel insurance?

Yes, it’s important you let us know about your cancer, along with any other pre-existing health conditions you have so we can include them on your travel insurance.

Depending on the type of and stage your cancer is at, you may be able to get cover for your condition. Types of cancer you may be covered for include:

• Lung cancer
• Leukaemia
• Breast cancer
• Prostate cancer
• Bowel cancer
• Skin cancer

What stages of cancer can you insure me for?

Whether you’re living with cancer or are in remission, we may be able to offer cover if:

• Your doctor has declared you fit to travel
• You’re not awaiting surgery, chemotherapy or radiotherapy

If you are waiting for an operation, chemotherapy or radiotherapy,it is still worth getting in touch to see if we can help. Even if we are unable to offer cover for your health conditions, we may be able to offer some cover for things like lost luggage or a stolen passport. This means you wouldn’t be covered for anything directly or indirectly related to your cancer or other pre-existing health conditions.

Are there benefits to having my family on the same policy, even though I’m the only one travelling with cancer?

It may well be a good idea to cover your whole family together. It can work out cheaper and best of all, every traveller is covered if you have to cancel because of an unexpected medical emergency. If you take out separate policies, this may not be the case.

Having everyone on the same insurance means you can claim back the entire cost of your holiday, not just part of it.

What sort of things will you ask me about my cancer?

To make sure your policy does its job properly, we need to personalise your policy to understand how your cancer affects your life. So, we’ll need to ask you a few questions to get to know you a little better. Don’t worry, we’ll never rush you.

Here are some of the questions we may ask:

• What type of cancer do/did you have?
• Has your cancer spread to other parts of your body?
• Is further treatment planned?
• Are you taking strong painkillers on a daily basis?
• How long ago was your last cancer treatment?

Is my cancer covered by my Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC)

If you’re planning a holiday to Europe, you’ll need to take a free GHIC (or an EHIC) as a condition of our travel insurance.

When the United Kingdom left the European Union, the GHIC replaced the EHIC as the means for accessing free or subsidised healthcare in selected European countries. Before you travel, make sure you check that your destination is covered by GHIC, just so you’re ready if you do need any emergency or necessary treatment for your cancer during your trip.

Remember, your GHIC is not the same as having good health conditions travel insurance. For example, it won’t cover you if you need to cancel your holiday.

Your GHIC helps reduce your medical costs where subsidised healthcare is available. If you can use your GHIC and have to pay a subsidised fee for your treatment, we’ll remove the excess fee on medical emergency claims for you.

I’ve bought travel insurance for my cancer already. Should I tell you if my condition changes?

If there are any changes to your health, it’s important you let us know as soon as you can, so we can update your travel insurance policy.

If you forget to tell us about any changes to your health, this may affect your travel insurance policy. If your policy isn’t accurate, this may mean any potential claims may not be accepted if you needed us further down the line.