Travel insurance for cancer patients

Travel insurance companies will typically consider cancer as a pre-existing medical condition if you:

• Are currently undertaking tests to see if you have cancer
• Have an active cancer condition
• Have had a cancer diagnosis at any point in your life.

Your insurer may consider all types of cancer, including breast cancer, prostate cancer, skin cancer and more. However, exactly what conditions can be covered will depend on your individual circumstances and the severity of the issue.

It may be possible for you to get travel insurance as a cancer patient. Your travel insurance provider may require you to complete an online medical screening so they can assess whether they can offer cover.

When applying for travel insurance with a pre-existing cancer condition, your travel insurer will typically have one of four responses to you needing cover:

1. Your condition is considered minor and is covered automatically.
2. Your condition is more serious but can still be covered if you pay an additional premium.
3. Your insurer cannot offer insurance for your condition, but you can still get travel insurance cover for things that are unrelated to your condition.
4. Your condition is too serious, and you cannot be offered travel insurance.

If you have a medical emergency while overseas, it’s important to seek medical treatment as soon as possible. Contact your travel insurer as they may be able to offer advice on where to seek treatment.

In some cases, depending on which destination you are visiting, the hospital may need to speak to your insurer directly to organise payment upfront. Otherwise, you should keep receipts and invoices and submit a claim as soon as you’re able to.

If you’re travelling as a cancer patient, you might have a compromised immune system, so when making your travel plans, there may be a few additional things to consider. A few travel tips to keep in mind include:

• Keep medication in your carry-on. You never know when an airline might lose your checked luggage, so keep all necessary medication, prescriptions and doctor’s notes detailing your condition and treatment in your hand luggage.
• Consider your itinerary. If your illness makes you fatigued, don’t pack your itinerary with too many activities, and take breaks when needed. It may also pay to consider the intensity of an activity before participating.
• Keep on top of your hygiene and health. When your immune system isn’t functioning at full power, it’s important to keep on top of hygiene by washing your hands regularly or using hand sanitiser. Depending on your trip’s destination, you may also prefer to drink bottled water.

Australians aren’t covered by Medicare and private health insurance while they’re overseas, so if you want cover for medical care while overseas it’s important to search for a travel insurance policy that matches your needs. However, travel insurance policy inclusions may vary between providers. If you choose a comprehensive policy, some of the common medical inclusions may include:

• 24/7 emergency assistance helpline
• Medical treatment including surgeries or general medical care
• Hospital stays
• Medication prescribed to you while overseas
• Emergency medical evacuation or repatriation back to Australia
• Emergency dental expenses
• Cash allowance while in hospital
• Funeral expenses if you’re buried overseas.

Routine cancer treatment that you were getting in Australia may not be covered if you travel overseas, as travel insurance typically only covers unforeseen costs.

In addition to medical benefits, a comprehensive policy may also include cover for:

• Trip cancellations, disruptions and curtailment
• Lost or stolen baggage and valuables
• Personal liability costs
• Rental vehicle excess.

Not all of these benefits may be included automatically by every insurer, so read the Product Disclosure Statement (PDS) for the full details of what is and isn’t included in your policy. Read the Target Market Determination (TMD) to check the suitability of the policy and if it suits your needs.

When taking out a travel insurance policy, it’s important to know in what instances you won’t be covered. If you’re travelling with a serious illness, this may be even more important for peace of mind if you’re worried about needing to cancel your trip or pay for medical expenses while overseas.

Some common exclusions from travel insurance cover include:

• Emergency medical costs that are covered by a Reciprocal Health Care Agreement.
• Medical treatment for pre-existing conditions if your insurer was not able to cover your conditions, or you decided against paying for the additional premium.
• Complications caused by cosmetic procedures done overseas.
• Claims related to reckless or illegal behaviour.
• Incidents that occurred while you were under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
• Costs relating to ongoing or routine medical care (e.g. regular medications or treatments).

For the full list of exclusions, be sure to read the PDS of a policy when searching for the right cover for you.