Working in partnership with Macmillan, Lighthouse Travel Insurance aims to help make travel a possibility, even when a diagnosis makes life feel uncertain.
At Lighthouse, we believe peace of mind should not stop at the departure gate. That is why we are proud to partner with Macmillan Cancer Support – a charity that stands beside people living with cancer, from the moment of diagnosis through treatment, recovery, and beyond.
Why Macmillan?
Every 75 seconds, someone in the UK is diagnosed with cancer. In that moment – and every moment that follows – Macmillan is there.
They offer practical, emotional, and financial support to people living with cancer and their families. Whether it is a dedicated nurse providing expert care, a friendly voice on the support line, or guidance on navigating the healthcare system, Macmillan ensures no one faces cancer alone.
At Lighthouse Travel Insurance, many of our customers travel while living with or recovering from cancer. Therefore, supporting Macmillan feels like a natural extension of our mission – to offer reliable, understanding travel insurance that empowers people to make memories with confidence.
The Importance of Declaring Your Medical Conditions
Whether it is unexpected treatment abroad or needing to return home quickly in an emergency where medically necessary, medical costs while travelling can add up fast. That is why it is so important to have travel insurance that is shaped around you – especially if you are living or recovering from cancer.
At Lighthouse, we are here to help you travel with confidence. To make sure your policy offers the right level of protection, during the quote process it is essential you let us:
- Any medications you are taking and the medical conditions you are taking them for.
- Any medical conditions you have – including conditions that have developed as a result of any cancer treatment.
By declaring all relevant conditions, we can:
- Tailor your cover to reflect your individual health and treatment history.
- Clearly explain what is and is not included in your policy
- Give you peace of mind knowing exactly what you are protected for, before you travel
Please be aware: If any medical conditions or treatments are not declared, it could affect your cover. – and may mean you are not able to claim if something goes wrong that’s related to your health or the treatment of it. Being open with us ensures we can support you properly, every step of the way.
Why it is Important Not to Exclude Cancer Cover from Your Policy
It can be tempting to think you will not need cover for your cancer while you are away – especially if you are feeling well or your treatment is going smoothly. However, some travel insurance policies may exclude cover for cancer altogether, or for specific types of cancer, stages, or related conditions.
If your policy includes an exclusion relating to your cancer following the underwriting assessment, claims arising from that excluded condition may not be covered. Please refer to your policy documents for details of any exclusions that apply.
For example:
- If you are taking Tamoxifen (a hormone therapy for breast cancer), you are at a higher risk of developing a DVT (deep vein thrombosis) – but if you have excluded cancer from your policy, you might not be covered for this.
- If you are on immunotherapy and pick up an infection while abroad, this could also be linked to your treatment and not be covered.
It is often the side effects of treatment – rather than the cancer itself – that is more likely to cause problems while you are away.
How Easy is it For People with Cancer to Get Travel Insurance?
We know that planning a holiday after a cancer diagnosis is not just about packing a suitcase – it is about reclaiming joy, rest, and special moments with the people you love. But for many, finding travel insurance that truly understands your medical needs can feel like an uphill battle.
At Lighthouse, we do things differently. We are here to make things a little easier. Our friendly, specialist team uses a medical risk assessment tool called Protectif, which helps us get a more complete picture of your health – not just your diagnosis.
Whether you have recently been diagnosed, received treatment such as:
- Chemotherapy
- Radiotherapy, including SABR and CyberKnife
- Biological or immunotherapy
- Surgery; or
- A diagnosis of Metastatic cancer
We take the time to understand your individual circumstances and assess your application based on the information you provide.
Eligibility for cover will depend on your individual circumstances. This includes factors such as the type of cancer, the treatment received, how recently treatment was completed, and the outcome of your medical screening. For some treatments, a minimum period may need to have passed before cover can be considered.
Where possible, we’ll offer you a premium that reflects your individual circumstances and the cover you choose.
Top Tip: To help make the process even smoother, it is a good idea to have a note of all your current medications, treatments, and medical conditions to hand before you begin the medical screening. That way, you will feel more confident answering the questions, and we will have everything we need to find the most suitable cover for your trip.
We may ask a few more questions in our medical screening on the quote journey, but that is because we care about getting it right. Making sure you have the right level of protection and peace of mind, so you can focus on what really matters, enjoying your trip.
Travelling With Cancer – Your Pre-Travel Checklist
A little preparation can go a long way. Travelling after a cancer diagnosis can feel like a big step – but with the right planning, it can also be a truly uplifting and restorative experience. To help make things as smooth and stress-free as possible, we have put together a simple checklist covering the key things to think about before you go.
From speaking to your medical team to checking the healthcare available at your destination, these tips are designed to give you peace of mind – so you can focus on enjoying your trip with confidence.
- Speak to your GP or treating team to confirm you are fit to travel – insurance will not cover if you travel against medical advice.
- Choose a suitable destination – talk to a travel agent about your needs, including flight length, direct routes, healthcare quality, and required vaccinations.
- Book any travel assistance in advance, such as wheelchair support at the airport or accessible hotel rooms abroad.
- Check where the nearest pharmacy or medical centre is at your destination, just in case you need support while away.
- Travelling with antibiotics or other medication? Check expiry dates and ask your team for a fresh prescription if needed. Always take some extra just in case you are delayed for any reason!
- Ensure your medication is legal abroad – some medicines require special approval. Check with the country’s embassy or visit gov.uk.
- Check your GHIC card (or EHIC if still valid) is up to date. Apply or renew at nhs.uk.
Important Information:
- To help us assess whether we can offer suitable travel insurance, it’s essential that you declare your cancer and any related conditions during the quote process.
- While we aim to consider cover for a wide range of cancers, stages, and related conditions, we may not be able to offer cover in all cases.
- Even if we are unable to cover your cancer, declaring it is still crucial — it helps ensure your policy remains valid for other events, such as lost baggage, unrelated medical emergencies, or travel disruption.
- If any relevant medical conditions or treatments are not declared, your policy may be invalid, and you may not be able to claim.
- All cover is subject to medical screening, insurer acceptance, and the terms, conditions, and exclusions of the policy. Please read your Policy Wording and Insurance Product Information Document (IPID) carefully.
- Lighthouse Travel Insurance products are underwritten by different insurers depending on the policy you choose. You can find full insurer and regulatory details in the Policy Wording, IPID, or on Our Insurers Page.
- Macmillan Cancer Support has partnered with Lighthouse Travel Insurance to offer travel insurance. Macmillan Cancer Support does not endorse, provide, or recommend insurance. It introduces customers to Lighthouse Travel Insurance, which is responsible for distributing and administering the policies, while the insurer handles claims and emergency assistance.By choosing Lighthouse, you’re helping Macmillan Cancer Support. Lighthouse contributes a minimum of £25,000 (plus VAT) annually to the charity. This payment is made directly to Macmillan Cancer Support Trading Limited, a subsidiary of Macmillan Cancer Support, a registered charity in England & Wales (261017), Scotland (SC039907), and the Isle of Man (604). This contribution is made in the spirit of support for the community and does not increase the cost of the travel insurance or affect the coverage of the policy.
