Lighthouse Cancer Hub | Travel Insurance in Remission from cancer

When cancer has taken up so much of your time, attention and energy, planning a holiday can be a welcome change of focus.

You might be thinking about returning to a favourite place, visiting family abroad or finally booking somewhere you put on hold during treatment. But even when your cancer is in remission, it is understandable to have questions about travel insurance and what information you still need to provide.

At Lighthouse Travel Insurance, we help people who have had cancer find travel insurance that takes their medical history and current health into account.

Being in remission does not mean your previous diagnosis is ignored when you arrange cover. But it also does not mean travel is off the table. For many people, travelling remains very much part of life after cancer.

Can I get travel insurance while my cancer is in remission?

Travel insurance should be available if your cancer is in remission.

When you get a quote, you will complete a medical screening. We may ask about your diagnosis, when you were treated, any medication you still take, follow-up care and your health now.

The answers help us assess the cover available to you.

Someone who finished treatment several years ago may be asked different questions from someone who has only recently completed treatment or still takes medication. You do not need to decide beforehand which parts of your medical history matter. The screening process will take you through the information we need.

Find out more about how medical screening works

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Do I need to declare cancer if I am in remission?

You may still need to tell us about your cancer when answering the medical screening questions, even if treatment has finished.

Being in remission does not automatically mean a previous diagnosis no longer needs to be declared.

Answer the questions as accurately as you can, including any questions about:

Your previous cancer diagnosis
Treatment you have received
Medication you currently take
Follow-up appointments, scans or tests
Other medical conditions

If you are unsure about something, it is better to ask us than leave information out.

Travelling in remission after cancer treatment

Your first few trips after treatment might feel different from the way you travelled before.

You might have exactly the same energy as before, or you might prefer a quieter first few days, shorter journeys or a little more room in your plans. There is no need to compare your recovery with anybody else’s.

A few practical things can make travelling easier:

Check in with your healthcare team. This can be particularly useful if treatment finished recently or you still have side effects.
Plan around follow-up care. Make sure scans, blood tests or hospital appointments do not clash with your trip.
Take enough medication. Bring enough for your holiday and some extra where appropriate in case your journey home is delayed.
Check vaccination advice. Previous cancer treatment can affect which vaccinations are suitable, so ask your healthcare team or a travel health professional if you are unsure.
Leave some breathing room in your plans. You do not have to fill every day simply because you are away.
Keep useful numbers with you. Save your insurer’s emergency assistance details and know how you would access medical help at your destination.

The aim is not to make cancer part of every holiday decision. It is to deal with the practical things before you leave, so they can take up less space once you are away.

What happens if my health changes before my holiday?

If your health changes after you buy your travel insurance, contact us before you travel.

This could include starting new treatment, being prescribed different medication, receiving another diagnosis or experiencing a change in an existing medical condition.

We can tell you whether the change needs to be reassessed and whether it affects your cover.

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Why Choose Lighthouse Travel Insurance?

Our policies can offer:

Up to £10 million emergency medical expenses.
Up to £10,000 cancellation cover, based on the trip cost per person declared.
Up to £5,000 cover for your personal belongings, depending on the policy selected.
24/7 access to an Emergency Medical Assistance team.
Cover for UK, European and Worldwide trips, provided you are not travelling against the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office’s (FCDO) travel advice.
Access to Air Doctor Connect is available on numerous policies, allowing you to connect with over 20,000 doctors in 78 countries. Where non-urgent outpatient treatment is provided through Air Doctor Connect, your policy excess is waived, and you may claim back the cost of prescribed medication when you return home.

Please Note: Any amounts listed above are per insured person on the policy. Cover limits, benefits and exclusions vary between policies. Full details can be found in your policy wording, available in your Customer Area

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Frequently Asked Questions

You may still need to tell us about your cancer when you complete medical screening, even if your treatment has finished and you have been told you are in remission.

What you need to declare will depend on the questions you are asked. These may cover your diagnosis, previous treatment, medication, follow-up care and your current health.

Do not assume that cancer no longer needs to be mentioned because treatment has ended or because you feel well. If you are unsure, contact Lighthouse and we can help explain what information is needed.

Travel insurance should be available if you have recently gone into remission.

How recently you finished treatment, whether you are still taking medication, whether you have ongoing appointments and how your health is now will all form part of medical screening.

There is not one rule that applies to everybody after cancer treatment, so your circumstances will be considered based on the information you provide.

You may be asked about ongoing follow-up care when completing medical screening.

This can include hospital appointments, scans, blood tests or other monitoring after cancer treatment.

It is important to answer the questions accurately and also think about whether any planned appointments could affect your travel dates. If your medical situation changes after you have bought your policy, contact us before you travel.

If you are still taking medication, tell us about it when asked during medical screening. You should also make sure you have enough for your trip, keep essential medication in your hand luggage and check any rules for taking medicines into your destination.

If you are travelling across time zones and are unsure when to take your medication, speak to your healthcare team or pharmacist before you leave.

You can still make travel plans while having routine follow-up care, but it is worth checking your dates carefully.

Make sure your trip does not clash with appointments, tests or scans that your healthcare team considers important.

When arranging travel insurance, answer the medical screening questions based on your circumstances at that time. If anything changes before you travel, such as new symptoms, further investigations or a change in treatment, contact us.

If your health changes after you have purchased your policy, contact us as soon as possible.

A recurrence, new diagnosis, change in medication or new treatment may need to be assessed and could affect your cover.

Do not wait until you are about to travel or until you need medical help abroad. Speaking to your us when your circumstances change means they can explain what happens next.

Many people travel further afield after cancer treatment, but whether a long journey is right for you will depend on your health and any advice from your healthcare team.

If treatment finished recently, or you still experience fatigue, reduced mobility or other effects from treatment, think about how you will manage the journey as well as the holiday itself.

You may want to consider airport assistance, longer connection times, regular rest and a less demanding schedule when you arrive.

Yes. A GHIC or valid EHIC can provide access to some state healthcare in participating countries, but it is not a replacement for travel insurance.

Travel insurance can provide protection for other situations, subject to the policy you choose, including emergency medical expenses, cancellation and assistance if you become unwell while you are away.

Annual Travel Insurance may be available depending on your medical circumstances and the policy offered.

If you are planning several holidays now that treatment has finished, it can be worth comparing Annual Travel Insurance with Single Trip Travel Insurance.

You will still need to complete the required medical screening and provide information about your previous cancer diagnosis and any other medical conditions when asked.