A skin cancer diagnosis can change the way you think about travelling, but it does not necessarily mean putting holidays on hold.
You may be planning a trip after treatment, travelling while you are still under the care of your medical team, or simply looking forward to getting back to somewhere you love.
Whatever stage you are at, having travel insurance that reflects your individual health can make planning feel more straightforward.
At Lighthouse Travel Insurance, we help people living with and recovering from cancer explore cover that takes their medical circumstances into account. We ask clear questions about your health, treatment and medication so you can understand the cover available to you.
Because sometimes the most important part of planning a holiday is knowing you have thought about the things that matter before you leave.
Can you get travel insurance with skin cancer?
In many cases, travel insurance may be available if you have been diagnosed with skin cancer.
You may be receiving treatment, have completed treatment, be attending follow-up appointments or be living with an ongoing diagnosis.
When you get a quote, you will complete a travel insurance medical screening. We may ask about your diagnosis, treatment, medication and current health.
This helps us understand your individual circumstances and assess the cover available to you.
You do not need to decide what information is relevant before you start. Our medical screening process will guide you through the questions we need to ask.
The most important thing is to answer those questions accurately.
Travelling after a skin cancer diagnosis
For many people, travelling can be an important part of getting back to the things they enjoy after a cancer diagnosis.
That might mean a relaxing week somewhere warm, visiting family abroad or finally taking a trip that has been sitting on the wish list for years.
The right preparation can help you travel with greater confidence.
Before you go
Speak to your healthcare team
If you are currently receiving treatment, have recently had a procedure or have concerns about travelling, speak to your consultant, specialist nurse or healthcare professional before booking.
They can advise whether your health or treatment should affect your travel plans.
Plan around treatment and appointments
If you are receiving ongoing treatment or attending regular follow-up appointments, consider how your holiday dates fit around them.
Try to avoid making assumptions about when you will be able to travel. Your medical team can help you understand what may be appropriate for your circumstances.
Take enough medication
Make sure you have enough medication for your whole trip, plus additional supplies where appropriate in case you are delayed.
Keep essential medication in your hand luggage and check the rules for taking medicines into your destination.
Think about your skin while you are away
If you are travelling somewhere sunny, make sun protection part of your everyday plans rather than something you think about once you arrive.
Follow the advice given to you by your healthcare team and take any precautions they have recommended for your individual circumstances.
You may also want to plan parts of your day around strong sunlight, particularly if your skin is sensitive following treatment.
Know where to get medical help
Before travelling, it can be useful to know where you could access medical care locally if you needed it.
Keep your insurer’s emergency assistance details with you and make sure anyone travelling with you knows where to find them.
Declaring skin cancer on your travel insurance
Your travel insurance should reflect your health when you arrange your cover.
When completing your medical screening, you may need to tell us about:
- Your skin cancer diagnosis
- Treatment you are receiving or have recently completed
- Medication you are taking
- Ongoing hospital appointments or follow-up care
- Any medical conditions connected to your cancer or treatment
- Any other medical conditions you have
Do not assume that your diagnosis no longer needs to be mentioned because treatment has finished or you are feeling well.
Answer the medical screening questions based on your circumstances at the time.
Providing accurate information allows us to assess your health properly and explain the cover available to you.
If relevant medical information is not declared, it could affect your cover and may mean that a related claim cannot be paid.
If your health changes after buying your policy, contact Lighthouse before you travel. This could include a new diagnosis, a change in treatment, new medication or a change in an existing medical condition.
Why Choose Lighthouse Travel Insurance?
At Lighthouse, we know that travel after cancer can mean more than simply getting away.
It can be a chance to celebrate finishing treatment, spend time with the people who matter, return to somewhere familiar or simply enjoy feeling like yourself again.
That is why we want travel insurance to feel clear and supportive, not like another difficult thing to navigate.
Depending on the policy selected, Lighthouse Travel Insurance 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
