If you have one particular holiday in mind, you may be wondering whether Single Trip Travel Insurance is the right option for you, especially if cancer has changed the way you think about arranging cover.
You might be planning a break during treatment, looking forward to your first holiday after treatment has finished, travelling after your cancer has gone into remission or simply getting back to the places and people you enjoy.
Whatever stage you are at, having cancer does not necessarily mean that you cannot get Single Trip Travel Insurance.
At Lighthouse Travel Insurance, we help people living with and recovering from cancer find cover that takes their individual medical circumstances into account. We want to make it easier to understand what you need to tell us, how medical screening works and what options may be available for the trip you are planning.
Can you get Single Trip Travel Insurance with cancer?
In many cases, Single Trip Travel Insurance is available if you are living with cancer, receiving treatment, have finished treatment or are in remission.
When you get a quote, you will go through medical screening. We may ask about your cancer diagnosis, treatment, medication, ongoing care and current health.
This helps us understand your individual circumstances and assess the cover available to you.
Having the same type of cancer as somebody else does not mean that your travel insurance will be the same. Your current health, treatment history, age, destination, length of trip and the cover you choose can all form part of your quote.
It is important to answer the medical screening questions accurately so you can be confident that you have provided the information we need.
Click here, to find out more about how our travel insurance medical screening works.
What is Single Trip Travel Insurance?
If you are arranging insurance for one particular holiday, a Single Trip policy is an option designed around that trip.
When you get a quote, you will provide information about the holiday you are planning as well as your medical circumstances. This allows the cover and price available to be assessed using the information you provide.
If you currently have one holiday planned, you may want to look at Single Trip Travel Insurance. If you are hoping to take several holidays, it may also be worth comparing Annual Travel Insurance.
There is no single option that will be right for everybody affected by cancer. Your health, travel plans and the cover available to you all matter.
To find out more about our annual multi trip travel insurance, click here.
How does medical screening work for a Single Trip policy?
If you have cancer or another medical condition, you will need to complete the relevant medical screening when getting your quote.
Lighthouse uses Protectif, our in house medical screening system, to help us understand your individual medical circumstances.
Protectif starts by asking about medication where applicable, before guiding you through the medical conditions you need to declare. It then asks follow-up questions based on the information you provide.
Depending on your circumstances, you may be asked about things such as:
- Your cancer diagnosis.
- Treatment you are receiving or have previously received.
- Medication you currently take.
- Recent symptoms.
- Ongoing hospital appointments or follow-up care.
- Your current health.
- Other medical conditions you have.
You do not need to work out which parts of your medical history are relevant before you begin. The screening process will guide you through the questions we need to ask.
Answering the questions accurately allows us to assess your individual circumstances and explain the cover available to you.
Single Trip Travel Insurance during cancer treatment
Being in active cancer treatment does not automatically mean that travel or travel insurance is out of reach.
Single Trip Travel Insurance may be available while you are receiving treatment, depending on your individual circumstances.
If you are thinking about going away during treatment, speak to your healthcare team before booking. They can help you consider whether you are medically fit to travel, how your trip fits around treatment and whether side effects or other aspects of your health should influence your plans.
Your travel insurance also needs to take your current medical circumstances into account. When completing medical screening, tell us about your diagnosis, current treatment, medication and other medical information when asked.
Do not change, delay or miss cancer treatment to fit around a holiday unless this has been agreed with your healthcare team.
To find out more about travelling during active cancer treatment, click here.
Single Trip Travel Insurance after cancer treatment
Finishing treatment can bring travel plans back into focus.
You might be thinking about your first holiday since treatment, returning somewhere familiar or finally taking a trip that you had put on hold.
Single Trip Travel Insurance may be available after cancer treatment has finished.
You may still be asked about your previous diagnosis, the treatment you received, medication, follow-up care and your health now. This allows your circumstances to be assessed based on where you are today.
Being able to obtain travel insurance and being medically fit to travel are separate considerations. If you have recently finished treatment, had surgery or have concerns about your recovery, speak to your healthcare team before travelling.
Click here, to find out more about travel insurance after cancer treatment.
Single Trip Travel Insurance when your cancer is in remission
If your cancer is in remission, Single Trip Travel Insurance should be available.
However, being in remission does not automatically mean that your previous cancer diagnosis no longer needs to be declared.
You may be asked about previous treatment, medication you still take, follow-up appointments and your current health as part of medical screening.
Don’t compare your circumstances with somebody else’s. Someone who finished treatment several years ago may have a very different medical history from someone who has recently entered remission or continues to have regular monitoring.
The important thing is to answer the questions accurately based on your own circumstances.
For more information on travel insurance in remission from cancer, click here.
What if your health changes after you buy your policy?
Your health can change between arranging your travel insurance and going on holiday.
If you receive a new diagnosis, start a different treatment, are prescribed new medication or experience a change in an existing medical condition, contact Lighthouse before you travel.
We can explain whether the change needs to be assessed and whether it affects your cover.
Do not assume that your existing policy will automatically cover a change in your medical circumstances.
Planning your Single Trip travel insurance with cancer
Once your insurance is arranged, there may still be a few practical things to think about before you go.
Depending on your individual circumstances, you may want to:
- Check that your travel dates work around treatment, scans or follow-up appointments.
- Speak to your healthcare team if you have concerns about whether you are fit to travel.
- Take enough medication for your trip, with additional supplies where appropriate in case you are delayed.
- Check the rules for taking medication into your destination. More information on taking cancer medication abroad, can be found here.
- Keep essential medication in your hand luggage.
- Check whether your airline has any medical requirements if you are flying.
- Arrange airport assistance if fatigue or reduced mobility could make the journey more difficult.
- Keep your travel insurance and emergency assistance details somewhere easily accessible.
- Check the latest Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office travel advice for your destination.
The things you need to consider will depend on your health, treatment and the trip you are planning.
You can find more detailed guidance elsewhere in our Cancer and Travel Hub rather than trying to work everything out at once.
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
