A holiday to the USA can be anything from a few days exploring New York to a family trip to Florida, visiting relatives or finally setting off on a road trip you have been talking about for years.
If you are living with cancer, having treatment or travelling after treatment, there may simply be a few more things to think about before you go. The length of the journey, your medication, access to medical care and arranging travel insurance for the USA with cancer can all become part of the planning.
Having cancer does not automatically mean travelling to America is out of reach. Whether a trip is right for you will depend on your individual health, treatment and the advice of the healthcare team looking after you.
At Lighthouse Travel Insurance, we help people living with and recovering from cancer explore cover that takes their individual circumstances into account.
Can you get travel insurance for the USA with cancer?
Travel insurance may be available if you have cancer and are planning a trip to the USA.
That includes people who are currently receiving treatment, those recovering after treatment, people whose cancer is in remission and those managing cancer as a longer-term condition.
When you get a quote, you will complete a travel insurance medical screening. We may ask about:
- Your cancer diagnosis.
- Treatment you are receiving or have recently completed.
- Medication you take.
- Ongoing appointments, monitoring or follow-up care.
- Your current health.
- Any other medical conditions you have.
You do not need to work out for yourself which parts of your medical history are relevant. Answer the questions you are asked accurately and the screening process will guide you through the information we need.
Your health is only part of the assessment. Your destination, age, length of trip and the policy you choose can also affect the cover available and the price you pay.
Find out more about how medical screening works
Why travel insurance is important for a trip to the USA
Healthcare works a little differently in the USA compared with many European destinations, so travel insurance is an important part of planning your trip.
GOV.UK advises that medical treatment in the United States can be expensive and that there are no special healthcare arrangements for British visitors. A UK GHIC also does not provide access to reciprocal healthcare in the USA.
That does not need to put you off planning your holiday. It simply makes it particularly important to arrange travel insurance that is appropriate for your trip and to understand the cover available to you.
If you are living with or recovering from cancer, make sure you complete the medical screening accurately and check your policy terms, limits and exclusions so you understand what cover is available for your individual circumstances while you are away.
Planning a trip to the USA during or after cancer treatment
Travelling to the USA often involves a longer journey and potentially a busy itinerary, so planning around how you are feeling can make the trip easier.
Speak to your healthcare team
If you are receiving treatment, have recently had surgery or are unsure whether you are ready for a long-haul journey, speak to your consultant, specialist nurse or healthcare team.
They can advise you based on your treatment, recovery and current health rather than there being one rule that applies to everyone.
Visit our pages on Travel Insurance During Active Cancer Treatment or Travel Insurance After Cancer Treatment for extra information.
Think about the journey as well as the destination
A holiday to America can involve long flights, connections, lengthy transfers or several stops once you arrive.
If fatigue, reduced mobility or other treatment effects are making travelling more difficult, you might want to build in more time, choose a less demanding itinerary or arrange assistance where it would help.
If you have questions about flying after cancer treatment, our dedicated guides goes into this in more detail, click the links below:
Flying with Cancer: What You Need to Know Before You Go
Understanding Fit-to-Fly Letters and Medical Clearance
Check your cancer medication before travelling to the USA
Rules around medicines can differ between the UK and USA, so check them before you travel rather than waiting until you reach the airport or port.
U.S. authorities recommend checking the rules for your medicines before you travel and carrying information about your prescriptions with you.. FDA and U.S. Customs and Border Protection guidance should be checked for the medication you take.
It can also help to:
- Keep medication in its original packaging
- Carry a copy of your prescription or a doctor’s letter where appropriate
- Take enough medication for your trip, with additional supplies where suitable in case of delays
- Check any storage requirements before travelling
Our dedicated medication guide covers this in more detail.
Know where you could get medical help
The USA is a huge country, and access to healthcare can look very different depending on whether you are staying in a major city, a beach resort or travelling through a more remote area.
If you have ongoing medical needs, it may be useful to check what healthcare is available near where you are staying before you leave. This does not mean expecting something to go wrong; it simply gives you useful information to have to hand.
GOV.UK also recommends checking that your destination can provide the healthcare you may need before travelling.
What if you need medical treatment while you are in the USA?
For a medical emergency in the USA, call 911.
If you are referred to a medical facility or need treatment while you are away, contact your insurer or the appointed Emergency Medical Assistance team as soon as reasonably possible so they can explain the next steps under your policy.
Keep your policy details and emergency assistance contact information somewhere that you and the people travelling with you can easily access.
What if your health changes before your USA holiday?
There can be quite a gap between booking a trip to America and actually travelling.
If your health, cancer treatment or medication changes after you buy your policy, check your policy terms and contact Lighthouse before you travel if required.
This could include starting a new treatment, changing medication, receiving another diagnosis or having further tests or investigations.
Do not assume that your existing policy will automatically cover a change. We can explain whether anything needs to be reviewed before your trip.
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
Travelling to the USA in remission or after cancer treatment
Whether you are currently having treatment, recovering, in remission or your cancer treatment was some time ago, your circumstances and travel plans are personal to you.
Either way, arranging travel insurance should be based on your circumstances as they are now.
If your cancer is in remission or you have completed treatment, you may still be asked about your previous diagnosis, treatment, medication and ongoing follow-up care during medical screening.
Read our guide on Travel Insurance in Remission from Cancer
