While it’s never the news someone wants to receive, it’s estimated that an average of 675 people in Canada are diagnosed with cancer each day. If you’ve been diagnosed with cancer and are looking to travel, you might be wondering if you’re still eligible for travel insurance.
Well, we have some good news for you. Some travel insurance plans will cover people with cancer diagnoses, assuming specific criteria are met first. Let’s explore what are the best travel insurance options for cancer patients.
Are cancer patients eligible for travel insurance?
The short answer is yes; however, this isn’t true of all travel insurance plans. Some policies will cover cancer patients, assuming certain conditions are met. It’s treated like any other pre-existing medical condition. A pre-existing medical condition is something that’s caused a person to seek a medical examination, care, diagnosis, or treatment by a doctor within 120 days (about 4 months) prior to the purchase of the travel insurance policy. This condition typically involves symptoms and requires the person to take medications as prescribed by a doctor.
In some cases, you may only qualify for what is called a “rated” policy. These travel insurance plans cost more, and you might need to take a medical exam before getting approved to make sure you don’t have any other health issue.
Am I covered if I have a complication from cancer?
Not usually. While some travel insurance policies will cover patients who are diagnosed with cancer, they often exclude medical emergencies arising out of complications from the individual’s diagnoses.
What if you have been pronounced as recovered from cancer? You may still be eligible for travel insurance, but you may only qualify for “standard” coverage after a certain number of years of having no evidence of the disease.
If your cancer diagnosis came after purchasing your travel insurance policy, then you may be covered for unexpected cancellations or cutting your trip short as a result of your diagnosis. Cancelling your trip may only be covered if it was advised by a doctor, however. Certain conditions may apply for claims to be approved, so if you’ve unexpectedly received a cancer diagnosis following a travel insurance plan purchase, stay in touch with your broker. They’ll be able to advise you on best steps to ensure that any claims you may make will be covered.
What does travel insurance cover for cancer patients?
While travel insurance may not cover anything related to a pre-existing cancer diagnosis, it will cover all the basic emergencies, lost baggage, and other incidents outlined in your policy, provided they are unrelated to your medical condition.
If your cancer diagnosis came after purchasing your policy, it doesn’t count as a pre-existing medical condition and you may have coverage for the following:
- Heading home early because of a progression in your illness. If you received your cancer diagnosis after purchasing travel insurance, you may receive coverage for cutting your trip short and heading home if your illness unexpectedly progressed.
- Suffering an unexpected medical emergency while travelling. If you unexpectedly fell ill or were injured on your trip, your medical costs including hospital bills and transport would be covered. This usually doesn’t include expected complications from your treatment.
- Cancelling a trip because of a cancer diagnosis. For your trip cancellation to be covered, it must have been advised by a doctor as a result of your diagnosis. If this applies, then you would receive reimbursement up to 60-70% of what you paid for your trip.
What are the benefits of travel insurance for individuals diagnosed with cancer?
Patients who have been diagnosed with cancer may enjoy the same benefits of travel insurance as any other traveler, including:
- Peace-of-mind while travelling, despite your illness.
- Reimbursement if a diagnosis interrupts your travel plans.
- Coverage for transportation home if a trip is cut short.
- You can still have an adventure without worrying about the unexpected.
The actual coverage that your travel insurance supplies may vary depending on if your cancer diagnosis came prior to your travel insurance purchase or not. It may also be more difficult to find a travel insurance policy following a cancer diagnosis, however. We advise working with a broker to find a plan that’s affordable and gives you the peace-of-mind you need.
For more questions about travel insurance as a cancer patient, contact one of our brokers here at Mitch Insurance. They’ll be able to lend you a hand in finding a policy that suits the needs of you and your travel companions, even if you’ve recently received a cancer diagnosis.
