Cancer patients ‘priced out of travel' due to insurance costs
Cancer patients are being 'priced out' of holidays due to 'inflated' travel insurance costs for patients, a charity has said.
Maggie's cancer support charity said patients and those in recovery are 'frequently' refused cover or quoted unaffordable premiums.
This means that patients, and those in recovery, are forced to travel without insurance or skip trips altogether.
As well as missing out on holidays they are also unable to visit friends and family abroad and avoid business travel, Maggie's added.
The charity has called on Treasury minister Emma Reynolds to help tackle the travel insurance prices faced by people with a history of cancer.
It is calling on ministers to work with travel insurance companies, the Financial Conduct Authority and cancer patients to get a 'fairer deal' for insurance.
Josh Cull, from Bournemouth, was diagnosed with a medulloblastoma brain tumour in 2021 when he was 25.
After his treatment, he decided to visit south Asia with his fiancee and brother but could not find a travel insurance company that would cover him for a price he could afford.
'My cancer was completely unexpected, especially as I was so young, and initially I was told I only had three months to live,' the 28-year-old said.
'I went through chemotherapy and radiotherapy as well as major surgery to remove the tumour, which affected my eyesight and my ability to walk.
'It was an incredibly difficult time, but I was lucky to come out the other side, and the trip was supposed to be a reward for everything we'd been through.
'However, I couldn't get an insurance quote for less than £3,000.
'At that point, I had been out of treatment for two-and-a-half years, and I was healthy and fully recovered, but simply having a cancer diagnosis in my past meant the insurance was extremely expensive.
'It felt so unfair. I ended up travelling uninsured because I just couldn't afford the cover.'
Millie Tharakan, 72, from north London, was first diagnosed with breast cancer in 2008, and her cancer returned in 2020.
She has since been receiving immunotherapy and has regular CT scans to monitor her condition.
Despite her oncologist describing her as 'steady' and declaring her fit to fly, she was forced to fork out £1,300 for annual cover for travel insurance in Europe.
Ms Tharakan, who has three sons and five grandchildren, said: 'We wanted to go on a family holiday and given my health I didn't feel comfortable travelling without insurance, but it's been incredibly stressful.
'Most insurance companies I spoke to wouldn't even consider covering me. It feels so unfair.'
Dame Laura Lee, chief executive of Maggie's, said: ' More and more frequently, we are hearing about the barriers people with cancer face when trying to obtain travel insurance, and the emotional distress this can cause.
'The last thing people should have to think about is inflated insurance costs when they should be focused on recovering from treatment and living well with cancer.
'Travelling and taking holidays can be so important for someone's wellbeing and recovery, and it is extremely unfair that people with cancer are being priced out of the opportunity to visit family and friends abroad or simply explore the world.'
A spokesperson for the Association of British Insurers (ABI) said: 'We appreciate how important being able to travel and go on holiday is for anyone who has or has had cancer, especially during such difficult times.
'Ensuring they can benefit from the peace of mind insurance provides is a key priority for the industry. We remain committed to supporting customers who have or have had cancer, as well as fostering an open dialogue with cancer charities, government and the regulator to address any barriers to accessing travel insurance.
'Unfortunately, people with pre-existing medical conditions may be more likely to need emergency medical treatment whilst abroad, which can come at a significant cost.
'This is something insurers will take into account, alongside other factors, when assessing whether they can offer you suitable cover.
'As part of a signposting agreement introduced by the FCA, if an insurer is unable to offer you cover because of a pre-existing medical condition, they will point you to specialist providers who can help you find an appropriate policy.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Independent
34 minutes ago
- The Independent
Briton injured in Iran missile attacks as first evacuation flight from Israel takes off
A British national has been injured in Israel during missile attacks by Iran, the foreign secretary has said, telling the Commons that 63 others have been evacuated from Israel to Cyprus by the RAF. It comes after the US attacked three nuclear sites in Iran overnight and Tehran then launched a ballistic missile barrage against Israel. In a statement to the Commons, the foreign secretary said: 'This is a perilous moment in the Middle East, waves of strikes between Israel and Iran have now lasted for 10 days, continuing overnight. 'I know the whole House will have in their thoughts the many civilians impacted by the fighting. I can confirm today, this includes one British national, injured in Israel. We've reached out to offer consular support.' It is understood that around 4,000 British nationals have registered their presence in Israel with the Foreign Office, while around 1,000 have requested a seat on a flight. Further evacuation flights will be provided by the foreign office, Mr Lammy confirmed on Monday. 'Today's flight will bring British nationals and their dependents safely back to the UK. While the situation in the Middle East remains volatile, we are working around the clock to secure more flights and bring more people home', the foreign secretary said. The government used an RAF A-400M aircraft for the flight from Tel Aviv to Cyprus – with passengers due to transfer on to a civilian charter aircraft for the onward journey to the UK this afternoon. The FCDO last week said those with 'greatest need' would be prioritised for flights, and British nationals plus their non-British immediate family members travelling with them are eligible. All passengers must hold a valid travel document, and those non-British immediate family members will require valid visas/permission to enter or remain that was granted for more than six months, the FCDO said. Ministers have warned British nationals not to make their way to the airport unless they are contacted, adding that the situation 'remains volatile'. The government's ability to run flights out of Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories 'could change at short notice', the FCDO warned.
The Sun
35 minutes ago
- The Sun
Hard-up households can apply for food vouchers worth up to £500 now – check if you qualify
SELECT UK households will be eligable for free food vouchers worth up to £500. The financial aid is part of the latest round of a Government scheme, and is designed to help hard-up families. 1 The fund will help residents of Ribble Valley who are deemed eligible, with applications now open. This latest round (HSF7) of the Government's Household Support Fund will see thousands of pounds given to those who need it. Ribble Valley Borough Council has received £158,983 to issue to local residents who meet the funding criteria. Households who need financial help and have a combined household income of less than £35,000 per year can apply for a food voucher. These vouchers will range in value from £200 to £500, depending on circumstances. Nicola Hopkins, the council's director of economic development and planning, spoke about the latest round of the iniative, which is designed to help with the rising cost of living. 'This latest round of funding will provide further much-needed support to local vulnerable residents who are most in need of help with the cost of essentials," she said. The scheme will run while funding is available and vouchers will be distributed on a first-come basis. So if you're a resident of Ribble Valley, check now to see if you qualify for this financial assistance. Only one application can be made per household. Priority is being given to new applicants, with households who received a voucher through HSF5 (April 2024-September 2024) only being eligible for HSF7 from October 1. Meanwhile, anyone who received a voucher as part of the HSF6 round (October 2024-March 2025) will not be eligible to apply for this latest round of vouchers. A series of vouchers are available as part of the scheme, depending on your household set-up. Vouchers worth £200 will be alotted to single households, while £300 will be given to households with two or more adults. Household with children, including any person under the age of 19 at the time of the award or a person aged 19 or over who is the subject of a child-related benefit, will receive a voucher worth £500. Cost of living payments: what you need to know HSF was introduced in October 2021 and there have been several rounds of funding since then. In October 2024, the Government announced that HSF would be extended nationwide for a further 12 months, from April 2025. Under HSF6, almost 300 households in Ribble Valley were issued supermarket vouchers totalling nearly £100,000.
BBC News
44 minutes ago
- BBC News
Two hotels and historic inn in Gloucester put on sale for £10m
Three hotels, with a combined asking price of £10m, have been put up for sale in Gloucester city New County Hotel and Central Hotel are both on sale for £4m, while the historic New Inn is priced at £ the listing for the Central Hotel, a pre-planning application has been submitted to the city council, with the possibility of turning it into a 56-bed House in Multiple Occupation (HMO).HMOs see people who are not related sleeping in separate rooms but sharing facilities such as kitchens or bathrooms. The hotels are all owned by the same Gibbon, manager of Gloucester's Business Improvement District (BID) said that the New Inn is a "remarkable historical landmark" and that it was important that the new owners treat it properly."It was built in the 1400s and it took about 20 odd years to complete, but it is the most complete galleried inn in the whole of England," she said."It's quirky. It's got that character. And whoever takes it on, I think they will have to love this place. "It's a prime example of a listed building still in use as a hotel."It's very important that it stays as it is. It is a high class listed building. "Anyone who comes in needs to work closely with the conservation area officer and with Historic England." Cristina Balekjian, director of UK hospitality analytics at CoStar Group, said the properties had been put on the market despite strong local demand."When we look at the sort of performance data for hotels in the Gloucester hotel market, hotels in that market are performing well still," she said."They're still achieving revenue growth. "So that's a positive trend, especially since overall in the UK, the hotel market has been relatively slow this year compared to last year, given the economic uncertainty that we've been going through."
