Latest news with #JoshCull
The Independent
08-06-2025
- Health
- The Independent
How your health can define your chances of seeing the world
Cancer is brutal. It robs many victims of years of life. The disease tears families apart. Thankfully medical science has dramatically improved the odds on survival. Yet cancer can have a long-lasting effect on travel – even after it has been beaten. The problem is travel insurance. Some insurers simply turn down flat people who have had cancer, regardless of the prognosis from the patient's doctor. Fortunately there are some excellent specialist companies who make it their business to offer policies for cancer patients. They typically provide cover for anyone who is deemed to be more likely than others to make a claim – whether because of advanced age or pre-existing medical conditions. You can find an expert through the Travel Medical Directory of the British Insurance Brokers Association. But the policy might end up costing more than the trip. You may have read about Josh Cull, from Bournemouth – who, in 2021, received the devastating news that he had a brain tumour. He was just 25. Initially Josh was told he had only three months to live, but thankfully a combination of surgery, chemotherapy and radiotherapy meant he was, in his words, 'healthy and fully recovered'. A number of people who have recovered from cancer have told me that a literal new lease of life spurs then to want to discover the world. So it was with Josh: 30 months after his treatment ended, he planned a South East Asian adventure with his brother and his fiancé. 'The trip was supposed to be a reward for everything we'd been through,' he says. 'However, I couldn't get an insurance quote for less than £3,000.' Josh could have abandoned the trip. That is what the Foreign Office would advise. It says: 'If you're travelling abroad, you should take out appropriate travel insurance before you go.' He might have been tempted not to disclose the cancer and treatment and just pick up a cheap policy. That could have ended badly. Should you fall ill as a result of a pre-existing condition returning, an insurer will immediately investigate your medical history. If there is a related condition you have not disclosed, the policy may be annulled and you could end up with medical bills running to tens of thousands of pounds. Instead, Josh took a calculated risk to go anyway. Like many other young travellers who do not have insurance, he got away with it. But for people who have recovered from cancer to have to face such a choice – travel uninsured or stay at home – is far from ideal. Some say that premiums running into thousands of pounds show travel insurers are profiteering from people who have been through an extraordinarily difficult experience. Yet travel insurance is a competitive business. Regrettably, this is down to harsh arithmetic. Underwriters crunch the numbers on dealings with travellers who have been through cancer. Their conclusion: there is more chance of a claim than for most travellers, and the cost of a claim is likely to be higher. Sometimes travel insurers' concerns are unfounded – and there is welcome evidence that insurers are now looking more closely at an individual's circumstances rather than refusing to insure cancer patients at any price, or applying outlandishly high premiums. But any traveller who comes with enhanced medical issues can expect to pay more. For example, I have osteoporosis (brittle bones). I enjoy trekking in the Himalayas. But because I am more likely than most to break a bone at high altitude, I paid £228 extra to cover an expedition in Nepal last year. Fortunately, there is one more option for people facing astronomical premiums: stay in Europe. The UK Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC) gives coverage for free or reduced-rate treatment in public hospitals in the EU and Switzerland. Some travellers with cancer or other conditions make a positive decision to rely on this asset rather than staying at home. Simon Calder, also known as The Man Who Pays His Way, has been writing about travel for The Independent since 1994. In his weekly opinion column, he explores a key travel issue – and what it means for you
BBC News
06-06-2025
- Health
- BBC News
Cancer patients 'priced out' of holidays, charity warns
Cancer patients are being "priced out" of holidays due to "extremely unfair" travel insurance costs, a charity has cancer support charity said patients and those with a history of the disease were "frequently" being quoted premiums of thousands of pounds, while some were being refused cover chief executive, Dame Laura Lee, said: "We know how stressful a cancer diagnosis can be, and the last thing people should have to think about is inflated insurance costs."The Association of British Insurers (ABI) said the "significant costs" associated with emergency treatment abroad for pre-existing medical conditions were taken into account when offering cover. In a statement, Dame Lee emphasised the "emotional distress" caused by "barriers" to obtaining travel insurance for people with said: "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."Maggie's has called on the Treasury, Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) and insurers to jointly develop recommendations to ensure cancer patients are "treated more fairly" by providers. 'Completely unaffordable' Josh Cull, 28, told BBC Breakfast he went through "a year of hell" in 2021 after being treated for a brain tumour which affected his eyesight and ability to walk. "I then decided, you know what, I'm going to live some life now," he while searching for insurance for a trip to South East Asia with his fiancée and brother, Mr Cull said the lowest quote he could find was £3,000, which he described as "completely unaffordable"."[That was] despite being two-and-a-half years clean, no recurring conditions. I was completely healthy," he Cull said he decided to travel without insurance, having had most of his savings "wiped out" by his time off work for treatment."I [didn't] want it to stop me living my life," he said, adding that he instead took other more "affordable" precautions ahead of the trip, such as getting "extra vaccines".A spokesperson for the ABI said in a statement that it "remained committed" to supporting customers who have or have had cancer. "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."A 2018 report by the FCA warned that cancer patients were struggling to find affordable travel insurance, even long after their treatment had BBC has approached the Treasury for comment.
Sky News
06-06-2025
- Business
- Sky News
Cancer patients missing holidays or travelling uninsured amid unfair insurance costs, charity says
Cancer patients are being priced out of holidays because they can't afford the inflated insurance premiums companies are charging, a charity has said. Patients and people in recovery from the deadly disease are "frequently" refused cover or quoted unaffordable premiums, forcing some to travel without insurance or miss trips altogether, according to Maggie's cancer support charity. Prohibitively high prices mean they cannot visit friends and family abroad and are forced to avoid business travel, the charity said. Josh Cull, from Bournemouth, was quoted a minimum of £3,000 for insurance when he decided to visit South Asia after he had recovered from "completely unexpected" brain cancer. Josh, who was diagnosed with a medulloblastoma brain tumour in 2021 when he was 25, said he "went through chemotherapy and radiotherapy as well as major surgery to remove the tumour, which affected my eyesight and my ability to walk". Initially told he had only three months to live, Josh, now 28, admitted he "was lucky to come out the other side, and the trip [with his fiancee and brother] was supposed to be a reward for everything we'd been through". But, he said, he "couldn't get an insurance quote for less than £3,000", despite having been out of treatment "for two-and-a-half years", and being "healthy and fully recovered". "Simply having a cancer diagnosis in my past meant the insurance was extremely expensive," he said. "It felt so unfair. I ended up travelling uninsured because I just couldn't afford the cover." 0:55 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. £1,300 bill was 'so unfair' Ms Tharakan was "steady" and fit to fly, her oncologist said, but was forced to pay £1,300 for annual cover for travel insurance in Europe. The mother of three and grandmother of five 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." 'Inflated' insurance costs Maggie's chief executive, Dame Laura Lee, said they are hearing from growing numbers of cancer sufferers about the diffculties they face "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," she said. "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 the group understands how beneficial travel and holidays are for cancer patients and are "committed to supporting customers who have or have had cancer". "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," they added. 1:49 Insurers will take this, and other issues, into account, when deciding whether to offer "suitable" cover. "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." The charity has called on Treasury minister Emma Reynolds to investigate and wants ministers to work with travel insurance companies, the Financial Conduct Authority, and cancer patients to get a "fairer deal" for insurance.
The Independent
05-06-2025
- Business
- The Independent
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.'
Daily Mail
05-06-2025
- Business
- Daily Mail
Cancer patients are being 'priced out' of going on holiday by travel insurance companies who quote than unaffordable premiums or even refuse them cover
Cancer patients are being 'priced out' of holidays due to 'inflated' travel insurance, a charity has claimed. Support group Maggie's said sufferers and those in recovery are 'frequently' refused cover or quoted unaffordable premiums. The result is that patients are forced to take trips without insurance or cancel plans altogether. The concern is that they miss out on visiting friends and family abroad and avoid business travel. Maggie's has called on Treasury minister Emma Reynolds to help work with travel insurance companies and the Financial Conduct Authority to get a fairer insurance deal. 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. 'Travelling and taking holidays can be so important for someone's wellbeing and recovery. '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.' Josh Cull, of Bournemouth, was diagnosed with a medulloblastoma brain tumour in 2021 when aged 25. After treatment, he decided to visit south Asia but could not find a company to cover him for a price he could afford. Mr Cull, now 28, said: 'My cancer was completely unexpected, especially as I was so young, and initially I was told I only had three months to live. I went through chemotherapy and radiotherapy as well as surgery to remove a tumour, which affected my eyesight and 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. 'I had been out of treatment and I was healthy and fully recovered. 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 the disease returned in 2020. She has been receiving immunotherapy and has CT scans. Millie Tharakan, 72, from north London, was first diagnosed with breast cancer in 2008 and the disease returned in 2020. She has been receiving immunotherapy and has CT scans. Despite being declared fit to fly, she had to spend £1,300 on annual cover for travel in Europe (file image) Despite being declared fit to fly, she had to spend £1,300 on annual cover for travel in Europe. Ms Tharakan, a grandmother, said: 'We wanted to go on a family holiday but it has been incredibly stressful. Most companies would not even consider covering me.' A spokesman for the Association of British Insurers said: 'People with pre-existing medical conditions may be more likely to need emergency medical treatment whilst abroad, which can come at a significant cost. '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 find an appropriate policy.' The Treasury has been approached for comment.
