Preparation for getting travel insurance

This list includes many of the things an insurance company will want to know. Some of the questions may seem very personal, but your answers will give an insurer the information they need to help them decide what cover they are prepared to offer you, and what price they will charge.

A typical telephone medical screening process will take, on average 5-10 minutes. If you have, or have had, other conditions as well as cancer you may be asked similar questions about those.

You should be aware that if you do not disclose information that you could reasonably be expected to know when you buy a policy, any subsequent claim that you make could be refused.

Personal information

• The name and ages of all those to be insured by the policy - some insurance companies will insist that family or friends travelling with you are insured on the same policy
• Your address and contact details

About your trip

• The country you are visiting and the type of journey you plan to take. If you have a choice about where you travel, you may consider visiting Europe rather than North America because travel insurance could be cheaper
• How long you plan to stay abroad
• How far in advance you are booking your trip. Some companies will charge you a higher premium if you will not be travelling in the near future, because they believe there could be a higher risk of you making a claim for cancellation
• Any activities you will be undertaking that might be considered a higher risk, such as winter sports

Medical information

A company may ask if you have a pre-existing medical condition, such as cancer. If your answer is ‘yes’ you are likely to be asked more questions about this. Some companies call this their ‘medical screening process’. An insurance company may ask you the following:

• How long ago were you diagnosed with cancer?
• Where is/was your cancer?
• Has your cancer spread? If yes, where?
• Are you undergoing any treatment or taking any medication at the moment?
• Have you had any surgery for cancer in the past?
• Have you any planned treatment or surgery for cancer? If so, when?
• How many times have you seen a doctor (GP or consultant) about your cancer? Some companies ask you about the last time you visited your doctor for any reason, not just about visits related to your cancer. For example, if you are going for check ups to make sure you stay well, some companies may consider you a higher risk to insure
• What symptoms or side-effects do you have now?
• What stage are you at in your cancer journey? Some companies will ask you about your prognosis. This can be an upsetting question to answer but prognosis may be one of the criteria that a company uses to decide who to cover

To consider

If you have taken cancer-related exclusions on your policy you should think about how you will pay for any medical expense that is not covered.

• Find out about medical treatment facilities at your destination
• Think about what you will do if you lose any medication you take or if you have it stolen from your bags when you are abroad
• Think about the type of transport you will be using to get to your destination. For example, a plane journey may not be suitable if you are having certain types of cancer treatment
• If you are being sent abroad specifically for your treatment, insurance is only one of a number of important issues that you will need to consider. We strongly recommend that you discuss these with your medical team

European Health Insurance Card

The European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) has replaced the E111 form, which is no longer valid. Some insurers will insist that you carry the EHIC when travelling to Europe as their travel insurance policies may not be valid if you do not have the card.

The EHIC means that you are entitled to emergency treatment within the European Economic Area (EEA) for free or at a reduced cost. You will get the same care as the people who live in the country you are visiting, but you might not be covered for all the things you would expect to get free of charge from the NHS in the UK. For example, the EHIC will not cover the cost of ambulance services or of bringing you and your family back to the UK. What’s more, you may have to make a contribution to the cost of any other care you need. This is why the government strongly advises all UK travellers to buy separate travel insurance, as well as carrying the EHIC.

Apply for a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) at Department of Health, Tel: 0845 606 2030 www.dh.gov.uk/travellers. You can also get an application form at your local post office.