Hello,
Would anyone have a good suggestion for a travel insurance provider for someone with cancer? I'm having trouble getting insurance for my 48 yr old husband that isn't extortionate. He was diagnosed in May 2021 with a GIST in the bowel and has been on Imatinib with no side effects since end of June. He's continuing to work, symptoms have resolved (gone from a cocktail of 16 painkillers a day to absolutely none!) and he's actually in much better shape that he was pre-diagnosis. We've been told he will be on this drug for 3 years, and may need to have surgery in 12-18 months time but that is not confirmed or definite. When I speak to insurers, they want yes or no answers, there's no box to tick for his type of treatment as such (targeted therapy rather than conventional chemo), and I can't give a yes/no answer to the surgery question. It feels like there are no companies that cater for people in his position. The lowest price I've got to date is £1600 which is more than what the holiday cost! I find it all really baffling, as 3 years ago my mum was quoted £300 by boots for cover. And she had terminal lung cancer with brain mets. By my reckoning, my husband is less likely to fall ill than my mum was! But I know I'm not an insurance broker so I've no idea what sort of wizardy goes on in the background. It's made me so annoyed that I almost want to start campaigning for better access to insurance or for companies to at least look at people as individuals rather than try and fit everyone into 5 or so boxes.
This holiday was booked a year ago and I'm loathe to cancel as we both need a break. I've arranged for GHIC cards and his oncologist is supportive of him going abroad. He's having bloods checked the week before we go to make sure all is still good with the treatment.
Does anyone know of any specialist companies that might be able to help?
Thank you,
Sarah
