PEOPLE with a history of cancer feel forced to cancel their holidays because they are unable to buy travel insurance.
Travellers who have been free from cancer for many years are faced with "blanket bans on cancer" by insurance companies, research from the Cancerbackup organisation reveals.
This means some people are putting themselves at great personal risk by travelling without any insurance at all, Cancerbackup added.
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A survey by the organisation showed that nearly 90% of people affected by cancer found it difficult or impossible to get travel insurance that included cover for cancer.
The survey showed that sales staff were insensitive and 70% of people found the experience of trying to obtain travel insurance distressing.
In a "mystery shopper" exercise, Cancerbackup also found that most companies do not provide cover for cancer because individual situations are not taken into account, so people are automatically classed as high risk.
Only 1.6% of people surveyed said that they had made a cancer-related claim on travel insurance in the past and the majority of people (70%) were told they were fit to travel by their doctors.
Unaffordable
However, the survey revealed that people are being quoted unaffordable premiums that run into thousands of pounds.
More than one in 10 of those surveyed were forced to cancel their trip and one in 20 people travelled with no insurance at all, leaving them at risk of not being covered for any type of emergency.
"Travelling without cover for cancer can be a huge personal risk", said Joanne Rule, Cancerbackup's chief executive.
She went on: "We know anecdotally that if you need to claim for any illness at all, there is a presumption by insurance companies that is it related to your cancer, and you will need to prove that it is not.
"The insurance industry must act now and start listening to people with a history of cancer and the assurances of their doctors. By taking people's individual circumstances into account when assessing risk, travel insurance companies could open themselves up to a huge growing market of potential customers."
Value
A spokesman for the Association of British Insurers said: "This report underlines the importance and value of shopping around, either independently or through a broker, in order to get the best and most appropriate insurance policy.
"Specialist cover is available in the market, and as long as people are fit to travel, even if they have a terminal illness, they will be able to get travel insurance. We would strongly advise anyone who is travelling to take out the appropriate cover."
The spokesman went on: "Travel insurance is widely available and insurers are able to offer low premiums because pre-existing conditions are often not covered. That is the nature of this product.
"We are concerned that Cancerbackup presented their report in a way that may discourage people from getting the insurance they need. Many cancer charities are pointing people to providers who offer specialist cover. Cancerbackup have not raised this issue with us, but we have contacted them, inviting them to discuss it with us."
