Wednesday 14 August 2024
Maggie’s has written to the UK Government calling on them to stop insurance companies discriminating against people with cancer and charging too much for travel insurance.
In the letter to the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, Maggie’s has asked the Government for a meeting, highlighting some of the experiences of people with cancer when looking for travel insurance.
The letter states: ‘One person had quotes that ranged from £760 to £3,000 for a trip to France, while another couple in Glasgow were quoted £1,200 for a trip to Spain (but were then able to buy insurance for £200 elsewhere).
Too often, this means that people with cancer, and their families, give up on the dream of a holiday when they often need one the most.
‘With more people living with cancer than ever before, including a growing number of young people, this is impacting on an increasing number of individuals and families.
‘While there are companies acting in good faith, providing reasonable quotes and upskilling their staff to enable them to deal with people living with cancer sympathetically, we sadly have too many examples of those who are not.’
Maggie's also called on the government to look at introducing legislation on a ‘Right To Be Forgotten’ in the UK.
This comes after a new study in The Lancet Oncology showed that many people who have been successfully treated for cancer and are ‘cancer free’ are still being discriminated against when accessing financial services such as loans, mortgages, and health and travel insurance.
Currently, in the UK, people must declare any previous cancer diagnoses to access financial products, no matter how long they have been ‘cancer free’ for.
Whereas in France, for example, ‘cancer free’ means 5 years without recurrence, after which, discrimination based on a cancer diagnosis is prohibited.
Our Chief Executive Dame Laura Lee said: “People living with cancer are routinely discriminated against over holiday insurance, sometimes quoted thousands of pounds and often sacrificing a much-needed break as a result.
“We have written to the Business Secretary asking him to work with Maggie’s to tackle this discrimination, and ‘Right To Be Forgotten’ is something we are calling on the government to look at as part of the solution.”
Mary, 66, from Arbroath has been living with bowel cancer since 2015. The cancer has since spread to her breast and spine.
Despite this, Mary has travelled to see family and friends in Australia seven times in the last ten years. She also completed a trek of the Camino de Santiago with friends in September 2023.
Mary says, “Travel insurance was something I always purchased up until my last two trips, when only one company would provide insurance for me in the whole of the UK.
“For my six-week trip to do the Camino de Santiago, they quoted me £4,400 – and that did not include my flights. For my three-month trip to Australia, they quoted me £3,300.
“On these occasions, I simply chose not take travel insurance, but I did worry about it the whole time, especially before I went away. It created a great deal of anxiety while I was there too, as I have terminal cancer and I worried that something would happen.
“I actually had breathing difficulties on my flight to Australia and I had to pay for a private doctor while I was there, so it was a real anxiety and I felt quite panicked about my flight home.”
I believe insurance companies need to show some compassion to people who have cancer and still want to travel.
“Even if they were to charge these extortionate prices, should the person come home unscathed and have nothing happen on their trip, the companies should then offer to pay 50% of the price of the travel insurance back.
“Otherwise, it’s just extortion of people who are ill. These insurance companies are well aware that people want to make these trips because they want to see family and friends for what could be the last time to say their goodbyes.”
Liz Melvin, 69, and her husband Jim had to forgo a holiday to Spain last year because of the price of the insurance for the pair – £1800 for a fortnight (for a single trip policy).
The couple had been going to Liz’s sister’s Calahonda holiday home for years, but following Jim's diagnosis of oesophageal cancer in 2020 and subsequent tracheostomy, in 2023 the insurance costed too much.
Liz says: “My daughter searched through a comparison website, and everything that came up to go to Spain for two weeks price-wise was ridiculous!”
Liz is hopeful she will go abroad again after a friend of hers with terminal cancer was able to get reasonably priced travel insurance.
If you or someone you know is worried about a cancer diagnosis or getting travel insurance after a cancer diagnosis, we have expert staff in our centres available to help you.
We also have more information about travel insurance and cancer, including guidance from one of our cancer support specialists.
To find your nearest Maggie's centre, enter your postcode or town below.
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