Travel Insurance for travellers with Skin Cancer
According to the British Skin Foundation, there are over 100,000 new cases of skin cancer diagnosed each year in the UK, with 7 people a day losing their lives to the disease. Whilst efforts are being made to get a better understanding of the condition and to educate more people on the risk factors which cause skin cancer, there is still a long way to go.
If you have been diagnosed with skin cancer, the most important thing for you to do is to understand the condition itself, especially when travelling to hot and sunny holidays destinations.
Types of skin cancer
Malignant melanoma skin cancer often develops from a mole and the main factor which causes it is exposure to ultraviolet light. Exposing moles to large amounts of direct sunlight or even artificial sources of UV light such as sunbeds can dramatically increase the chances of developing this type of skin cancer.
Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) is the second most common type of skin cancer in the UK and it can occur on any part of the body. Areas which are most at risk are head, neck, lips, backs of hands, scar tissue and areas of skin which have been sunburnt in the past. As with malignant melanoma, the main cause is the sun and artificial UV light.
Basal cell carcinoma (BCC) is the most common form of skin cancer, accounting for around 80% of all non-melanoma skin cancer diagnosed, according to the British Skin Foundation. Often diagnosed in middle or old aged people it mainly affects areas such as the face, nose and neck due to exposure to sunlight. There are different types of basal cell carcinoma; nodular, superficial, morphoeic and pigmented. Each type has different characteristics and effect’s the body in different ways, with nodular making up the majority of the types diagnosed.
Planning your trip, accommodation, clothing and sun protection is a serious factor and can help cut the chances of developing a form of skin cancer dramatically or making a current diagnosis worse.
Our guide to skin cancer travel insurance
When you have medical conditions you need to ensure you have the best wide-ranging travel protection when travelling abroad. The last thing you want is to purchase a travel policy, only to find it doesn’t cover your medical condition or the things you need. Being protected while away from home will ensure you have easy access to emergency medical assistance.
If for example you have a flair-up of your skin cancer and this was to cause you to seek emergency medical assistance while you are away, standard travel insurance may not cover you for this. If however you have declared and are covered for all of your medical conditions with a specialist travel policy, then any medical emergency relating directly to your declared medical conditions should be covered.
Also remember, if you buy your specialist travel insurance as soon as you book your holiday, you will be protected should you need to cancel because of your skin cancer (see the policy wording for more details). Imagine how you would feel if you were left severely out of pocket because you couldn’t claim for pre-paid holiday costs because you didn’t buy adequate insurance. There are many standard policies available at very cheap prices, however, do not be fooled! It is unlikely they will include the cover you need.
Always add travelling companions to your policy, they could be your friends, family members or even your carer. They too could claim if you needed to cancel your holiday because of your medical condition or if it had to be cut short while away because you became unwell.
Get a specialist skin cancer travel quote
We know that no two cancers are the same and treatment can vary depending on the severity of the skin cancer. It doesn’t matter if you have received radiotherapy, chemotherapy or had cancer surgery we will look at each case individually in order to provide you with the best cover available.
How to apply
Obtaining a quote and arranging cover with Free Spirit could not be easier, our interactive website includes personalised medical screening. We will ask you some questions about your skin cancer so that you get the cover that’s right for you; such as:
- Did the tumour spread to the skin from another part of the body?
- What type of skin cancer do you (or did you) have?
- How long ago was the condition diagnosed?
- Has there been any recurrence since the original treatment?
- Are you taking strong painkillers every day for this condition?
- Has there ever been any spread to other parts of the body?
If you would prefer to talk to us
You can call our dedicated UK based customer service team to answer any questions you may have. We understand that some medical conditions especially cancer can be complicated and you may prefer to talk to a friendly voice instead. You can call us on 02392 419 080 and your call will be treated with the utmost confidentiality.
Peace of mind
It goes without saying that if you suffer from any form of skin cancer and you are thinking of travelling abroad, you will want to know you have the protection you need, just in case! Free Spirit can offer you that much-needed reassurance and peace of mind when travelling abroad and our emergency medical assistance team are on hand all day every day should the need arise.
Please read the Insurance Policy for the full terms and conditions of this specialist medical travel insurance cover to make sure it’s suitable for you.
Ask The Team
You can read our Q&As or ask a question directly.
Read Q&As
