When 28-year-old Josh Cull began planning a trip to South East Asia, he anticipated a break from the aftermath of a year-long battle with a brain tumour. But what he encountered instead was a £3,000 travel insurance quote - despite being over two years in remission, with no recurring conditions.
“I was completely healthy,” said Cull, who had dealt with impaired eyesight and mobility during treatment in 2021. He ultimately travelled without insurance, saying he couldn’t afford the quoted amount after losing most of his savings during recovery. He opted instead for basic precautions, including additional vaccinations, to manage the risks.
Cull’s experience, shared during an interview with BBC Breakfast, reflects a wider issue that cancer support charity Maggie’s says is affecting many people with a history of cancer. According to the charity, travel insurance remains largely inaccessible for this group, either due to prohibitively high premiums or flat-out refusal of cover.
The organisation has urged the Treasury, Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), and insurers to review how travel insurance is priced and offered to those living with or beyond cancer.
Maggie’s argues that people in this category are routinely quoted premiums in the thousands, with little clarity on how those prices are calculated.
Dame Laura Lee, chief executive of Maggie’s, noted that the financial and emotional strain of obtaining cover adds pressure to those already coping with long-term health impacts.
"We know how stressful a cancer diagnosis can be, and the last thing people should have to think about is inflated insurance costs," said said.
Lee added that the inability to travel freely affects not just personal recovery but the chance to reconnect with family and regain a sense of normality.
BBC reported the Association of British Insurers’ (ABI) response by stating that travel insurance pricing reflects the potential cost of emergency treatment abroad, particularly for pre-existing conditions such as cancer. The organisation said it remains committed to supporting customers who have or have had cancer.
Regulatory oversight already requires insurers to provide fair-value products. Under current FCA rules, if a significantly higher premium is applied due to a medical condition, the insurer must also direct the customer to other providers who may be better positioned to offer cover.
In 2017, the FCA began reviewing access issues related to travel insurance for people with cancer. The review followed its "Access to Financial Services in the UK" paper and sought feedback on premium pricing, availability, and the barriers patients face in securing cover.
Are current insurance practices meeting the needs of people living with or beyond cancer? Leave your thoughts in the comments.
