29 June 2006 Travel insurance still difficult for former patients
Despite very few cancer-related claims being made, around 90 per cent of those with a history of the illness say they are unable to purchase travel insurance, according to a new survey.
The report from the charity Cancerbackup reveals that many former cancer sufferers are travelling without any holiday insurance at all because of blanket bans imposed by some insurance firms.
Although 70 per cent of former cancer patients having been given the all-clear by their doctors, one in ten said they had cancelled a trip because they couldn't get travel insurance.
Over two-thirds of those questioned said they had found searching for suitable travel insurance "distressing" due to insensitivity.
Cancerbackup chief executive, Joanne Rule, commented: "Travelling without cover for cancer can be a huge personal risk.
"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."
Only 1.6 per cent of those surveyed said that they had made a cancer-related travel insurance claim.
Cancerbackup provides free services to cancer patients and their family and friends and is the only charity to specialise in information on all types of cancer. 
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