Patients' insurance 'overcharge'

Hywel Griffith
BBC News

Mrs Abel said she was insured one year and refused the next

People who have been treated for cancer are being overcharged for travel insurance, a charity claims.

Macmillan Cancer Support say some companies refuse cover even if patients have been clear for several years.

The Association of British Insurers (ABI) argues high premiums reflect the high risk of an individual customer needing treatment whilst abroad.

But some patients say they face ringing tens of different companies looking for insurance cover every time they travel.

'Ridiculous'

Lynn Abel, from Creigiau in Cardiff, received breast cancer treatment in 2001.

She has been free of cancer since, but says she still faces paying inflated insurance premiums every time she and her husband go on holiday.

Some people also tell us that the insensitive attitudes of some travel insurance sales staff leave them deeply upset Cath Lindley, Macmillan Cancer Support

"One company insured me one year then refused the next, although there was no change in my health.

"I have been quoted ridiculous amounts of money because I used to have cancer or refused cover for cancer."

Mrs. Abel added "I really do feel as though insurance companies do not want our business."

Insensitive

According to Cath Lindley from Macmillan Cancer Support, hundreds of former cancer patients contact them every month after failing to find a reasonable policy.

"They tell us they are being refused travel insurance or they have been quoted massive premiums and they just don't understand why."

"Some people also tell us that the insensitive attitudes of some travel insurance sales staff leave them deeply upset," she added.

Macmillan has launched a campaign to encourage insurance companies to alter their policies.

'Reflect the risk'

The ABI said companies should be sensitive in dealing with former cancer patients, but argues they are not being overcharged.

"Insurers have to set a premium to reflect the risk and they will assess cancer patients on a case by case basis," said its spokesman Malcolm Tarling.

He added that insurers wanted to provide cover for cancer patients and "increasingly they are able to do so".