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Cancer patients 'short-changed' Cancer patients 'short-changed'
(about 2 hours later)
People affected by cancer are being short-changed when it comes to travel insurance, according to the charity Macmillan Cancer Support.People affected by cancer are being short-changed when it comes to travel insurance, according to the charity Macmillan Cancer Support.
A charity spokesperson said some sufferers were "quoted double or triple the cost of insuring their holiday".A charity spokesperson said some sufferers were "quoted double or triple the cost of insuring their holiday".
Others faced "tactless and insensitive questions" when enquiring about insurance.Others faced "tactless and insensitive questions" when enquiring about insurance.
The charity said it was launching a campaign to help cancer patients get a better deal on travel insurance. However, Malcolm Tarling, of the Association of British Insurers, said companies deferred to medical experts.
Heather Monteverde, general manager of Macmillan Cancer Support, said hundreds of people contacted the charity every month about travel insurance. "Insurance companies do not and should not treat anybody with a history of cancer as second-class citizens," Mr Tarling said.
"Insurance companies just don't come to these conclusions at random, they will take advice from medical experts."
Campaign
Macmillan Cancer Support said it was launching a campaign to help cancer patients get a better deal on travel insurance.
Heather Monteverde, general manager of the charity, said hundreds of people contacted the charity every month about travel insurance.
People tell us they are being refused travel insurance or quoted massive premiums and they just don't understand why Heather MonteverdeMacmillan Cancer SupportPeople tell us they are being refused travel insurance or quoted massive premiums and they just don't understand why Heather MonteverdeMacmillan Cancer Support
"We had so many calls recently that we just don't have the resources to respond to everyone individually," she said."We had so many calls recently that we just don't have the resources to respond to everyone individually," she said.
"People tell us they're being refused travel insurance or quoted massive premiums and they just don't understand why.""People tell us they're being refused travel insurance or quoted massive premiums and they just don't understand why."
Ms Monteverde said one man from the north-west was offered insurance for a week for £45 instead of £17.Ms Monteverde said one man from the north-west was offered insurance for a week for £45 instead of £17.
She said the man reported "feeling like a leper and a second-class citizen".She said the man reported "feeling like a leper and a second-class citizen".
"Some people also tell us that the insensitive attitudes of some travel insurance sales staff leave them deeply upset," she said."Some people also tell us that the insensitive attitudes of some travel insurance sales staff leave them deeply upset," she said.
"More people are living long and active lives after cancer and that's why Macmillan is calling on the travel insurance industry to look again at the risk posed by cancer patients and improve the deal offered to them.""More people are living long and active lives after cancer and that's why Macmillan is calling on the travel insurance industry to look again at the risk posed by cancer patients and improve the deal offered to them."
Macmillan said research revealed that 40% of cancer patients have been quoted higher travel insurance premiums, almost 10% have resorted to going on holiday without any travel insurance, and 6% have been refused insurance altogether.Macmillan said research revealed that 40% of cancer patients have been quoted higher travel insurance premiums, almost 10% have resorted to going on holiday without any travel insurance, and 6% have been refused insurance altogether.
The charity is to ask insurers to re-examine the risk posed by cancer patients who are no longer receiving active treatment (surgery, chemotherapy or radiotherapy) and have recovered, are in remission or have been told they are free from cancer.The charity is to ask insurers to re-examine the risk posed by cancer patients who are no longer receiving active treatment (surgery, chemotherapy or radiotherapy) and have recovered, are in remission or have been told they are free from cancer.