Frequently Asked Questions

If you have to cancel a trip due to a cancer-related illness (a recurrence, a treatment complication, or a new diagnosis), your travel insurance policy's trip cancellation benefit should apply — provided the cancer was declared and the complication was not a known, predictable outcome at the time of purchase. Contact your insurer with your medical documentation confirming the reason for cancellation. The insurer will typically require a doctor's letter confirming the medical necessity of cancelling. Refunds cover non-refundable travel costs: airfares, accommodation, tours, and similar prepaid, non-refundable expenses.

The additional premium for cancer cover varies considerably based on cancer type, original stage, time since treatment, destination, and trip duration. As a rough guide: long-term thyroid cancer or non-melanoma skin cancer survivors may pay 10–30% extra on their base premium; breast cancer 2 years post-treatment might be 50–100% extra; more complex or recent cancers can attract 100–200%+ additional cost. These are indicative only — actual premiums differ by insurer. Comparing at least two providers is advisable, as the same medical history can yield meaningfully different premiums from different insurers.

Yes — always. Being in remission does not remove the obligation to declare your cancer. Travel insurance application forms ask about any past or present cancer diagnosis, not just current conditions. Failure to declare a cancer history — even one from 10 or 15 years ago — can void your entire policy, including claims for events completely unrelated to cancer. Always declare, always.

The online medical assessment for cancer typically asks: (1) The specific cancer type and original stage; (2) Date of original diagnosis; (3) All treatments received — surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy, targeted therapy, immunotherapy — and completion dates; (4) Whether there has been any recurrence since original diagnosis; (5) Current treatment status (active treatment, remission, surveillance); (6) All current medications; (7) Frequency of specialist follow-up; (8) Any ongoing cancer-related complications (lymphoedema, neuropathy, osteoporosis, etc.). Having your most recent specialist letter or test results on hand when completing the questionnaire helps ensure accuracy.

Non-disclosure of a material fact — which cancer clearly is — gives your insurer the right to void your entire policy. This means not just cancer-related claims, but all claims can be declined, including claims for events completely unrelated to cancer. The financial consequences of a voided policy during a serious overseas medical event can be catastrophic: hospitalisation in the USA can cost NZ$5,000–$20,000 per day; medical evacuation back to New Zealand can cost NZ$50,000–$200,000. The additional premium from declaring your cancer is a fraction of these potential costs. Always declare.

The New Zealand-Australia RHCA provides NZ citizens with access to Medicare-funded emergency treatment in Australia — but this does not replace travel insurance for cancer patients. The RHCA does not cover ongoing cancer management, cancer treatment you travel to Australia for, or the cost of medical evacuation back to New Zealand. Travel insurance covers all of these. Many Kiwi cancer patients mistakenly believe the RHCA makes travel insurance unnecessary for Australia — this is a dangerous assumption. Cancer-specific travel insurance is still essential for trans-Tasman trips.

Yes — in most cases. All seven major New Zealand travel insurance providers assess cancer applications individually. The likely outcome is cover with an additional premium, though some cases may result in cancer being excluded from the policy (while other benefits remain), and a small number of very high-risk situations may mean no policy can be issued. A terminal diagnosis is the one situation where no NZ insurer can issue a new policy. For everyone else, the process is: declare your cancer, complete an online medical assessment, and receive a quote.

If your cancer diagnosis is terminal — meaning your oncologist has assessed that it cannot be cured — no New Zealand travel insurer can issue a new policy. This rule applies consistently across all seven major NZ providers. If you received a terminal diagnosis after already purchasing a travel insurance policy, your existing policy may still provide some benefits. Contact your insurer urgently in that situation.

Possibly — it depends on the type of chemotherapy and the insurer. Some insurers will assess active chemotherapy cases individually and offer cover (with additional premium) or cover with cancer complications excluded. Others may be unable to provide cover during active IV chemotherapy. Oral targeted therapies (EGFR inhibitors, PARP inhibitors, etc.) are generally assessed more favourably than IV regimens. You must have your oncologist's written confirmation that you are fit to travel before applying or booking. Apply to multiple providers and compare outcomes, as results can differ significantly.

If you are diagnosed with cancer after purchasing a travel insurance policy (but before your trip), your existing policy may cover trip cancellation due to the new diagnosis — most policies cover cancellation due to serious illness, and a new cancer diagnosis typically qualifies. Contact your insurer immediately after diagnosis. For future travel, you will need to declare the new diagnosis and complete a medical assessment when purchasing new policies. The new cancer will be treated as a pre-existing condition for all future policies purchased after the diagnosis date.

Cover-More is generally our recommended starting point for most cancer patients, primarily because of its unique non-melanoma skin cancer auto-cover provision (the only such provision in NZ) and its fast online assessment. AA Travel Insurance uses the same system as Cover-More and offers a 10% discount for AA members. 1Cover is highly regarded for its transparent three-outcome model, making it easy to understand exactly what you're getting. SCTI can be advantageous for patients whose cancer was treated more than 3 years ago, due to its 3-year lookback definition. The right answer for you depends on your specific cancer history — compare at least two providers before purchasing.

Cover-More is the only New Zealand travel insurer that automatically covers non-melanoma skin cancer — meaning no medical assessment and no additional premium for qualifying cases. To qualify, all three of the following must apply: (1) the skin cancer was not a melanoma (basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma qualify); (2) no chemotherapy was required for treatment; and (3) no ongoing follow-up treatment is currently required. AA Travel Insurance, administered by Cover-More, applies the same provision. Melanoma is explicitly not covered by this auto-cover and must be declared through the standard assessment process at all insurers.

You are not legally obligated to disclose a cancer diagnosis to the airline simply because you have cancer. However, you should contact the airline in advance if: you require in-flight supplemental oxygen (essential medical equipment must be pre-arranged, typically 6–8 weeks ahead); you have a chest port or implant that may trigger metal detectors; you need wheelchair assistance or other mobility assistance; or your oncologist's clearance to fly requires specific accommodations. Always carry a physician's letter listing your diagnosis and any medical devices, regardless of whether you proactively inform the airline.

In most cases, yes. Flying is safe for the majority of cancer patients, including those in treatment. Key exceptions that require medical clearance before flying: active lung cancer with significantly reduced lung function (a fit-to-fly test may be needed); severe neutropenia (very low white blood cell count during chemotherapy nadir); very recent major surgery (within 4 weeks); and serious ongoing medical complications. The most important consideration for cancer patients flying is DVT (deep vein thrombosis) prevention — cancer increases clotting risk 4–7 times and long-haul flights compound this. Wear compression stockings, move regularly, and discuss with your oncologist before any flight over 4 hours.

Yes — strongly recommended. Standard travel insurance may not automatically include cruise-specific benefits that are particularly relevant for cancer patients: missed port departure cover (if you require treatment at a port and miss the ship's departure); cabin confinement benefit (if illness confines you to your cabin on board); ship-specific medical evacuation cover; and itinerary disruption cover. Ship medical facilities are limited — not suitable for complex cancer management — making evacuation cover especially important. Most NZ travel insurers offer a cruise add-on or cruise pack for a modest additional premium. For cancer patients, this is worth adding to any cruise policy.

A pre-existing condition is any illness, injury, or medical condition that existed before your travel insurance policy began. Cancer — whether currently active or historically treated — is a pre-existing condition because it occurred prior to the policy start date. Even in complete remission, cancer creates a statistical risk of recurrence that differs from someone who has never had cancer. Insurers need to know about this risk to price your policy accurately and to confirm you are covered appropriately.

A medical assessment (also called a medical questionnaire or declaration) is a series of questions about your cancer history that insurers use to determine whether they can offer cover and at what price. Most NZ insurers use online questionnaires that take 5–15 minutes to complete. Questions typically cover your cancer type and stage, the treatments you received and when, whether there has been any recurrence, your current medications, and how often you see a specialist. The assessment result is usually immediate — you receive an outcome (cover approved with price, cancer excluded, or unable to cover) within minutes of completing the questionnaire.

'Remission' is a medical term describing the state where no cancer can be detected or where cancer has significantly reduced in response to treatment. 'All clear' is an informal phrase, not a standardised medical term — it is used differently by different people and different doctors. For insurance purposes, neither term removes the obligation to declare your cancer history. What matters to insurers is the specifics: when was the cancer diagnosed, what stage was it, what treatment was received, when did treatment end, has there been any recurrence, and what monitoring is ongoing. Always declare your cancer history regardless of whether you describe yourself as "in remission" or having the "all clear".

No — travel insurance does not cover planned cancer treatment overseas, routine ongoing treatment, or treatment you specifically travel to receive. What travel insurance does cover is emergency medical care for unexpected cancer-related complications that arise while you are travelling: a hospitalisation due to an infection during chemotherapy, a cancer-related medical emergency, or the cost of being medically evacuated back to New Zealand to continue your care. This distinction is important: emergency and unexpected vs. planned and ongoing.

If you develop secondary cancer (metastatic disease or a new primary cancer) after purchasing a travel insurance policy, contact your insurer immediately. If the original primary cancer was declared and covered when you purchased the policy, the situation regarding secondary cancer coverage depends on how your policy defines related conditions. If the secondary cancer develops during your trip, contact the emergency assistance line immediately. For future policies purchased after the secondary diagnosis, you must declare both the original and secondary cancer diagnoses.