Sorting out insurance can be more difficult during and after treatment for cancer. Kathryn Knowles, a specialist protection insurance advisor from Cura insurance, has put together some knowledgeable resources to help you navigate insurance post cancer.
How to apply for insurance
One of the first things that people need to do when deciding that they want insurance after cancer, is to choose how they want to get it.
You can go through an advised route, non-advised, use an online comparison site or go straight to an insurer of your choice. There are pros and cons of each way and hopefully I help to lay these out for you in this video.
Different types of insurance post cancer
In this video I am talking about the different types of protection insurances that you can apply for. They are all very useful and do completely different things and it's so important to know that the insurance you pick, matches what you want it to do.
I take you through life insurance, critical illness cover and income protection.
What insurers will ask you post cancer
In this video I talk about the types of things that insurers are likely to ask you if you apply for life insurance, critical illness cover or income protection, after you have had cancer.
Why you might need insurance post cancer
In this video I talk through some of the key reasons that people need life insurance, critical illness cover and income protection.
Group Insurance post cancer
Group insurance is a little known gem and it can be a brilliant option for people that have pre-existing health conditions or a medical history that is making getting insurance a bit tricky.
I take you through a very brief explanation of what this is insurance is and how it can be useful for accessing life insurance, critical illness cover and income protection.
Cancer, insurance and discrimination
Cancer is recognised by law as a disability.
If you live in England, Scotland or Wales, you are protected by the Equality Act 2010.
If you live in Northern Ireland, you are protected by the Disability Discrimination Act 1995.
These acts make it illegal to treat people differently because of a disability. They protect you against discrimination even after you have been successfully treated for cancer. But there are different rules for insurance.
An insurer can treat a person with a disability differently if the disability increases the risk of them making a claim. But they can only do this if: the assessment of your risk of claiming is based on relevant information
the information is from a reliable source, such as statistical data or medical reports
the way the insurer treats the person is reasonable, given the information available.
If the insurer is challenged, they have to provide evidence to show that they have met these conditions.
For information and support about unfair discrimination because of cancer, contact:
the Equality Advisory Support Service if you live in England, Scotland and Wales
the Equality Commission for Northern Ireland if you live in Northern Ireland.
Applying for insurance when you have had cancer can feel like a minefield of trying to pick the right insurer and product type, there’s so many out there.
It can be difficult at the best of times knowing where to start. Speaking with a trained and experienced adviser can get you off to the right start and be super helpful, especially if there’s a need for medical reports or you have any questions throughout the process.
Additional resources:
Find our more about Cura insurance and check out their resources
Read Macmillan's guide to insurance and cancer
Read Cancer Research UK guide to insurance