Cancer survivors seeking mortgages and insurance are being ‘discriminated against’ years after they recover, study reveals

Cancer survivors seeking mortgages and insurance are being ‘discriminated against’ years after they recover, a study reveals.

Many of the 20 million survivors across Europe struggle to access financial services, not least travel insurance.

This total includes ‘a conservative estimate’ of more than half a million in the UK, where customers must declare previous diagnosis despite having been declared ‘cancer free’.

It means they are cruelly denied services or forced to pay significantly higher premiums – often making holidays prohibitively expensive. 

Study leader Professor Mark Lawler, from Queen’s University Belfast, said: ‘Our evidence of financial toxicity for cancer survivors is undeniable.

‘It is disgraceful that significant numbers continue to be discriminated against financially.’

While the current cost-of-living crisis is hard for everyone, it is so much worse for cancer survivors.

‘We need to protect our patients who are living beyond their cancer as a matter of urgency.’ 

Professor Lawler, in the medical journal The Lancet Oncology, called for legislation that will let successfully treated cancer patients not declare their previous diagnosis so their disease is essentially ‘forgotten’.

In January 2016, France became the first country to introduce the ‘Right To Be Forgotten’, which specifies that cancer survivors after five years without recurrence do not have to share medical information with a financial institution.

Seven other European countries have taken similar measures – but not the UK.

Earlier this month, cancer charity Maggie’s wrote to Health Secretary Wes Streeting and Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds highlighting the difficulties patients face.

A new study has found that cancer survivors are being ‘discriminated against financially’ (file image)

It revealed how one cancer patient travelling to France was quoted up to £3,000 for travel insurance while another couple were expected to pay £1,200 for a trip to Spain.

A spokesman for the Association of British Insurers said: ‘We’re in discussions with Maggie’s and other charities about their concerns.

‘Travel insurance is primarily to cover what can be incredibly expensive emergency medical treatment while abroad, so it’s vital to disclose any pre-existing condition to ensure you have the right protection.’