Unique, Gallagher Heath’s specialist insurance scheme for people living with pre-existing medical conditions, has teamed up with Beating Bowel Cancer to provide much-needed access to comprehensive insurance covers and help further the charity’s vital work.
With one in every four people in the UK touched by bowel cancer, either directly or via a family member or friend, Beating Bowel Cancer is dedicated to providing emotional and practical support to the 41 000 people diagnosed each year with the condition, as well as their families, carers and supporters.
Through its partnership with Unique, Beating Bowel Cancer can now help all those living with the condition to visit loved ones abroad or enjoy holidays, by offering access to travel insurance that has previously been difficult to obtain.
Customers can choose between Platinum and Gold policies to ensure their cover most closely matches their individual needs, with the partnership extending to home and motor insurance. For every policy sold, Unique will also donate a third of its commission to Beating Bowel Cancer at no extra cost to the policyholder.
Mark Flannagan, Chief Executive of Beating Bowel Cancer, said: “Many bowel cancer patients told us they had struggled to get insurance, particularly travel insurance, because of their condition. This means that patients weren’t able to visit loved ones abroad or take a much-needed holiday.
“We’re pleased to be partnering with Unique, which will open doors for bowel cancer patients and allow them to make these trips. This partnership will also help to us to continue our vital work supporting bowel cancer patients and their families.”
Unique’s key travel cover benefits include:
– No referrals for medical screening, making it quick and easy to purchase cover;
– No upper age limits on single trip policies – particularly important when over 7 in 10 cases of bowel cancer are diagnosed in people aged 65 and over;
– Replacement of lost or damaged medication, up to a limit of £300;
– All members of a travelling party can be covered under the same policy, even if they do not have any medical conditions to declare.
Diane Caplehorn, Gallagher Heath’s account director for Beating Bowel Cancer, explained:
“We have worked in close partnership with Beating Bowel Cancer to ensure that our Unique products offer the widest, most relevant cover at the most competitive price, backed up by an understanding and sympathetic team.
“Our specialists are on hand to provide advice and support, benefitting as they do from unrivalled years of experience in providing bespoke insurance to individuals with pre-existing medical conditions in partnership with a diverse range of medical charities.
“I am also delighted that we will be making a donation from every policy, helping the charity fund its mission to improve public awareness and increase the rate of early diagnosis – which is vital when more than 90% of those diagnosed with bowel cancer can be successfully treated provided it is caught early.”
Bowel cancer is the third most common form of cancer in the UK and the second biggest killer but at least one in four people are completely unaware of the conditions or its symptoms. Every year 41 000 people are diagnosed with bowel cancer in the UK, more than 70% of which are aged 65 or over, but upwards of 90% of cases can be successfully treated provided the condition is diagnosed early.
