Millions of Britons heading abroad this summer are being urged to double-check their travel insurance to avoid an expensive mistake. Those using weight loss injections such as Ozempic, Wegovy, and Mounjaro could unknowingly invalidate their policies by failing to disclose the medication before travelling.
Why Disclosure Matters
The Association of British Insurers (ABI) stressed that travellers must declare any pre-existing medical conditions, prescribed medications, or treatments when taking out travel insurance. A spokesperson for the ABI told The Sun: "It's essential to declare any pre-existing medical conditions and prescribed medications or treatments when taking out travel insurance – including weight loss jabs. Doing so will help you get the right cover for your needs, while failing to share this information could cause issues at the point of claim or even invalidate your policy."
Potential Financial Consequences
If a policy is invalidated, holidaymakers may have to pay for expensive overseas medical treatment or emergency repatriation themselves, with costs potentially running into hundreds of thousands of pounds. This could be financially devastating for those who assume they are covered.
Insurers' Stance on Weight Loss Medications
Several major insurers have confirmed that failing to disclose the medical condition associated with a prescription for weight-loss injections could affect coverage. Aviva told The Sun that customers must disclose medical conditions, such as obesity, if medication has been prescribed to treat them, warning that claims related to undisclosed conditions would not be covered. AXA and Admiral both said customers generally need to declare the underlying medical condition rather than the medication itself, and failing to do so could result in a claim being rejected or a reduced payout.
How to Ensure Proper Coverage
Staysure said it can provide cover for customers using weight-loss injections, provided they have been prescribed by a GP or registered pharmacy, form part of a recognised weight-loss programme, appear in the customer's medical records, and their doctor confirms they are fit to travel. However, the insurer warned that failing to declare the treatment could invalidate cover for medical claims, whether directly or indirectly linked to the medication.
