With the holiday season approaching, many people are reviewing their travel plans and arranging insurance cover.
If you are travelling abroad and currently taking prescription medication, it is worth taking a moment to make sure your travel insurance accurately reflects your current health. Most people travel without any issues, however if you do need to make a claim, the difference between a smooth claim and a declined claim often comes down to accurate disclosure at the outset.
Travel insurance is designed to protect you if something unexpected happens abroad, but it relies on you providing a full and accurate picture of your health. According to the Association of British Insurers, non-disclosure of medical information remains one of the most common reasons for travel insurance claims being declined. In many cases, this is not intentional, but simply because people are unsure what needs to be included.
Why medication is relevant to your cover
If you take prescription medication, insurers are generally looking at the underlying condition being treated, rather than the medication itself. This includes long-term conditions that are well managed and stable.
For example, anti-depressants may be prescribed for anxiety or depression, and treatments such as Mounjaro or Wegovy are often used as part of diabetes and ongoing health management. From an insurance perspective, these are not viewed negatively, they are simply part of understanding your overall medical profile so your cover can be set up correctly.
The good news is that most insurers are familiar with these conditions and, once declared, cover is routinely offered. In many cases, the process is straightforward and quick.
Anti-depressants and mental health conditions
Mental health conditions are treated in the same way as physical health conditions for insurance purposes.
According to the NHS Business Services Authority, around 7 million patients in England are prescribed antidepressants at any one time, reflecting how common and routinely managed these conditions are within the NHS system.
When declared correctly, many policies will include cover for cancellation, emergency treatment, and repatriation related to mental health as well as physical health. The key is simply ensuring your insurer has the correct information from the start.
Mounjaro, Wegovy and newer treatments
Medications such as Mounjaro (tirzepatide) and Wegovy (semaglutide) are increasingly common and well understood within insurance underwriting. They are not typically treated as high risk on their own.
What matters is that the condition they are prescribed for is declared, allowing the insurer to confirm cover. In most cases, this is a quick screening process and does not prevent cover from being offered.
What happens if something is not declared?
The majority of travellers who do not fully disclose medical information do so unintentionally. When issues arise, it is usually during a claim review, where the insurer needs to confirm that all relevant information was provided at the time of purchase.
If something has been missed, it can affect how a claim is assessed. However, in many situations, insurers will still look at the full circumstances, particularly where conditions are stable and well managed.
Six simple steps to make sure you are accurately covered
- Declare all medical conditions linked to prescription medication
- Include conditions even if they are well controlled or stable
- Keep an up-to-date list of prescriptions and dosages
- Complete your medical screening honestly and accurately
- Review your policy wording so you understand what is included, especially for pre-existing conditions
- Update your insurer if anything changes before you travel.
How can we help you?
We help make this process simple by:
- Reviewing your travel insurance to ensure medical cover is correctly aligned
- Helping you understand exactly what needs to be declared
- Identifying policies that provide clear, appropriate cover for your circumstances
- Supporting you in making sure your cover is set up correctly before you travel
We aim to make things simple by giving you clear, straightforward confidence that your insurance is set up correctly, so you can travel knowing you’re properly protected.
Found this article useful? You may also find these related articles of interest:
Travel Insurance in Times of Conflict – Adler Fairways
Heading on Holiday? Steps to Secure Your Home – Adler Fairways
Linda Burcher
Client Adviser
Adler Fairways
