Millions of Britons taking weight loss jabs could face huge medical bills abroad after failing to declare their prescriptions to holiday insurance providers.
Popular injections such as Mounjaro and Wegovy have seen a surge in demand across the UK following approval by the National Health Service to treat type 2 diabetes and obesity, alongside a growing market for private prescriptions.
Data from travel insurance provider Staysure shows that weight loss drugs were declared in just 0.06 per cent of insurance quotes over the past two and a half years. An estimated 2.4 million people in Britain currently have access to the treatments.
Staysure reported a clear gap between actual drug usage and the proportion of travellers disclosing it. Although monthly declarations rose to 0.227 per cent in June, the figure remains far lower than the estimated 1.7 per cent population usage rate.
Under standard travel insurance terms, policyholders are required to declare all pre-existing medical conditions and ongoing prescribed medications. Industry experts note that many holidaymakers fail to list weight loss jabs because they do not consider them traditional medication or simply forget during the screening process.
Declaring weight loss medication
Failing to disclose prescription drug use or underlying health issues can result in insurers rejecting claims entirely. Staysure highlighted one case where an initial claim estimated at just over £20,600 escalated to more than £147,500 as medical treatment progressed.
Among customers who do disclose weight loss injections, approximately 98 per cent also record multiple medical conditions on their policy application, placing them in a higher risk category for emergency care.
Travel insurance policies generally cover emergency medical treatment, hospital stays, and medical repatriation back to the UK. However, withholding details about active prescriptions can breach policy agreements and leave travellers personally liable for all medical expenses incurred overseas.
Rising costs of medical claims abroad
Claims data from Staysure between January and May highlights the substantial financial exposure faced by travellers in major holiday destinations. Overseas healthcare costs vary significantly depending on local medical systems and hospital fees.
In Spain, one of the most popular short-haul destinations for British holidaymakers, total medical claims exceeded £314,000 during the five-month period, including a single emergency claim costing £88,448.
Medical treatment and repatriation claims from the United States surpassed £371,000 over the same period. In India, total claims exceeded £263,000, which included an individual claim reaching £128,336.
Advice for policyholders before travel
Simon McCulloch, chief commercial officer at Staysure, urged travellers to be fully transparent during insurance applications to avoid unexpected coverage disputes during a medical crisis.
"The safest approach is to answer every medical screening question fully and accurately when you buy a policy, then tell your insurer if your health or medication changes before you travel," McCulloch said.
"A quick check with your insurer before departure can prevent uncertainty when you are abroad and need help," he added.
McCulloch emphasized that disclosing a prescription does not necessarily mean higher premiums. "Declaring a condition or prescribed medication does not automatically mean the price will rise," he said.
"It gives the insurer the information needed to assess the risk properly and confirm what is covered, which is far better than discovering during a medical emergency that important information was missing."
