Tommy Lloyd
Author: Tommy Lloyd, Managing Director

Tommy has over 15 years experience within the insurance industry, and his primary focus is helping travellers find the right cover for their medical conditions.

Originally posted: 1st Sep 2022

Why do I need medical travel insurance for diabetes?

We appreciate that it can often be challenging for people living with diabetes to find a suitable travel insurance policy without paying a premium. 

That’s why we’re here to make the process as smooth and as straightforward as possible. 

Although many standard travel insurance policies will offer a certain amount of medical coverage, many providers won’t cover the costs if you require any diabetes-related treatment during your trip. This is why it’s important to have a policy that includes specialist cover for diabetes also. 

Medical Travel Compared helps you to compare quotes for specialist travel insurance covering diabetes in minutes. We can compare quotes for travel insurance for type 1 diabetes and travel insurance for diabetes type 2.

With us, you can compare cover from over 30 leading insurance providers at competitive prices. 

You’ll be able to find the right policy for you in no time - so why not get started today?

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We only work with providers who specialise in covering pre-existing conditions.

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Is diabetes classed as a pre-existing condition?

Yes, diabetes is classed as a pre-existing medical condition and isn’t something that providers automatically cover. It’s not mandatory for you to buy diabetes UK travel insurance, but without it, you won’t be covered if you need emergency medical attention relating to your condition while you’re away.

However, you can rest assured that it’s easy to declare diabetes as a condition when you compare cover with Medical Travel Compared. We’ve helped thousands of people with pre-existing medical conditions find suitable holiday insurance for diabetes over the years - so you can count on us to find you the right policy at a competitive price.

What does insurance for diabetes sufferers typically cover?

Diabetes holiday insurance could offer coverage for a variety of different things, including:

  • Lost, Stolen or Damaged Personal Belongings - this could include any medication you take abroad with you - like insulin, for example.  
  • Emergency Medical Expenses and Repatriation - this covers you for emergency hospital visits and even covers the cost of medical evacuation back to the UK if necessary.
  • Cancellation and Curtailment - the insurance provider will cover you in the event of needing to cancel your holiday or cut it short at the expense of your condition.
  • Travel Delay - this won’t always be included, check with your provider.
  • Personal Liability - if you cause accidental damage to another person or someone else’s property cover is provided.

These are usually the things you should expect to be covered as a minimum, so it’s always worth bearing these in mind before shopping around.

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Dr Sarah Jarvis, MBE

Top tips for travelling with Diabetes

Dr Sarah Jarvis is the Clinical Director of the Patient Platform, an active medical writer, broadcaster, and the resident doctor for BBC Radio 2.

Having diabetes absolutely shouldn’t stop you from enjoying your holiday – but you definitely need to take a few precautions. Start planning well before you travel, to avoid medical mishaps ruining your trip.

  • Take twice as much as you normally need of any medication or equipment you need for your diabetes. This will avoid problems if the medication is damaged or your return is delayed.
  • Always carry your medication in its original packaging, along with a copy of your prescription in your hand luggage.
  • If you use insulin, you will need to have a doctor’s letter with details of your condition confirming that you need to carry needles, insulin, and hypo treatment in your hand luggage (your GP may charge for this letter). 
  • Check in advance with your pharmacist about how to store your insulin (if you use it) and contact your hotel to check if there’s a fridge to store it. 
  • Remember that food abroad is often different from your diet at home. There’s no reason why you shouldn’t try new foods, but you do need to know the carbohydrate content. 
  • Always take out specialist travel insurance, even if you’re travelling to a country covered by the Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC).

You can read more of my top tips in my full guide on travelling with diabetes.

Read More
Black Sand

Policies that cover different types of diabetes

Medical Travel Compared enables you to compare quotes from a range of providers that cover all types of diabetes. 

Despite 90% of patients being diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, it is still possible to get cover for type 1 and other rarer forms of diabetes. 

When you compare cover with us, you’ll have the opportunity to declare diabetes as a pre-existing condition. Once you do this, you might be asked a few questions about your diabetes, including the type you’ve been diagnosed with. 

This helps insurance providers get a better understanding of your condition and general medical background so that they can offer you the right cover. 

Once you’ve purchased a suitable policy, the next step is to prepare yourself for your trip. This includes working around your condition to ensure your trip is as comfortable and enjoyable as possible. 

Compare quotes from specialist diabetes travel insurance providers

You can count on us to provide you with plenty of choice when comparing quotes for diabetes travel insurance. 

We work with over 30 leading providers, so you can be sure to find a suitable policy in a matter of minutes. 

Our straightforward online comparison tool gives you the freedom to choose from all these providers in one place - saving you precious time and money!

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Frequently Asked Questions

A pre-existing condition is a diagnosed medical condition that existed before taking out a policy. We'll ask a series of questions about the medical history for you and any travellers on your quote. If you answer yes to any of these, you will need to tell us about the traveller's conditions. This could be a condition that a traveller has now or has had in the past. If you are not sure what conditions you need to declare, we have online support available to help you 24/7!

It is simple and quick to do! After you've told us about your trip details and answered some medical history questions you can add your pre-existing conditions, one by one, for each traveller. You'll only need to enter your details once, it's all online and there's no need to call, or provide details of your conditions in writing.

Once you've declared all of your relevant pre-existing medical conditions, we'll only show you quotes based on the conditions you have told us about.

No, we are unable to provide cover with any of your pre-existing medical conditions excluded.

It's easy! Enter your details just once and you'll be able to compare quotes from over 30 specialist providers. We'll even e-mail your top quotes to you so you can access them at any time. Once you've found the policy that is right for you, pay securely online and your documents will be sent to you directly from your insurance provider.

* Price is based on one traveller aged 61, who has declared either Diabetes Type 1 or Diabetes Type 2 and is travelling to France for 7 nights. The price is correct as of October 2023. Prices may vary according to your individual requirements.


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If we're unable to help you find cover for a pre-existing medical condition, the Money Helper Directory has listings of companies that may be able to assist you. Further details can be found on their website.

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