Millions of people in the UK suffer from diabetes. Whilst this does mean they have to regularly monitor their blood sugar levels and keep pens and glucose on them at all times, if managed properly, it can have less of an impact on a person’s day-to-day life than some may think.
However, despite this, many diabetics struggle to find a travel insurance policy that will not charge them a huge premium just because of their condition. But why is this the case? Why, even the most careful and sensible people find they have a sizeable bill on their hands if they buy travel insurance?
The simple answer is that many insurers instantly associate diabetes with heart failure, kidney problems and strokes, rising their premiums as a result. Travel insurance with medical conditions is risky business and something that the insurers are unsurprisingly, not going to go into lightly.
The insurance firms are covering themselves in case a person needs anything from emergency treatment to replacement insulin, as it can be a very costly process (not to mention confusing, with the different strengths such as U-40 and U-80 compared to the UK’s U-100).
So with all these reasons to bear in mind, many insurers simply raise the price or put in clauses. This doesn’t mean, of course, that you should simply not declare your diabetes when taking out cover as this could negate the whole thing, leaving you to pay for treatment from your own pocket.
Instead, diabetics should look around at all the options on offer and make an informed decision.
Make sure that you declare your diabetes or find a policy strictly related to your condition. Read the fine print and ensure you are covered if you need replacement insulin when abroad and that you won’t have to pay a hefty excess. Lastly, make sure you take a policy out with a company which knows about diabetes. Insurers with firm links to diabetes charities and information centres will know much more about the condition than some of their less informed peers. As a result, the cover they offer will be much more specific, tailored and beneficial, leaving nothing to chance.
Then, once cover is arranged, you’ll have peace of mind and whilst you’ll still have to remember to keep tabs on your diabetes just as you would back home, you can be safe in the knowledge that you’ll be sufficiently covered in case of an emergency.
