How skinny jabs could invalidate your holiday insurance

ITV News

23-05-2025

An explosion in the skinny jab black market has led to warnings about their safety, the risk of counterfeits, and how taking prescription medication without it being signed off by a doctor can have unintended consequences.
One area this could catch people out is how taking these drugs abroad could impact someone's travel insurance.
Stories of people having their insurance suddenly revoked once their provider had found out they were taking one of the jabs have been popping up in forum posts across the internet.
Drugs like Wegovy and Mounjaro are prescribed on the NHS for people with obesity, but interest among healthy people about their potential weight-loss benefits has led to a surge in demand for them.
They can not be legally purchased without a doctor recommending them to a patient, but this has not stopped a booming marketplace for them from appearing on the internet.
Recently, ITV News was able to purchase skinny jab pens via an Instagram account, which had posted some of the videos, and tests later revealed the substance was unfit for human use.
Numerous health bodies have warned against them being taken for "aesthetic" reasons.
The Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency said last year, the "benefits and risks of using these medicines for weight loss by individuals who do not have obesity or who are not overweight with weight-related comorbidities have not been studied."
With most of these drugs requiring a once-weekly injection, many people who choose to take them may assume they can easily take them abroad so they do not miss a dose while on holiday.
But this is not the case, Ozempic, Mounjaro or any of the other weight loss jabs are serious medications, and they should not be treated like paracetamol or something you can just buy over the counter.
The Association of British Travel Agents told ITV News it is always advisable to check with the FCDO travel advice to see if there are any restrictions in place when taking medications into the country you are visiting.
Not every country in the world has approved the same weight-loss drugs as the UK has, and airport officials may have questions about any medication they find, especially if it is not approved in their country.
What happens if you don't inform your provider that you take one of the jabs?
There are two key answers here, and it depends on whether the drug is being taken as part of a preexisting condition or if it is being taken for personal reasons only and has not been prescribed by a doctor.
First of all, you need to declare a pre-existing condition to your travel insurance provider anyway.
This will likely result in a higher premium, but if you do not and the provider finds out, they may cancel your cover.
They will also likely refuse to pay out if you fall ill due to the condition while on holiday.
If one of the jabs has been prescribed for the preexisting condition they it is unlikely you will need to also reveal the medication you are taking for it.
Where it is less clear cut is if the drug is being taken and it has not been prescribed.
If the drug causes side effects to the user without it being prescribed, and medical attention is needed, then an insurance provider may refuse to pay to cover the cost.
They could go as far as cancelling the insurance altogether, but this will vary from provider to provider.
What have travel provider insurers said?
ITV News asked several major travel insurance providers what their stances were on customers taking Ozempic, Wegovy or Mounjaro, and they warned against keeping it secret, but had different views on whether it would outright invalidate any cover they provide.
Admiral told ITV News that not declaring the medication itself won't invalidate the insurance, but failing to disclose the underlying condition it is prescribed for would.
They said if someone was taking it without GP advice, "not disclosing it to your travel insurer could impact your cover if side effects lead to a claim."
Alan Dean, Managing Director of travel insurer, CoverForYou, told ITV News: "Taking prescription medication without a prescription is both illegal and potentially dangerous, therefore, taking any prescribed medication without a prescription would also invalidate your insurance.
"To be really clear, any claim directly or indirectly caused by you taking prescribed medication without a prescription would be invalid.
"It's also worth noting, if you're taking prescription medication out of the UK, you should check the rules of the country you're going to.
"You may need to prove it's yours with either a prescription or letter from your doctor."
Aviva said: "Our policies require customers to inform us of any diagnosed illness, disease, or injury for which they have been prescribed medication; received or are awaiting tests/investigations; been under or are still under a specialist, or have been admitted to hospital or had surgery.
"This includes anyone who has been prescribed weight loss medication - such as Ozempic or Mounjaro - for obesity. If a customer fails to disclose a medical condition - such as obesity - for which they've been prescribed medication, we will not cover any claims relating to this under the terms of the policy."