11 hours ago
- Health
- The Herald Scotland
Mounjaro and Ozempic warning for holiday travel insurance
Travel insurance providers are warning that the growing number of Brits turning to these breakthrough drugs for weight management could lose their cover and face huge medical bills abroad if they don't declare their usage when arranging travel insurance.
Review your ICB's local policy about treating patients with tirzepatide (Mounjaro) for weight management in a primary care setting and visit: — We are Primary Care (@PrimaryCareNHS) June 12, 2025
Many don't want to admit they are taking the weight-loss drugs, or think that if they buy it privately online, it doesn't need to be declared.
Niraj Mamtora, director at Forum Insurance, says: 'Weight-loss medications like Ozempic are transforming lives across the UK, but too many travellers don't realise the insurance implications. If you're using these drugs, you must declare both the medication and the condition it's prescribed for.
'Failure to do so is not a minor oversight - it's a serious breach of your travel insurance contract. If you need medical help overseas and haven't declared your medication, your claim can be refused and your policy cancelled. The financial consequences can be severe.'
What happens if you don't disclose weight-loss jabs on your travel insurance?
'Non-disclosure is a gamble that's simply not worth taking," says Niraj.
"If you don't declare your medication or the underlying condition, your insurer is within their rights to refuse any claim, even if it seems unrelated.
'Many travellers only discover too late that their travel insurance claims are rejected, leaving them without support and facing potentially huge bills.
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"With the average medical claim abroad now exceeding £1,700, and costs rising significantly with age, being properly covered is more important than ever.'
'Skinny Jab' weight loss medication is surging
According to The Pharmacist website 1.5 million UK citizens used weight-loss jabs in March 2025, and the number is believed to be growing each month.
'Recent NHS data shows that between March 2024 and February 2025, more than 83,000 unique patients in England were dispensed Ozempic, while over 344,000 people received a prescription for weight-loss medications overall in the past year," says Niraj.
'With new drugs entering the market and millions more eligible for these treatments, the number of Brits travelling with prescription weight-loss medication is set to rise further.'
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What to do if you are travelling abroad while taking weight-loss medication
Declare all pre-existing medical conditions and any medications, including Ozempic, Wegovy, and Mounjaro, when purchasing travel insurance. If you are taking medication without a prescription or for off-label use, you must disclose this, as it can affect your travel cover. Carry a copy of your prescription or a doctor's letter when travelling with medication, and check the rules of your destination country regarding bringing in prescription drugs.
Remember that insurance claims related to undeclared conditions or medications can be refused, even if the issue seems unrelated.
