Travel Insurance for Diabetes and Hormonal Conditions

What are hormonal conditions?

Hormones have a lot of important jobs in the body, from controlling blood sugar to regulating metabolism, growth, and energy levels. Hormonal or endocrine conditions can develop when these processes don't work as they should.

Diabetes is one of the most common, affecting how the body produces or uses insulin to manage blood sugar levels. Other hormonal conditions involve glands such as the thyroid, adrenal glands, or parathyroid glands, which can produce too much or too little of certain hormones.

Treatment varies with diagnosis. Someone with an underactive thyroid might take a daily dose of levothyroxine, while someone with type 1 diabetes might need to inject themselves with insulin according to what they eat. The treatment you receive, how well your condition is managed, and any associated complications can all be relevant when arranging travel insurance.

We have individual guides for several diabetes and hormonal conditions, including:

• Addison’s Disease
• Cushing’s Syndrome
• Diabetes
• Hyperparathyroidism
• Hypoparathyroidism
• Low Blood Sugar
• Menopause & HRT
• Overactive Thyroid
• Thyroiditis
• Underactive Thyroid

This isn't a complete list of the conditions we can consider. If you don't see yours here, you can search for it by name when completing your medical screening.

Can I get travel insurance with a hormonal condition?

Yes, having diabetes or a hormonal condition doesn't necessarily prevent you from getting travel insurance. Many people manage these conditions successfully, and can still arrange cover for their holidays. However, the cover available to you will depend on your individual circumstances and your answers to the medical declaration.

It's important to declare any pre-existing medical conditions that fall within our screening questions. Even something you've managed for years, without any significant problems, may still need to be declared. Leaving out a condition when required could have consequences if you need to make a claim.

The medical screening
During your online quote, you'll be able to search for your condition and answer a series of questions about it.

These will vary depending on your diagnosis. For diabetes, you might be asked about whether you use insuling or have related complications. Other hormonal conditions may involve questions about treatment, recent hospital admissions, or investigations.

The information you provide helps us assess your medical circumstances and establish what cover we can offer. Your age, destination, and length of travel will also contribute to the overall premium.

Once you've finished screening, you'll be able to compare any available policies, including single trip and annual multi-trip options where offered.

Changes to your health
If something changes with your health between purchasing your policy and going on holiday, we'll need to know about it.

This might be a change to your medication, a hospital admission, new complications, or being referred for further tests. Even if you're feeling well, changes to your medical circumstances may need to be reviewed.

Let us know as soon as possible, and in plenty of time before departure. Depending on what's changed, we may need to reassess your cover or refer your circumstances to your policy's underwriter.

What can travel insurance cover?

Having your condition declared on your policy means you can be covered for unexpected medical emergencies relating to it while abroad.

For example, if you have diabetes and develop dangerously high or low blood sugar levels while on holiday, you may need emergency hospital treatment. Your travel insurance can help with eligible medical expenses, including getting you home with medical assistance if necessary.

Cover may also be available if your condition unexpectedly worsens before departure and you're medically advised not to travel. Depending on your policy and the circumstances, you could claim back non-refundable holiday costs.

Travel insurance isn't intended for planned medical treatment abroad, and claims involving conditions that haven't been declared when required could be rejected or not fully paid.

As with all pre-existing medical conditions, cover is subject to your policy's terms, conditions, limits, exclusions, and excesses.

Travelling with diabetes or a hormonal condition

Managing medication and keeping to a routine can be particularly important when you're away from home. Different time zones, unfamiliar food, warmer weather, and changes in activity levels can all affect how you manage certain conditions.

If you have diabetes, make sure you have enough medication and testing equipment for your holiday, with extra supplies in case of delays. Insulin should be carried in your hand luggage rather than the aircraft hold, where temperatures may damage it. You may also need a suitable cooling wallet or container, particularly if you're travelling somewhere hot.

Long-haul travel can present another consideration. Crossing several time zones may mean you need to adjust when you take insulin or other medication. Speak to your diabetes team before travelling, and keep fast-acting glucose and snacks accessible during your journey if you're at risk of low blood sugar.

For other hormonal conditions, it's worth understanding whether illness or changes to your normal routine could affect your treatment. People with Addison's disease, for example, may need to follow specific sick-day rules if they become unwell. If you use steroid replacement medication, make sure you have your steroid emergency card and prescribed emergency injection kit with you, and know when to use them.

If you take thyroid medication, HRT, or other regular hormonal treatments, plan ahead so you don't run short while abroad. Keeping a copy of your prescription and a list of your medication can be useful, especially if you're travelling for an extended period.

Our guide to travelling abroad with medication has more information about transporting medicines and preparing for your journey.

Get a quote

Tell us where you're travelling and how long you're going for, then complete the medical screening for any relevant pre-existing conditions. We'll show you the travel insurance options available based on your answers, so you can compare cover and prices before deciding whether to buy.

Get a Quote