Travel Insurance for Addison's Disease

What is Addison’s disease?

Addison’s disease means the adrenal glands, which sit just above the kidneys, don’t make enough of the hormones cortisol and aldosterone. It is one of the hormonal conditions we see declared, and in the UK it is most often caused by the immune system damaging the adrenal glands.

Without treatment it leads to tiredness, weight loss, dizziness and low blood pressure. Most people take daily replacement hormones, usually hydrocortisone and often fludrocortisone, and lead full lives. The risk to know about is an adrenal crisis, which can be brought on by illness, injury or vomiting and needs urgent treatment. The NHS Addison’s disease page covers the symptoms and treatment in more depth.

Why do I need to declare Addison’s disease for travel insurance?

Addison’s disease is a lifelong condition, so it counts as pre-existing for travel insurance. Your policy needs to reflect it because an adrenal crisis can come on quickly, often set off by a stomach bug, heat or a missed dose, and it usually means an emergency hospital admission. A crisis in the weeks before you leave could also force you to cancel. If Addison’s isn’t declared and you need treatment linked to it, the claim could be declined or the amount paid reduced.

You won’t need to declare every medical condition you’ve ever had or been diagnosed with, only those that fall into the initial set of medical questions.

Can I get travel insurance with Addison’s disease?

Yes, in a lot of cases. People with Addison’s regularly find cover that includes it, and the screening tends to focus on how settled things are. Someone who hasn’t had a crisis for years is in a different position from someone who was admitted to hospital recently or is still having their dose adjusted, and that history shapes whether cover can be offered for the trip.

What we’ll ask about your Addison’s disease

Declaring your Addison’s disease online doesn’t take long. The screening asks about the medication you take and whether you’ve had an adrenal crisis. After that, carry on declaring any other relevant pre-existing medical conditions you have.

Once you’ve finished the medical declaration, you’ll go through to the quote page. If your Addison’s disease and your other conditions can be covered, you’ll see a list of quotes, and the premium shown includes the cost of cover for your medical. If we can’t provide cover, you’ll know before going any further.

If your health changes before travelling

Addison’s can be unsettled by illness or stress. If you have a crisis, you start a new medicine, you’re admitted to hospital, or you’re referred to a specialist for something new between now and departure, you must let us know. Your cover may need reviewing, we may need to refer your medical situation to the underwriters, and in some cases we may not be able to proceed with cover. If you don’t let us know of any changes in your medical, a future claim can be affected or denied.

What can Addison’s disease travel insurance cover?

With Addison’s accepted, emergency medical treatment abroad that is linked to it can be covered. Picture a stomach bug in Egypt that stops you keeping your tablets down and ends in an emergency admission for IV fluids and steroids. The hospital bills, and repatriation if you needed medical help to get home, can be covered, subject to the policy terms, exclusions, limits and excess.

If you’re too unwell to travel just before you’re due to leave, cancellation cover may help you recover costs you’ve already paid.

The policy doesn’t pay for planned treatment or routine check-ups abroad, or for claims linked to anything left off your declaration.

Will Addison’s disease affect the cost of travel insurance?

Possibly. Rather than a fixed charge, any change to the price comes from your screening answers. The online screening may want to know how you treat your Addison’s day to day and how well controlled it has been lately. General details matter too, including how old you are, your destination and the length of the stay. Nothing is bought until you’ve seen the quote and are happy with it.

Single trip or annual cover with Addison’s disease

If you only have one holiday planned, single trip travel insurance may be all you need. For regular travellers, annual travel insurance covers every trip in the year, provided your screening result allows annual cover.

Travelling with Addison’s disease: practical tips

This is general travel advice and isn’t part of your insurance.

Your emergency hydrocortisone injection kit should travel with you in your hand luggage, and whoever you’re with should know how to use it. Pack it with plenty of spare tablets, split between two bags if you can, so a lost suitcase doesn’t leave you short.

Carry your NHS Steroid Emergency Card and a doctor’s letter explaining your condition and treatment. Medical staff abroad may not know your history, and a clear letter can save valuable time. Some people also wear a medical alert bracelet.

Before you go, go over your sick day rules with your endocrinology team so you know what to do if you get a fever, vomiting or diarrhoea. Food and water hygiene matters more for you than for most travellers, so be careful with ice, salads and tap water in places where tummy bugs are common.

Hot weather and long days out can leave you drained, and a long-haul flight across time zones can upset the timing of your doses. Your specialist or pharmacist can help you plan around the time change. The TravelHealthPro country pages are useful for checking vaccines and local health risks.

Addison’s often appears alongside other autoimmune conditions such as an underactive thyroid, so declare everything you’ve been diagnosed with.

How to get a quote

Start with where and when you’re going, then answer the screening questions for Addison’s and anything else you need to tell us about. You’ll see your price before you commit.

Get a Quote

Other Useful Diabetes & Hormonal Pages

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

Don't worry if your condition is not listed above - we cover plenty more medical conditions.
* Please note that cover will vary depending on individual medical screenings.