Travel Insurance for Diverticular Diseases

What are diverticular disease and diverticulitis?

Diverticula are small pouches that bulge out through weak spots in the wall of the large bowel - they become more common with age, and many people have them without ever knowing. 

Diverticular disease is when these puches cause pain, bloating, or changes in bowel habit. Diverticulitis happens when one or more pouches become inflamed or infected, and can cause sudden and severe pain which may need treating in hospital. A small number of people develop complications such as an abscess or a narrowed bowel.

The symptoms can overlap with irritable bowel syndrome, and you can find more information under the digestive conditions category. The NHS diverticular disease and diverticulitis page goes into more detail.

Why do I need to declare diverticular disease for travel insurance?

Diverticular disease and past diverticulitis count as pre-existing medical conditions. We ask about them because a flareup of diverticulitis can bring severe abdominal pain and infection, and abroad that may mean antibiotics through a drip, a hospital stay, or occasionally an operation. An attack shortly before departure could also force you to cancel. If the condition isn’t declared, a claim related to it could be declined or 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 diverticular disease?

In most cases it is possible. Whether it can be covered comes down to the medical screening, which is most interested in how many attacks of diverticulitis you’ve had and how recently, whether any needed hospital treatment, any complications or bowel surgery, and whether you’re waiting for a colonoscopy, scan or operation.

What we’ll ask about your diverticular disease

Declaring your diverticular disease online doesn’t take long. The screening asks about how often you have attacks and whether you’ve needed hospital treatment. 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 diverticular 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

Diverticular disease can flare at awkward times. If you have another attack of diverticulitis, you’re prescribed something new, you go into hospital, or you’re referred for tests between now and departure, you must let us know. We may need to review your cover or refer your medical situation to the underwriters, and occasionally we may not be able to proceed with cover. Any change in your medical you don’t tell us about could mean a future claim is affected or denied.

What can diverticular disease travel insurance cover?

Once accepted, your diverticular disease is treated like any other condition on the policy. If you developed diverticulitis in Greece and needed intravenous antibiotics in hospital, emergency medical costs can be covered, and so can repatriation when it is medically necessary. As always, this is subject to the policy terms, exclusions, limits and excess.

A flare shortly before you go might leave you unable to travel. If your doctor confirms this, cancellation cover may help with lost, non-refundable costs.

The insurance won’t cover elective treatment abroad or claims tied to a condition that wasn’t declared.

Will diverticular disease affect the cost of travel insurance?

It may, though there’s no single answer. The online medical screening looks at your situation, and its result decides whether there’s an extra charge. Questions could cover how the diverticular disease is treated and how well it has been controlled. On top of that, things like your age, destination and trip length shape the cost for everyone. You can see the price before you buy.

Single trip or annual cover with diverticular disease

If it’s just one trip, single trip travel insurance keeps things simple. Taking several breaks a year? Annual travel insurance may be the better choice, subject to your screening result.

Travelling with diverticular disease: practical tips

The points below are general advice only and don’t form part of your policy.

Constipation can make symptoms worse, and travel days are often when it starts. Long flights, unfamiliar food and not drinking enough all play a part. Keep a water bottle with you, get up and walk around the cabin, and try to keep some fibre in your diet while you’re away, perhaps with fruit, cereal or a fibre supplement you already use.

Hot climates mean you lose more fluid than usual, so drink more than you would at home. Ease into local food rather than changing your diet all at once.

Know the warning signs of diverticulitis: pain that gets steadily worse, a fever, or blood in your poo. Abroad, those are reasons to see a doctor promptly rather than waiting until you’re home. It helps to note the nearest clinic or hospital when you arrive.

Take enough of any regular medication to last the trip plus a few spare days, packed in your hand luggage. Ask your GP or pharmacist which painkillers suit you, as some are not recommended with diverticular disease. Our guide to travelling abroad with medication has more on carrying medicines.

How to get a quote

Start with where and when you’re going, then complete the medical questions. You can compare cover levels and see the price before you commit.

Get a Quote

Other Useful Gastrointestinal Pages

• Acute Pancreatitis Travel Insurance
• Appendicitis Travel Insurance
• Chronic Pancreatitis Travel Insurance
• Coeliac Disease Travel Insurance
• Crohn's Disease Travel Insurance
• Cyclical Vomiting Syndrome Travel Insurance
• Diverticular Diseases Travel Insurance
• Gallstones Travel Insurance
• Gastritis Travel Insurance
• Heartburn and Acid Reflux Travel Insurance
• Hernia Travel Insurance
• Irritable Bowel Syndrome Travel Insurance
• Stomach Ulcer Travel Insurance
• Ulcerative Colitis 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.