Travel Insurance for an Eating Disorder

What are eating disorders?

Eating disorders are mental health conditions where someone’s eating, and their feelings about food, weight, and body image, start to cause real harm. The best known are anorexia, bulimia, and binge eating disorder. ARFID (avoidant restrictive food intake disorder) and OSFED (other specified feeding or eating disorder), where symptoms don’t neatly fit one type, are also recognised.

They can affect people of any age or gender, and the physical effects can be serious, from dehydration and heart rhythm problems to damaged teeth and weak bones. Treatment is mainly through talking therapies, rehabilition programmes, and support from a specialist team. The NHS eating disorders page explains the different types.

Why do I need to declare an eating disorder for travel insurance?

An eating disorder you’ve been diagnosed with or treated for is a pre-existing medical condition. Effects such as dehydration, heart rhythm problems, or weak bones can mean needing medical care abroad, and a setback before you go could lead to cancelling.

Any additional diagnosed complications should be declared too. Without that, a claim related to the condition could be declined or paid at a lower amount.

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 an eating disorder?

Yes, in many cases. Whether cover can be provided usually depends on what type of eating disorder you have, when you were last treated, whether you have been admitted to hospital, and whether there are related physical health problems.

What we’ll ask about your eating disorder

The medical screening is online and simple to complete. For your eating disorder, it asks about the treatment and support you receive and whether you’ve needed a hospital stay recently. When you’ve finished with this condition, carry on declaring any other relevant pre-existing medical conditions.

With the medical declaration complete, you’ll go through to the quote page. A list of quotes is shown if your eating disorder and any other conditions are coverable, and the premium quoted includes the cost of covering your medical. If we can’t offer cover, you’ll find that out before going any further.

If your health changes before travelling

Recovery doesn’t always follow a straight line. If you’re admitted to hospital, you start a new medicine, you’re referred to a specialist service, or you receive a new diagnosis before you travel, you must let us know. We may have to review your cover and refer your medical details to the underwriters, and sometimes we may not be able to proceed with cover. If changes in your medical go unreported, a future claim can be affected or denied.

What can eating disorder travel insurance cover?

With your condition accepted, emergency medical treatment abroad can be covered. If bulimia had left you with dangerously low potassium and you were admitted to hospital in Croatia, that treatment can be included, together with repatriation if a doctor says you need to come home. All subject to the policy terms, exclusions, limits and excess.

If you become unwell before the trip and are advised not to go, you may be able to claim back non-refundable costs through cancellation cover.

It won’t cover planned treatment abroad or anything linked to a condition you didn’t declare. Check the policy for exclusions such as self-harm.

Will an eating disorder affect the cost of travel insurance?

The price can be affected, and your answers to online medical screening decide by how much. Questions may cover how the eating disorder is treated and how well it’s controlled at present. Your age, destination and trip length are also factored in. Have a look at the price before you buy and take it from there.

Single trip or annual cover with an eating disorder

Pick single trip travel insurance for one holiday, or look at annual multi-trip cover if you travel more often. Annual cover depends on your screening result.

Travelling with an eating disorder: practical tips

The following are general suggestions. They are not part of your policy.

Before you book, have a conversation with your therapist or treatment team about the trip. They can help you think through what might be difficult and plan ways around it, whether that’s buffets, eating out every night or having less structure to your days.

Holidays change routines, and routines can be protective. Some people keep regular meal times wherever they are, set reminders on their phone, or plan where they’ll eat each day. Others choose accommodation with a kitchen. Do what works for you.

Look after the physical side too. In hot countries, drink regularly and take extra care if you’ve had problems with your heart rhythm or electrolytes. Know the signs that mean you need a doctor, like fainting, palpitations or severe weakness.

Stomach bugs are common on holiday, and vomiting or diarrhoea can upset your salt and potassium levels quickly if your body is already under strain. Wash your hands before eating, be careful with tap water and ice where the water isn’t safe, and seek help early if you can’t keep fluids down.

Carry a short summary of your diagnosis, any medicines and a contact number for your team. If you need to see a doctor abroad, it saves explaining everything from scratch.

It can help to tell a travel companion what you’re going through, and to have a plan for staying in touch with your support network. If you also live with anxiety or depression, declare those as well.

How to get a quote

Give us your trip details, complete the questions about your eating disorder and any other conditions, and select your cover. You’ll see the price first.

Get a Quote

Other Useful Mental Health Pages

• Anorexia Travel Insurance
• Anxiety Travel Insurance
• Aviophobia Travel Insurance
• Bipolar Travel Insurance
• Claustrophobia Travel Insurance
• Depression Travel Insurance
• Eating Disorders Travel Insurance
• Obsessive Compulsive Disorder Travel Insurance
• Panic Disorder Travel Insurance
• Personality Disorders Travel Insurance
• Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder 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.