Travel Insurance for Nut Allergies
Have a nut or peanut allergy? Declare it in our online medical screening and we can consider cover.
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Get a QuoteWhat is a nut allergy?
A nut allergy is when the immune system reacts to proteins in peanuts or tree nuts, such as cashews, almonds, walnuts, hazelnuts, pistachios and Brazil nuts. Peanuts are actually a legume rather than a true nut, but they cause some of the most serious reactions, and plenty of people are allergic to both kinds. It sits with our other medical conditions, alongside our broader guide to allergies.
Reactions vary a lot. Some people get an itchy mouth, hives or swelling around the lips. Others have severe reactions that affect breathing, known as anaphylaxis, which needs adrenaline straight away. Nut allergies usually start in childhood and, unlike some other food allergies, often last for life. The NHS food allergy page explains symptoms and treatment.
Why do I need to declare a nut allergy for travel insurance?
A diagnosed nut allergy is a pre-existing medical condition, particularly if you’ve been prescribed adrenaline auto-injectors or have had a serious reaction in the past. We need to know about it because holidays make accidental exposure more likely. Nuts turn up in sauces, desserts, breads and cooking oils, often without being obvious, and menus in another language don’t help.
If your allergy should have been declared and wasn’t, a claim linked to a reaction could be refused or paid at a reduced amount. That includes a cancellation claim if a reaction just before you leave stops you travelling.
You only need to declare the conditions that come up in the screening questions, not every medical issue you’ve ever had.
Can I get travel insurance with a nut allergy?
In most cases, yes. A nut allergy on its own is often straightforward to cover once it’s declared. What we can offer may depend on how severe your reactions have been, whether you’ve needed hospital treatment recently and whether you also have asthma, which can make allergic reactions more serious.
What we’ll ask about your nut allergy
Our online medical screening only takes a few minutes. Type in your allergy and you’ll be asked a short set of questions about it, which may cover past reactions and whether you carry adrenaline. Then carry on and declare any other conditions that come up, such as asthma or eczema, for you and anyone else on the policy.
When the declaration is complete, you’ll see a list of quotes with the cost of covering your allergy already included. If we can’t provide cover, you’ll know before you pay anything.
If your allergy changes before you travel
If you have a new reaction, are prescribed auto-injectors for the first time, are referred to an allergy clinic or are diagnosed with another allergy after buying your policy, tell us about the change. We may need to review your cover, and an unreported change could affect a future claim.
What can nut allergy travel insurance cover?
Once your allergy is accepted, emergency treatment abroad for a reaction can be covered. Say a pastry in a Greek bakery turned out to contain ground almonds and you needed an ambulance and a night in hospital. That treatment can be covered, along with getting you home with medical support if your doctors decide it’s needed. All cover is subject to the policy terms, limits, exclusions and excess.
If a serious reaction shortly before departure means your doctor advises you not to go, cancellation cover may help you get back non-refundable costs.
The policy won’t pay for planned treatment abroad, such as allergy testing or immunotherapy, or for anything linked to an allergy you didn’t declare.
Will a nut allergy affect the cost of travel insurance?
It might, though often not by much. Your screening answers decide the effect, and your age, where you’re going and how long you’re away matter too. You’ll see the full price before you buy.
Single trip or annual cover with a nut allergy
Single trip travel insurance covers one holiday. If you travel a few times a year, an annual policy could save you buying cover each time, though whether it’s offered depends on your screening. If it’s your child who has the allergy, a family policy can cover everyone together, as long as the allergy is declared.
Travelling with a nut allergy: practical tips
This is general advice and isn’t part of your insurance cover.
Some cuisines use nuts far more than others. Thai, Chinese, Indonesian, Indian and Middle Eastern cooking often include peanuts, cashews or nut oils, and sauces like satay, pesto and romesco are built around them. Desserts are a common trap too, from baklava and nougat to marzipan, praline and macarons.
In the EU, food businesses have to be able to tell you about 14 major allergens, peanuts and tree nuts among them. That doesn’t guarantee the person serving you understands how serious your allergy is, and rules outside Europe can be much looser. A translated allergy card that explains your allergy and the risk of cross-contamination is cheap and works anywhere. Self-catering for some meals takes the pressure off.
Speak to your airline before you fly. Some will make an announcement or create a buffer zone, others won’t, and none can promise a nut-free flight. Many people board early to wipe down the seat and tray table, and bring their own food for the journey.
Carry two in-date adrenaline auto-injectors with you at all times, in your hand luggage rather than the hold or a hotel safe, and keep them out of strong heat. A letter from your GP helps at security. Our guide to travelling abroad with medication has more on packing medicines. Before you arrive, look up the local emergency number (112 works across the EU) and where the nearest hospital is.
How to get a quote
Enter your trip details, declare your nut allergy and anything else the screening asks about, then choose your cover. You’ll see the price before you buy.
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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.
Nut allergy travel insurance FAQs
Do I need to declare a nut allergy on travel insurance?
Is a peanut allergy covered in the same way?
Can I take my EpiPen on the plane?
My child has a nut allergy. Do I need to declare it?
What should I do if I have a reaction abroad?
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