If you’re heading off on a trip soon but need to take weight loss injections with you, there might be a few things you aren’t aware of.
Here’s everything you need to know about weight loss injections and travelling.
What are weight loss injections?
They're a type of medication that can be used to help people lose weight or manage conditions like diabetes.
There are lots of different weight loss injections, which are also known as GLP-1 receptor agonists.
The most common ones include Ozempic, Wegovy or Mounjaro.
Do I need to tell my insurer about weight loss injections?
Yes, you should tell your insurer if:
- you take weight loss injections
- you’re going to be taking any on holiday with you
Insurers will ask you about the medications you take in your medical screening before you buy travel insurance.
Don’t worry – it's all totally confidential. It’s just important for us to figure out exactly what you need cover for.
If you don’t tell us about your weight loss injections, you risk making your travel insurance invalid. That means you wouldn’t be able to claim if something goes wrong.
You can find out more on our pre-existing medical conditions page.
What does my insurer need to know about my weight loss injections?
When taking out your policy, we’ll ask about things like:
- what kind of weight loss injection you’re taking
- why you’re taking weight loss injections
- if and why they were prescribed to you
- if your GP thinks it’s safe to travel while taking them
If you’re not sure whether it’s safe to travel while taking your weight loss injections, get in touch with your GP. They’ll be able to let you know what’s best.
Can I get cover for my weight loss injections?
It depends on whether you’re on a properly monitored health program and your GLP-1 medication has been prescribed by a GP.
If you’ve been prescribed GLP-1 on the NHS, you should be covered to travel.
But these days, you can buy different GLP-1 injections privately online. So, whether we can cover you depends on what kind of program you’re using to take them.
Get in touch with us if you want to check whether we cover your GLP-1 weight loss program.
You also might be taking GLP-1 injections to manage a specific condition, like diabetes. Whatever you’re taking them for, make sure you tell us about that condition too.
It’s worth looking into whether the GHIC or EHIC can also help with any GLP-1-related issues when you’re abroad.
Which GLP-1 injections aren’t covered by travel insurance?
We don’t cover GLP-1 injections that:
- you bought from an unofficial program
- aren't being monitored for you by a medical professional
- weren’t properly prescribed
- aren't medically cleared for human use
- haven't been declared on your travel insurance
If you’re not sure whether we can cover your GLP-1 injections, get in touch with us.
Can I take my injections abroad?
If you’re travelling from the UK with weight loss injections, here are a few important things to remember:
- You need to keep them in your hand luggage, not your hold luggage.
- Weight loss injections need to be stored at a certain temperature. So, it’s worth keeping them in a cooler or something similar so they don’t overheat while you travel.
- Store them in something that the needles can’t pierce through – this is an important one!
- Make sure you’ve got a doctor’s note with your injections, in case you’re stopped at security or customs.
And before you book your trip, remember to check the medication rules for wherever you’re heading. They can vary a lot from country to country, so it’s best to double check. There’s also a handy GOV.UK webpage that explains taking medications in and out of the UK.
How to store injections abroad
Travelling with your injections is one thing – but once you get to your destination, you need to make sure you can store them safely too.
Here are some things to think about before you jet off:
- Unopened GLP-1 injections need to be kept between 2℃ and 8℃. Check the box of your medication to see what the specific advice is for storing them.
- Make sure your accommodation has a fridge or cooler for your injections. If they’re not kept properly cool, they can quickly spoil and won’t be safe to use.
- Even if your booking says there’s a fridge available, it might be worth giving the accommodation a call ahead of time to make sure.
We’ve got a handy guide on travelling with medication if you want some general advice too.
What to do with used needles
Once you’ve taken your GLP-1 dose, you need to dispose of the needle safely.
Don’t ever just throw your loose used needle in the bin – this can be very dangerous and might even be illegal!
You should have been given a safe needle disposal box with your injections, but it might be a bit tricky to travel with.
Your best bet is to buy a smaller one online to take with you on your trip.
Then, before you head home, go to a hospital, doctor’s surgery or pharmacy to dispose of the box. There should be someone there who can take it off your hands.
Remember – disposal rules change from country to country, so do some research on what the rules are for where you’re travelling to.
If you’re taking a dose of GLP-1 on the plane, tell the onboard crew that you’re planning to. They can then handle the disposal of the needle if needed.
Declaring your medication
It’s super important that you tell us you’re taking GLP-1 medication when you take out your policy. If you don’t, we can’t cover you during your trip if you need to claim.
Make sure you’ve got the name and dosage of your medication, along with who prescribed it to you.
If you’re not taking the injections for weight loss, please let us know what medical condition they’re for. This helps us make sure the information on your policy is right and you stay covered.
If you’ve already got annual Multi-Trip cover with us and have only recently started taking GLP-1, get in touch with us to tell us about it.
What do I do if my injections are lost or stolen on holiday?
You might be able to claim if your GLP-1 medication is stolen or lost on holiday. Head to our make a claim page if that’s happened to you.
Don’t forget, you won’t be covered if you don’t tell us about this medication when you take out your policy.
If you urgently need another dose, call our 24/7 emergency helpline on +44 (0)2920107777 to let us know what’s happened so we can help.
Don’t forget that limits and exclusions always apply here, so make sure you check your policy book.
