Travel insurance for diabetes
Expert tips for getting travel insurance with diabetes
Travelling with diabetes can be stressful; that’s why our travel insurance expert, Adrian Taylor, has some tips for searching for a suitable policy that matches your travel needs.
Adrian Taylor
Executive General Manager – General Insurance
Declare your pre-existing medical conditions
If you don’t declare your pre-existing medical conditions (including your diabetes) to your insurer, you may not be covered if you need to claim for medical or other expenses relating to your health conditions. Insurers typically assess your circumstances on a case-by-case basis and decide whether they’re able to cover you. Be aware that covering your pre-existing conditions may increase your overall premium, but needing medical treatment without having cover may cost even more.
Match your policy to your itinerary
When searching for the right travel insurance for your trip, you should consider what type of insurance you need, and what optional extras could be added. Some Australians may only be taking a single trip, while frequent travellers may be better suited by annual cover. If you plan on taking a cruise, consider adding cruise cover to your policy. Otherwise, you may not be covered for medical costs incurred onboard, even if you’re travelling in domestic waters.
Compare and save
When searching for a policy that covers your pre-existing medical conditions, you may want to compare travel insurance quotes across different providers and products using our online comparison tool. This allows you to browse through different policies for one that matches your budget and your travel needs.
Can I get travel insurance for diabetes?
Getting travel insurance for different types of diabetes (e.g. type 1 diabetes, type 2 diabetes and gestational diabetes) may be possible, depending on your insurer and the severity of your condition. However, you’ll typically need to complete an online medical screening provided by your insurer, which will allow them to assess your condition and whether they can offer cover.
Your diabetes may be covered either automatically or for an additional premium if:
- Your diabetes has been stable and you haven’t needed changes in medication in the last 12 months.
- You have no current planned surgery or treatment changes for your condition.
- You haven’t had any complications recently (e.g. in the last six months).
However, personal circumstances such as your age and other pre-existing medical conditions may affect whether you can get cover for your diabetes.
Understanding travel insurance for diabetes
What do I do if I have a medical emergency overseas?
If you have an unexpected medical emergency relating to your diabetes condition, you should seek medical help. Consider calling your insurer’s 24/7 emergency assistance hotline if you need help finding the right medical facility, or if the hospital requires you to pay upfront or show proof of your travel insurance before you can receive medical treatment.
What to consider when travelling with diabetes?
It’s still possible for you to have a great holiday, even when travelling with pre-existing medical conditions. However, there may be a few more steps to your travel plans that you should take into consideration. These include:
- Keeping your medication and equipment in your carry-on. If you keep your essential medical equipment and medication (such as your insulin pumps, syringes or glucose monitoring devices) in your checked luggage, there’s a chance it may be lost or delayed. Keep it in your hand luggage for safety and in case you need it mid-flight.
- Let airport security know that you’re a diabetic. It may help to have your equipment in the original packaging and to have a letter from your doctor to list your pre-existing conditions and any medications you need.
- Keep on eye on your blood glucose levels. While it’s tempting to get carried away having fun in the sun or exploring a foreign city, it’s important to keep an eye on your blood sugar. On long flights, it may also help to walk around the plane regularly.
Inclusions and exclusions of your medical cover
What’s included in medical travel insurance for diabetes?
Before you buy travel insurance for your trip, it can be worth checking the Product Disclosure Statement (PDS) to see what’s included in the policy. Medical cover is especially important when travelling with a pre-existing condition, as you won’t be covered by Medicare or private health insurance when travelling overseas.
Some medical benefits to keep an eye out for when comparing policies include:
- 24/7 emergency medical assistance
- Hospital treatment and cash allowance
- Surgeries and other emergency medical expenses
- Medication prescribed to you overseas
- Repatriation and medical evacuation back to Australia.
- Funeral expenses.
Always check the PDS to understand what you’re covered for. Read the Target Market Determination (TMD) to see if a policy matches your needs.
Other inclusions to your travel insurance for diabetes
Beyond just cover for medical expenses, a travel insurance policy can offer a range of other benefits that can help give you peace of mind on your trip. These may include:
- Trip cancellation cover. This can cover pre-booked accommodation or tours if bad weather delays your flight and you miss out on your accommodation, or if you need to cancel your trip part-way through due to a medical issue.
- Travel delays. If your travel is delayed due to situations out of your control such as severe weather, you may be covered for your additional accommodation and food expenses.
- Luggage cover. If your personal belongings are lost, stolen or damaged, you may be reimbursed the cost of replacing them. This may also include the cost of any lost or stolen insulin that needs to be replaced.
- Legal liability cover. If you accidently cause injury to another person or damage to their belongings, you may be covered for the legal costs involved.
Not all levels of cover will include all benefits, and they can also vary between travel insurance providers. Check the PDS before buying a policy to understand what you’re covered for.
What’s excluded from my travel insurance for diabetes?
Unfortunately, travel insurance companies can’t insure everything that may go wrong overseas. By reading over the exclusions of your travel insurance policy, you can keep yourself from getting caught out if you need to make a claim.
Common exclusions to your travel insurance cover may include:
- Routine medical treatment and prescription medication
- Expenses that have already been reimbursed (e.g. medical costs covered by a Reciprocal Health Care Agreement)
- Medical or cancellation costs for pre-existing medical conditions if you didn’t pay the additional premium if it was required, or your insurer wasn’t able to cover your conditions
- Losses to your belongings if you left them unattended in a public space
- Incidents where you were acting illegally or recklessly (e.g. you were riding a scooter without a helmet and had an accident).
The PDS of your policy will list the full details of what’s excluded from your travel insurance policy.
Meet our travel insurance expert, Adrian Taylor
As the Executive General Manager of General Insurance, Adrian Taylor believes in educating customers about the importance of travel insurance so that anyone can kick back and make the most of their time away from home. While no one wants a disrupted holiday, a suitable travel insurance policy can provide a financial safety net for yourself, your belongings and your trip in case things go wrong.