How skinny jabs could invalidate your holiday insurance
One area this could catch people out is how taking these drugs abroad could impact someone's travel insurance.
Stories of people having their insurance suddenly revoked once their provider had found out they were taking one of the jabs have been popping up in forum posts across the internet.
Drugs like Wegovy and Mounjaro are prescribed on the NHS for people with obesity, but interest among healthy people about their potential weight-loss benefits has led to a surge in demand for them.
They can not be legally purchased without a doctor recommending them to a patient, but this has not stopped a booming marketplace for them from appearing on the internet.
Recently, ITV News was able to purchase skinny jab pens via an Instagram account, which had posted some of the videos, and tests later revealed the substance was unfit for human use.
Numerous health bodies have warned against them being taken for "aesthetic" reasons.
The Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency said last year, the "benefits and risks of using these medicines for weight loss by individuals who do not have obesity or who are not overweight with weight-related comorbidities have not been studied."
With most of these drugs requiring a once-weekly injection, many people who choose to take them may assume they can easily take them abroad so they do not miss a dose while on holiday.
But this is not the case, Ozempic, Mounjaro or any of the other weight loss jabs are serious medications, and they should not be treated like paracetamol or something you can just buy over the counter.
The Association of British Travel Agents told ITV News it is always advisable to check with the FCDO travel advice to see if there are any restrictions in place when taking medications into the country you are visiting.
Not every country in the world has approved the same weight-loss drugs as the UK has, and airport officials may have questions about any medication they find, especially if it is not approved in their country.
What happens if you don't inform your provider that you take one of the jabs?
There are two key answers here, and it depends on whether the drug is being taken as part of a preexisting condition or if it is being taken for personal reasons only and has not been prescribed by a doctor.
First of all, you need to declare a pre-existing condition to your travel insurance provider anyway.
This will likely result in a higher premium, but if you do not and the provider finds out, they may cancel your cover.
They will also likely refuse to pay out if you fall ill due to the condition while on holiday.
If one of the jabs has been prescribed for the preexisting condition they it is unlikely you will need to also reveal the medication you are taking for it.
Where it is less clear cut is if the drug is being taken and it has not been prescribed.
If the drug causes side effects to the user without it being prescribed, and medical attention is needed, then an insurance provider may refuse to pay to cover the cost.
They could go as far as cancelling the insurance altogether, but this will vary from provider to provider.
What have travel provider insurers said?
ITV News asked several major travel insurance providers what their stances were on customers taking Ozempic, Wegovy or Mounjaro, and they warned against keeping it secret, but had different views on whether it would outright invalidate any cover they provide.
Admiral told ITV News that not declaring the medication itself won't invalidate the insurance, but failing to disclose the underlying condition it is prescribed for would.
They said if someone was taking it without GP advice, "not disclosing it to your travel insurer could impact your cover if side effects lead to a claim."
Alan Dean, Managing Director of travel insurer, CoverForYou, told ITV News: "Taking prescription medication without a prescription is both illegal and potentially dangerous, therefore, taking any prescribed medication without a prescription would also invalidate your insurance.
"To be really clear, any claim directly or indirectly caused by you taking prescribed medication without a prescription would be invalid.
"It's also worth noting, if you're taking prescription medication out of the UK, you should check the rules of the country you're going to.
"You may need to prove it's yours with either a prescription or letter from your doctor."
Aviva said: "Our policies require customers to inform us of any diagnosed illness, disease, or injury for which they have been prescribed medication; received or are awaiting tests/investigations; been under or are still under a specialist, or have been admitted to hospital or had surgery.
"This includes anyone who has been prescribed weight loss medication - such as Ozempic or Mounjaro - for obesity. If a customer fails to disclose a medical condition - such as obesity - for which they've been prescribed medication, we will not cover any claims relating to this under the terms of the policy."
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Independent
10 minutes ago
- The Independent
Pharmacy warning of unsustainable demand for weight loss medication
The National Pharmacy Association (NPA) has issued a warning that the burgeoning demand for weight loss injections may be unsustainable, citing a significant mismatch between public interest and clinical suitability for the treatments. The NPA, which represents over 6,000 independent community pharmacies, highlighted this concern. A poll commissioned by the association revealed that 21 per cent of respondents had attempted to access weight loss treatments in the past year, either online or directly from a pharmacy. This figure surged to 35 per cent among 16 to 34-year-olds, contrasting sharply with just seven per cent of those over 55. There were also 41% who agreed they would opt for weight loss treatments on the NHS if they were made available to them. This figure rose to 64% among 25 to 34-year-olds, despite many of these patients being unlikely to be clinically eligible. The NPA says the poll, in which 2,002 people were interviewed, reflects an increasing demand for private and NHS weight loss services. NPA chairman Olivier Picard said: 'Weight loss jabs are one of the biggest drug innovations this century, but growing demand for weight loss treatment highlights the need to make sure this is appropriate for those who want it. 'It's clear from this polling that many more people are interested in getting weight loss jabs than would actually be suitable for treatment. 'We want to make sure supplies are carefully managed so that those in most clinical need can benefit from weight loss medication.' Spiralling demand, fuelled partly by social media, could see people being tempted to resort to unregulated online suppliers instead of regulated pharmacies staffed by medical professionals, they fear. Online suppliers may not be offering weight loss jabs alongside a structured programme aimed at helping them change their behaviour. Wegovy and Mounjaro are among a number of drugs that are recommended to help tackle obesity on the NHS. Mounjaro and Wegovy are licensed by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) for use in patients with a BMI of over 30 or between 27 and 30 but with a weight-related co-morbidity. This occurs when an individual who has obesity develops another medical condition due to their weight. The NHS currently rolls out Mounjaro to patients with a BMI of over 40 and at least four co-morbidities, the NPA says. The NPA is calling for new regulations to protect patients buying weight loss medication online, so there is a full two-way consultation and all relevant historical medical records are reviewed before the treatment is prescribed. They are waiting for more details about the role pharmacies could play in the rollout of the NHS weight management programme. At least 85% of weight loss medication prescriptions were made by pharmacies in April this year, the NPA estimates. Mr Picard said: 'Pharmacists are experts in medication and many have extensive experience delivering weight loss injections as part of a package of care, including lifestyle advice. 'Pharmacies are well placed to help roll this treatment out on the NHS, and help people make the best use of these powerful medicines.'
Daily Mirror
5 hours ago
- Daily Mirror
'I thought my snoring was from blocked nose, but it was something far worse'
Cornwall mum-of-two Claire Barbery was left in shock after what she thought was a blocked nose and snoring turned out to be something much more serious A mum-of-two was left stunned after what she thought was a harmless blocked nose and new snoring habit turned out to be a sign of a rare and aggressive cancer, which was already eroding her skull. Claire Barbery, 51, from Newquay, Cornwall, had no idea her mild symptoms were anything to worry about. In fact, she nearly cancelled the very hospital appointment that would change, and possibly save, her life. Claire, who works in a care home, put her persistent nasal blockage down to repeated Covid tests and thought nothing of the fact that she had suddenly started snoring at night. She said: 'I started snoring, which I'd never done before. I was waking up breathing through my mouth. Even then, I nearly cancelled my hospital appointment. I didn't want to waste anyone's time.' But in January 2023, after months of no improvement and with her concerns growing, she finally sought help. The mum had olfactory neuroblastoma, a rare cancer that grows in the upper part of the nasal cavity. Scans revealed a 5cm tumour that had already begun eating away at the bone at the base of her skull. Claire was immediately sent for complex and high-risk surgery at Birmingham's Queen Elizabeth Hospital, where consultant surgeon Shahz Ahmed, who specialises in the type of procedure she needed, removed the tumour in a delicate operation that was filmed for Channel 5's gripping documentary Surgeons: A Matter of Life or Death. He explained: 'This was a very rare form of cancer. It had already gone through the skull base and into the base of the brain. If we hadn't acted, it could have spread through her body. The surgery was high risk – we were working close to the brain's main blood supply, with dangers of stroke, seizures, and even death.' The operation was a success, but not without cost. To ensure all the cancer was removed, surgeons had to take out Claire's olfactory bulbs, meaning she's now permanently lost her sense of smell. After her surgery, Claire underwent six gruelling weeks of chemotherapy and radiotherapy. She's now under close monitoring but is slowly returning to work and spending quality time with her husband Gary and daughters Lowenna, 27, and Keizha, 25. 'I very nearly didn't go to that appointment,' Claire said. 'I thought, 'There's nothing wrong – don't waste NHS time.' But looking back, that decision could've cost me my life.' Now, as part of World Head and Neck Cancer Day, Claire is working with the UK's Get A-Head Charitable Trust to raise awareness and urge others to take persistent symptoms seriously, no matter how small they seem. She said: 'If you know your body, you've got to push. If something feels wrong – don't ignore it.'
Daily Mirror
6 hours ago
- Daily Mirror
'Our little girl died four years ago and we're still waiting to find out why'
The grieving family of Bonnie Marsh, who died after collapsing in hospital, have been left with more bad news after being told an inquest into her death has been delayed again The devastated parents of a little girl who died after collapsing in hospital say they feel 'let down again and again" as a long-awaited inquest into her death is delayed yet again, nearly four years on. Bonnie Marsh, just four years old, tragically died in December 2021 after falling seriously ill with vomiting and exhaustion. Despite three visits to hospital, where her mum says she was 'dying in her arms', the bubbly schoolgirl was not admitted until it was too late Now, her grieving parents Lauren and Liam Marsh are still fighting for answers, but the inquest they had hoped would finally give them closure has been pushed back once more. And the heartbroken couple have revealed a string of horrifying discoveries in the wake of their daughter's death — including learning her body had been frozen without their consent. Mum Lauren, 33, said: "She's my daughter, but it feels like she's been the NHS 's property since she died. We were finally at the point of getting answers, and it's been taken away from us. We've just been let down again.' Bonnie, who had just started school and adored Disney's The Lion King, seemed full of a cold on December 14 four years ago when she came home from school. Two days later, she passed out in the bathroom after being sick. Paramedics told her family her observations were 'fine' and said the hospital wasn't necessary. But her concerned mum insisted on taking her in anyway, explaining: "She was still being sick, floppy and lethargic." Bonnie was seen again at Norfolk and Norwich Hospital the following day but sent home. On December 18, Lauren knew something was seriously wrong. She added: "She was freezing cold, floppy and dying in my arms. I was wandering around the hospital begging someone to help.' A cleaner, not a nurse or doctor, eventually guided her to the Children's Assessment Unit and said the tot was "very poorly," Lauren explained. As Bonnie's condition worsened, doctors handed Lauren a syringe and told her to feed her daughter tiny drops of water, despite her being close to death. Lauren said: 'They gave me the syringe to put water in my dying daughter's mouth. They said they'd restarted her heart and were transferring her by helicopter. But before we could leave, doctors ran back into the room. They said it was time to say goodbye — but when I walked in, she was already gone.' Ever since the tragic death, Lauren says her family haven't received any support or guidance and that police weren't contacted about the sudden death. Initially, the cause of death was said to be dehydration due to norovirus. A post-mortem later showed Bonnie had also tested positive for Covid and flu. But then doctors at N&N said she may have died due to a genetic condition, and an interim death certificate listed an 'inborn error of metabolism'. However, specialists at Addenbrooke's, Great Ormond Street, and even a clinic in Germany all found no evidence of any such condition. To make matters worse, the family were told after her death that Bonnie's body had been frozen to preserve samples. Lauren added: 'I hadn't signed anything. I had no idea. I was heartbroken. When I finally saw her, she didn't look like my Bonnie anymore.' Bonnie's inquest was finally scheduled to begin this July, but just three days before it was due to start, the family were told it was being postponed again because a witness was unavailable. At a brief hearing, area coroner Johanna Thompson said: "Bonnie's inquest was due to take place this week, but there were difficulties with the attending witness… It has now been relisted for October 29 and 30.' However, the family aren't hopeful anything will get done this time and are refusing to put it in their calendar. Lauren explained: "Every delay sets us back three months. Every time, someone needs more time to review evidence. I don't think we're going to get an apology. I just want a concrete answer about what my daughter died from.' In a statement, Tracey Bleakley, Executive Managing Director at Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital, said: "Our deepest condolences are with Bonnie's family following their loss and we are sorry to hear there have been delays in the inquest process. It is entirely right that the circumstances are fully reviewed by the coroner following our own internal review. A full inquest… will provide the opportunity to answer all the family's questions.'
