UK travel insurer issues guidance on weight loss injections abroad

With over 1.5 million people in the UK now using weight loss injections like Wegovy, Ozempic and Mounjaro – many via private clinics or online providers – confusion is mounting over how to travel safely and legally with these medications.

These medications, originally prescribed for diabetes, have quickly gained popularity as weight loss tools, often accessed through private clinics or online providers.

To address growing uncertainty – particularly among holidaymakers – UK travel insurance provider Staysure has issued a set of essential guidelines aimed at helping travellers to safely and legally take their weight loss medication abroad.

The advice highlights the importance of having a valid prescription, declaring the medication when buying travel insurance, and ensuring the treatment is part of a supervised medical programme. Travellers are also urged to confirm that the injection is properly recorded in their medical notes and to get their GP’s clearance that they are fit to fly.

“These are prescription drugs with real medical implications, and that means they need to be treated seriously when buying a policy,” said Simon McCulloch, Staysure’s Chief Growth Officer. “We’ve created this guidance to help people navigate that grey area with more confidence, and to help prevent avoidable surprises if something goes wrong while they’re away.”

Failure to follow the proper protocols could result in rejected insurance claims or other complications if travellers fall ill or experience side effects overseas. The guidelines also caution against purchasing injections from unverified online sources or overseas pharmacies without a UK prescription.

Staysure advises that while the guidelines aim to clarify the situation, travellers should always read the fine print of their individual policy and consult their insurer for any specific queries.

The travel insurer recently introduced a policy update to better support holidaymakers awaiting diagnosis for medical conditions.