Follow along with the video below to see how to install our site as a web app on your home screen.
Note: This feature may not be available in some browsers.
Please Remember: Members are only permitted to share their own experiences. Members are not qualified to give medical advice. Additionally, everyone manages their health differently. Please be respectful of other people's opinions about their own diabetes management.
We seem to be having technical difficulties with new user accounts. If you are trying to register please check your Spam or Junk folder for your confirmation email. If you still haven't received a confirmation email, please reach out to our support inbox: support.forum@diabetes.org.uk
Could some of you please share your experiences of trying to get insurance of any type since you received you diabetes diagnosis/as someone living with diabetes?
We would like to know about the challenges that PLWD have with getting insurance. Please share your thoughts here.
Since my diagnostics, my experience with different types of insurance have been
- car insurance - no problem but surprised I have to declare I have diabetes in addition to the 3 year driving license. Why am I being asked when less than 3 years ago my doctor declared me fit to drive which is more than happens with most people.
- travel insurance. I always get travel insurance that covers diabetes. This is much much more expensive than standard insurance but I feel there are so many possible diabetes complications that I don’t want an insure declining the pay and me having to prove my fall had nothing to do with a hypo or sudden kidney problems were not diabetes related or a heart attack was due to being more susceptible with diabetes. With good diabetes management, this is very frustrating as I am not convinced I am significa try more at risk.
- health insurance. Health Insurance has not covered standard diabetes management which is fine and I was pleased to see complications were covered without a premium being added to the cost due to my diabetes.
- life insurance. This has always been provided through work with no questions about diabetes.
I’m really surprised you have been asked to pay more for travel insurance, @helli. Whenever I've used an online comparison site, it never adds anything on when I tick the Diabetes box. OH on the other hand gets his premium doubled, because of age and the usual cocktail of drugs (BP, blood thinner, statins). This is single trip insurance, I haven't taken out an annual policy for a few years because we haven’t been sure where/if we're going to travel.
@Robin i buy more expensive insurance rather than pay more for the same insurance as others. The usual insurance does not cover pre existing conditions. Hence buying the more expensive travel insurance that covers anything related to diabetes.
@Robin i buy more expensive insurance rather than pay more for the same insurance as others. The usual insurance does not cover pre existing conditions. Hence buying the more expensive travel insurance that covers anything related to diabetes.
Ah, right, I think I get what you mean. Do you mean if you get a really cheap rock bottom quote, then it will bump up the premium if you add diabetes? I usually don’t go for the cheapest quotes, on a 'you get what you pay for' basis, but the first reasonable looking one. (When I look at a quote after I've declared my diabetes, I usually check it by getting a quote from the same company without declaring diabetes, to check they are the same.)
I looked into life insurance after Jane died, and as soon as you put ‘diabetes’ on the form it renders the whole thing null and void from a ‘what you put in vs what you might get out’ perspective.
Unless you think you’ve got less than 20 years left in you, you were better off putting the premiums in a shoebox under your bed. 🙄
@Robin. In my experience travel insurance is fixed price. They don’t bump up the price for diabetes, just remove what is covered. When I read the small print, pre existing conditions such as diabetes and anything they could suggest maybe “caused by“ diabetes is not covered.
Travel insurance differs. I recommend reading all the small print before taking out the cover.
@everydayupsanddowns - that's exactly what the people in our Life dep't (I worked for a very large insurance company) told me when I was 22+ - so practically 50 years ago. In any event we had both 'Death in Service' @ 2 x Annual Salary plus 'Accidental Death' cover @ 4 x Ann Sal including commuting - so I always told Husband Mk1 to make sure only to have a car accident when he was taking me to work!
We now only go to Europe so have never bothered with travel ins. After the B word, I now would buy it, but not concerned about D itself really as in any event with either EHIC or the replacement for that, you still have to pay to consult the local GP in the first instance, whether in France, Spain or wherever. Something like 25Euros upfront, and prescription drugs are normally payable anyway, but comparatively cheaply.
I had annual travel insurance through my Bank and notified them on diagnosis. I was surcharged £132 for the year as a diet controlled diabetic, plus £75 for when I turned 70. I think I might regret letting it lapse last year when COVID struck and both holidays were cancelled, as I have since been prescribed medication. It has not affected my car insurance.
I’ve had life insurance since before diagnosis and on occasions I get calls from other companies telling me they can get me it cheaper, I always reply I doubt you’d want me now! I’m leaving it well alone!
As for travel insurance, I tick the box to “I’m an insulin dependent diabetic, no hospital stays or complications”, and it’s very reasonable, I also declare the BP meds. Mr Eggy on the other hand! The insurance companies really don’t like folks with dodgy tickers! In 2018 after his four heart attacks in four months, his insurance was a quarter of the price of the holiday as he was awaiting a procedure. It’s much cheaper now, not that we’ve had an chance to purchase any for almost two years.
I was once refused for an endowment mortgage for a term of 25 years as the underwriters didn't think I would live that long.. Jokes on them as that was 25 years ago and I'm not dead yet.
initially when getting early car insurance I found many companies did load the policy due to diabetes but not in recent years. I always make a point of declaring it and generally the only questions I get asked are do DVLA know and is it well controlled.
My travel insurance is through my bank and they only ask to be notified of medical conditions and any changes in health.
I will say though that every time I have tried to get insurance through diabetes UK suggested brokers they have been on average 3 times more expensive for both car and travel insurance.
I struggle to get travel insurance that covers what I need as it always exempts problems with my eyes and legs which are the two main complications I have. I had to cancel 2 holidays a few years back due to being in hospital and come back early from one with retinal haemorrhages ,after that I have struggled to get cover that is reasonably priced compared to the cost of the holiday.
Until I mention Clopidrogel they're OK with me - but once I tell them I take it because I have intermittent claudication their attitude slightly changes!
Could some of you please share your experiences of trying to get insurance of any type since you received you diabetes diagnosis/as someone living with diabetes?
We would like to know about the challenges that PLWD have with getting insurance. Please share your thoughts here.
