Cover,Take Care

Travelling with Diabetes? Find Out If You’re Covered

7 March 2020

Travel with Kit covers many pre-existing medical conditions, but the one we’re asked about the most is diabetes. Here’s what you need to know.

Like all travel insurers, there’s a list of pre-existing medical conditions that we automatically cover in relation to medical or trip-cancellation claims. Often, customers ask us about how their diabetes condition might affect their cover. The good news is, we cover diabetes, as long as you have not been hospitalised for the condition within the last two years.

Diabetes mellitus (type I)

Type I diabetes, also known as insulin-dependent diabetes, is on on our list of included pre-existing conditions, and only a few conditions apply.

The first thing you need to know is that you’re covered, provided that your diagnosis was made more than 12 months ago. Next, for automatic cover you need to under 50 years when buying your policy.

Finally, if you’re suffering additional complications such as eye, kidney, nerve or vascular conditions, or have a known cardiovascular disease, hypertension, hyperlipidaemia or hypercholesterolaemia, we won’t be able to cover you automatically.

So if you have a recent type I diabetes diagnosis, or kidney, nerve or heart complications, or cardiovascular disease, hypertension, hyperlipidaemia or hypercholesterolaemia, it might be a good idea to look at taking out extra insurance, to cover you in case of a medical emergency overseas.

Fortunately Travel with Kit offers additional cover for non-included conditions, easily added during your online policy purchase.

Find out about medical screening and extra medical cover here.

Diabetes mellitus (type II)

Travel with Kit’s emergency medical benefit includes cover for claims related to diabetes mellitus (type II). This pre-existing medical conditions is covered providing you were diagnosed over 12 months ago,  and have no eye, kidney, nerve or vascular complications. You’re also only covered for Type 2 diabetes as long as you do not also suffer from a known cardiovascular disease, hypertension, hyperlipidaemia or hypercholesterolaemia.

Travel with Kit provides additional medical cover for type 1 and type 2 diabetes complications. The screening process is super quick, and it all happens online. Simply answer a few questions about your condition at Step 2 of your quote.

Gestational diabetes

Gestational diabetes is the third main form of diabetes, and occurs when pregnant women without a previous history of diabetes develop high blood sugar levels. This form of diabetes is not automatically covered on our standard policies, however there is an option for pregnant travellers.

See on how cover works with gestational diabetes and other pregnancy related medical conditions.

Travel with Kit offers an optional extra Pregnancy Pack, designed to give expectant mothers more of the medical cover they need. Included in the list of pregnancy-related conditions we cover here, is gestational diabetes. If you’re currently diagnosed with gestational diabetes or at risk, and looking to travel soon, our Pregnancy Pack is a good way to extend your medical cover.

For gestational diabetes cover, check out Kit’s Pregnancy Pack here.

about related cardiovascular conditions

Diabetes (type I and type II), hypertension, hypercholesterolaemia and hyperlipidaemia are risk factors for cardiovascular disease. If you have a history of cardiovascular disease, and it is a pre-existing medical condition, cover for these conditions is also excluded.

Understand your cover

Conditions and exclusions apply to every cover level and optional pack. View our Combined Product Disclosure Statement and Financial Services Guide for full details. Sub-limits apply. Not sure? Our friendly team are here to help. Get in touch

icon-pdf