Are you suffering from diabetes? If yes, it is natural to take more precautions, especially when traveling. Check out some of the best travel insurance for diabetics.
While this condition can pose many challenges, it shouldn’t be a reason to stop traveling and seeing the world. But before you decide to travel, make sure you have the best travel insurance for diabetics in your hand. It is vital for your safety and health.
But choosing the right travel insurance for this pre-existing condition can be tricky. However, you don’t have to worry because I have everything sorted for you. From the importance of getting insurance to the kind of coverage you should consider, read to find all the answers to your possible questions.
Our Favorite Travel Insurance Options
| Category | Tour |
|---|---|
| Best Overall | CoverAmerica Gold |
| Best Reliability | Travelex Insurance |
| Best for Young Travelers | SafetyWing |
| Best Travel Insurance Marketplace | TravelInsurance.com |
Best Travel Insurance Providers for Diabetics
Now that you know what to look for in suitable travel insurance, here are my recommendations that you can consider for your upcoming trip. You can purchase your insurance from any of these companies. Or, if possible, consider these options as a good start for your search.
Travelex Insurance Services
Travelex is another excellent insurance company with plans to meet all your needs. It has three major travel insurance plans, Travel Select, Travel Basic, and Travel America.
While Travel Basic is an affordable plan than the rest of the two, Travel Select offers far more coverage and is suitable travel insurance for type 1 diabetic children.
Travel Select insurance covers kids under 17 and is a trustworthy plan for pre-existing medical conditions like diabetes. However, to enjoy its benefits for diabetes, you must purchase the program 15 days before making a trip payment.
This plan also provides additional upgrades on medical coverage. Travel America is another perfect plan for traveling with your seven other friends in the USA. This plan highlights the importance of travel insurance for domestic travel.
It also offers coverage for any pre-existing condition. However, to avail of it, you must buy the plan within three days of the final payment you make for your trip. Travel America provides coverage for 14 days only and applies to your travels in the USA.
For your international and long trips, consider purchasing Travel Select. Like what you are hearing? Read our full Travelex review to learn more.
Allianz Travel Insurance
Another competitive insurance company on this list, Allianz, offers various insurance plans to meet individual requirements. Moreover, it also provides annual travel insurance for people who frequent trips all year round.
Allianz’s OneTrip Premier Plan offers coverage for pre-existing conditions like diabetes. According to Allianz’s policies, any illness that has caused a person to visit a doctor within 120 days before the insurance date is a pre-existing condition.
To enjoy the coverage benefits, purchase this insurance within 14 days of your first trip payment. Moreover, you must be a US resident and be medically perfect for traveling when the insurance is purchased.
The OneTrip Premier is an upgraded and expensive version of OneTrip Prime and provides one million dollars for emergency transport benefits and up to $50,000 for medical services.
However, both are the best options for travel insurance for type 1 diabetic children as they cover all kids under 17 for free. You can choose the insurance according to your planned investment and coverage requirements.
All the above insurance providers are great in their ways. However, whichever insurance provider or plan you consider, ensure it offers the best cost/coverage ratio and has a wide scope.
World Nomads
World Nomads offers customizable insurance policies that vary according to coverage and costs. They provide two basic plans for all requirements, including travel insurance for people with diabetes.
The Standard Plan offers low coverage but at an affordable price. However, the Explorer Plan provides extended coverage at a premium cost. Regarding diabetics, World Nomads has a travel plan for all medical costs incurred in a foreign country. This insurance policy generally covers the following:
- Hospitalization costs
- Medical Emergencies
- Medicines and X-rays
The cost and coverage of your insurance depend on your medical history, current condition, and any limitations. Moreover, World Nomad’s top-class customer service provides you with 24-hour assistance. This service can help you find the nearest hospital and navigate local customs.
If you are a USA resident, World Nomads is one of the best insurance companies to get personalized travel insurance for diabetics. Like what you are hearing? Read more in our full World Nomads travel insurance review.
What Is Travel Insurance for Diabetics?
Imagine you are holidaying in a foreign country and suddenly you fall ill. Because you have diabetes, you rush to a hospital before things worsen. But upon reaching, you learn the facility won’t check you because you don’t have a proper financial guarantee or travel insurance for diabetics.
Or even if they decide to manage your illness, the final bill will be in thousands of dollars you can’t afford. Won’t you panic more and worsen your situation? What is the point of this kind of vacation, anyway?
Purchasing travel insurance for your condition in your holiday planning stage is always wise to prevent such incidents. This piece of paper can save you millions of dollars and hassles.
Travel insurance for diabetics takes care of all the medical expenses that may incur in emergencies. Moreover, the policy pays for any charges after you have missed a flight because of your illness. There are many other things as well that these insurances cover. However, it depends on the type and coverage it mentions.
But Why Do You Need a “Diabetes Travel Insurance” Only?
Now you may ask why I need this particular type of insurance only. Don’t other kinds cover the medical costs for diabetic patients? Most travel insurances don’t have coverages for “pre-existing medical conditions.” This term refers to an illness you already have and was aware of before you signed an insurance policy.
But is diabetes a pre-existing condition for travel insurance? Yes, it is, and no providers automatically cover it. Only authentic travel insurance for diabetics can help you pay for this condition in case of an emergency.
In some cases, you may be reluctant to disclose your illness because maybe it is under control. Or you don’t want to spend money on insurance that you believe won’t benefit you in any way.
It is natural to act that way. But remember, if something terrible happens and it leads to your disclosure, you may also not be covered by a regular insurer.
What Coverages Should You Consider?
There are many factors to consider before you invest your money in travel insurance for people with diabetes. If you are seeking travel insurance for type 1 diabetes or even type 2, for that matter, look for policies that offer broad coverage. For instance, the best travel insurance for type 1 diabetics will most probably cover for :
- Any stolen or lost medicine, such as insulin
- An unforeseen medical intervention like hospitalization
- Expenses incurred on flight missed because of your unhealthy state
Depending on your health condition and required coverage, your travel insurance for diabetics can be your best savior in a foreign land. So, it is pretty vital to book one before your departure. But how do you get the best travel insurance for diabetics? Follow the questions below to help you make the right choice.
Does Your Existing Insurance Offer Coverage for Diabetics?
Before you buy new travel insurance for diabetics, check whether your current insurance policy covers your needs. Most insurance providers offer coverage for pre-existing conditions, but it is pretty rare.
However, there is no harm in trying out your luck. For your information only, the insurance you get using an American Express Platinum credit card or Mastercard to buy your flight tickets does not cover any pre-existing conditions. So, please don’t consider them to pay for your diabetes-related emergency expenses.
You can always ask your current insurer to include a policy on diabetes in your existing insurance. Some companies provide this service but at a specific price. The additional cost is far less than getting a new insurance policy. If your insurer doesn’t accept your request, you have no choice but to spend money on separate travel insurance for diabetics.
See Related: Best Travel Insurance for Pre-Existing Conditions
What to Look for in a Travel Insurance for Diabetics?
You have the money and will to invest in insurance but are clueless about which one to get. I understand your problem because hundreds of insurance companies are available online, and each one wants you to buy their policies. To ensure your investment doesn’t go to waste, you must be quite careful with your selection.
Every travel insurance for type 1 diabetes and even type 2 offers different terms and coverage levels. You must review each policy to ensure the insurance’s conditions meet your requirements.
Many travel insurance marketplaces like TraveInsurance.com and SafetyWIng can help you find reliable insurance plans. But it would be best to be vigilant enough to compare them according to their terms and conditions. Here are a few things you must pay attention to:
Look-Back Period
To relinquish your condition, some insurance companies ask you to prove your state’s “stable status.” They may request evidence as old as a year. But there might be many who won’t demand anything. In either case, abide by the terms to claim any coverage as required.
Buying Period
All travel insurance coverage must be purchased within one, 14, or 30 days of your final payment date. It is necessary irrespective of your medical condition.
Scope
Any general travel insurance for diabetics covers basic needs such as emergency expenses, loss of medicines, or flight cancellation. If you need a policy offering more than that, you must discuss it with your insurer. The policy scope you require should be clear, so you only pay for what you want.
Best Cost/Coverage Ratio
The best travel insurance for diabetics is one whose cost balances its coverage. The more expensive the insurance, the more facilities it provides. Don’t go overboard with unnecessary coverage. Find a policy that offers a satisfactory cost/coverage ratio.
But make sure to avoid cheap travel insurance for diabetics as much as possible. They often lack even basic coverage and are mostly useless.
Is Travel Insurance for Diabetics Expensive?
The most common misconception regarding travel insurance for diabetics is that it is expensive. It may be true compared to a simple policy, but as long as it covers all your unique needs and justifies the price, you don’t have to worry about its cost.
Moreover, you can always find cheap travel insurance for diabetics after reviewing and comparing the available policies. Or, you can negotiate with your insurer and purchase it at a reasonable rate for both of you. You can always play the “customer card” and ask the company to lower their rate, or you will shift to another insurer.
Please don’t be reluctant to purchase insurance only because it may hurt your pocket. Look at the benefits it may provide you and save yourself from any future hassles.
How to Travel Safe with Diabetes
Diabetes or any pre-existing medical condition shouldn’t be taken lightly. While travel insurance for diabetics will cover your emergency expenses as required, it is always safe to prevent such incidents.
If you are planning a holiday soon, here are a few things you can take care of to avoid getting unwell.
Maintain Your Insulin Levels
To manage diabetes, ensure your insulin dosage stays normal on the flight. You can always ask the airline to arrange specific food for you. Or you can opt for your home-cooked meals for long journeys.
Prepare an Emergency Plan
To avoid a mishap, write an emergency plan. It should contain the contact numbers and addresses of people close to you. Also, write down your medicines and information on your glucose measurement devices. You should always have a list of instructions that may help the other person save you from an unpleasant incident.
Always Carry More
Bad times don’t inform us before coming. Always carry extra medications, insulin, and syringes to save yourself from holiday regrets. Moreover, carry a spare meter to check your glucose levels whenever needed.
See Related: Best Health Insurance When Visiting the United States
Visit Your Doctor Before Traveling
Don’t hesitate to visit your consultant before your trip. He may adjust your medication according to different time zones or suggest the types of food you can consume while traveling. Also, request your doctor for a signed letter mentioning your condition and a list of medicines.
When you buy travel insurance for diabetics, take its fine print and go through every point. Don’t rely on the company to look after your required coverage. Let me repeat that just because you have a pre-existing condition like diabetes, you shouldn’t let that deter you from going on your most-awaited trip.
The benefit of having authentic travel insurance is that it gives you medical security so you can focus on your fun times with a free mind. Just make sure your chosen plan covers all your concerns, offers excellent customer service, and is comparatively affordable. And you are good to go!
Can you get travel insurance if you have type 2 diabetes?
Yes, you can get travel insurance if you have Type 2 diabetes. Disclosing your condition during the application process is crucial as it is considered a pre-existing condition. Some insurers may charge a higher premium or have certain restrictions, but many specialist providers offer coverage for travelers with diabetes.
Is diabetes considered a pre-existing condition for travel insurance?
Yes, diabetes is typically considered a pre-existing condition for travel insurance. Pre-existing conditions are health issues that were present before the insurance policy started. Insurance providers usually require customers to disclose such conditions to determine coverage terms and premiums.
Can you travel overseas with diabetes?
Yes, you can travel overseas with diabetes. It requires some extra planning to manage the condition effectively during travel. You should carry sufficient medication supplies, keep them in your carry-on luggage, and know how time zone changes might affect your medication schedule.
Does travel insurance cover diabetes?
Diabetes can be covered by travel insurance, but it often depends on the specifics of the policy and the insurance provider. Many insurance policies cover pre-existing conditions like diabetes, but it’s vital to disclose the condition when applying for coverage. Always verify with the insurance provider to ensure you are adequately covered for any diabetes-related medical expenses during your trip.
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