Our analysis reveals widespread confusion about whether or not well-liked weight-loss medicines represent pre-existing medical circumstances for insurance coverage functions. The analysis coincides with the corporate’s launch of enhanced pre-existing circumstances evaluation inside its Journey Insurance coverage Value Benchmarking Software, now probably the most complete journey insurance coverage protection software within the UK market.
The analysis, carried out amongst circa 1,000 UK adults in August 2025, discovered that 26% of respondents had been not sure the way to classify weight administration injections comparable to Mounjaro, Wegovy, and Ozempic,  medicines which have seen explosive development, with 6% of the inhabitants having used them. This adoption fee is especially putting given NHS England knowledge displaying these medicines solely turned broadly obtainable via the well being service in late 2023.
Key Findings Spotlight Classification Disaster
The survey reveals a fragmented understanding of those therapies, with respondents classifying weight administration injections as:
- Final-resort medical interventions (28%)
- Medical therapies for well being circumstances (24%)
- Beauty therapies for look (11%)
- Life-style help instruments (10%)
- Not sure (26%)
“This confusion is not tutorial;  it has actual penalties for hundreds of thousands of Britons buying journey and medical health insurance,” mentioned Ian Hughes, CEO of Client Intelligence.
“When 1 / 4 of the inhabitants does not know whether or not their medicine counts as a pre-existing situation, we’re seeing an ideal storm for declare disputes and protection gaps. The Monetary Ombudsman Service reported a 23% enhance in journey insurance coverage complaints in 2024, with medical disclosure disputes being a number one trigger.”
The Stakes: A Rising Market at Danger
With 45% of respondents classifying themselves as chubby or overweight,  considerably under the NHS Well being Survey for England’s discovering that 64% of adults are chubby or overweight,  the survey reveals potential underreporting that additional complicates insurance coverage declarations. With solely 6% presently utilizing weight administration injections, Client Intelligence tasks potential market development of 500-1,000% over the subsequent 5 years as NHS entry expands and personal prescriptions grow to be extra reasonably priced, aligning with NICE’s expanded approval standards for Wegovy and Mounjaro in 2024.
The analysis recognized clear standards customers use to find out whether or not therapies are ‘medical’:
- Prescribed by a physician (71%)
- Treats a identified situation (72%)
- Obtainable via the NHS (40%)
- Prevents future well being issues (33%)
Nonetheless, these standards create paradoxes. Botox, as an example, can deal with medical circumstances like continual migraines and muscle spasticity, but 86% of respondents categorised it as beauty, with solely 9% recognising its medical functions.
Insurance coverage Business Response Vital
“The insurance coverage trade faces a defining second,” defined
The analysis suggests three potential trade approaches:
- Conservative stance: Treating all GLP-1 utilization as pre-existing circumstances, probably pricing out hundreds of thousands of shoppers
- Danger-based differentiation: Distinguishing between diabetic therapy and weight administration use
- Innovation alternative: Creating new product classes for preventive well being therapies
Client Intelligence’s expanded benchmarking capabilities now allow insurers to trace competitor pricing methods throughout the total spectrum of pre-existing circumstances, together with these rising medicine classes,  essential intelligence because the market navigates this transformation.
Client Influence and Suggestions
The analysis reveals a essential discrepancy in how customers perceive their medical standing: while 60% of respondents are presently taking prescription medicines, solely 53% acknowledge having medical circumstances they’re taking medicine for. This 7-percentage-point hole highlights how otherwise customers reply primarily based on how questions are framed, a vital consideration for insurance coverage functions.
“This discrepancy is not simply semantics; it demonstrates how the wording of insurance coverage questions can inadvertently result in non-disclosure,” famous Hughes.
“When customers do not join their prescriptions to ‘medical circumstances,’ the chance of unintentional misrepresentation will increase considerably.”
Client Intelligence recommends that insurance coverage patrons:
- At all times declare any prescribed medicines, no matter function
- Request written clarification from insurers about particular medicines
- Hold detailed information of medical consultations and prescriptions
- Evaluate coverage phrases rigorously, significantly exclusion clauses
For insurers, the agency advocates:
- Instant clarification of underwriting pointers
- Funding in buyer schooling initiatives
- Improvement of nuanced threat evaluation frameworks
- Proactive engagement with healthcare suppliers and regulators
- Utilisation of complete benchmarking instruments to trace market pricing evolution
“With pre-existing circumstances now built-in into our Journey Insurance coverage Value Benchmarking Software, insurers can monitor real-time market responses to those rising challenges,” added [Name]. “This transparency is important because the trade navigates uncharted territory with medicines that do not match conventional classes.”
Client Intelligence surveyed 999 UK adults between 15-20 August 2025, utilizing a nationally consultant pattern balanced for age, gender, and area. The survey explored attitudes in direction of numerous medical and aesthetic therapies, their classification, and understanding of insurance coverage implications.
