I’m a Doctor: The Supplement Mistake That Could Ruin Your Holiday Insurance

Your morning wellness routine might be sabotaging your holiday plans without you even realising it.

Dr Asimah Hanif, working with leading travel insurance provider Staysure*, is warning health-conscious travellers about a costly mistake that could leave them facing massive medical bills abroad.

The culprit? Those “natural” supplements you take every day.

The hidden risk in your wellness routine

“It’s incredibly common for people to forget that herbal supplements are still active substances,” Dr Asimah explains. “Things like ginseng, valerian root, or even CBD oil can interact with other medications, affect anaesthesia, or alter your heart rate or liver function.”

This means that trendy wellness staples – from ashwagandha capsules to evening primrose oil – could potentially complicate medical treatment if you need emergency care so you should always discuss taking supplements with your doctor.

“Popular supplements like St John’s Wort can reduce the effectiveness of prescription medications, including birth control pills and blood thinners. Some people also use Ginkgo Biloba to help reduce inflammation and benefit heart, brain, and eye health, but it can increase bleeding risk, which becomes a serious concern especially if you need surgery,” adds Dr Asimah.

But here’s the kicker: if you use supplements for medical purposes and you haven’t declared the pre-existing medical condition you’re treating to your travel insurer, you could be in for a nasty shock.

“Any undeclared pre-existing medical condition can create costly complications when it comes to medical travel insurance,” warns Dr Asimah. “It could even invalidate your cover, if you need emergency medical treatment abroad.”

The simple rule that could save you thousands

The solution is surprisingly straightforward, but many people may not realise how important it is when planning a holiday and buying their travel insurance cover – but the devil is in the detail of your current health.

“When buying your travel insurance, it can be tricky to know what to declare to your insurer, but the advice is simple: if you have a pre-existing medical condition declare it to your insurer regardless of if you treat it with prescribed medication or by using over the counter supplements.  

That includes everything from vitamin D drops if you’re vitamin D deficient to CBD oil to treat a range of conditions including chronic pain, anxiety or sleep complaints. And you should also keep your policy up to date if your health changes over time, so it remains valid and reflects your current health,” says Dr Asimah.

“Ultimately, it’s about ensuring that if something unexpected happens abroad and you need medical care, what’s on your GP NHS medical records matches the conditions covered on your travel insurance.  That way local doctors will have the full picture of your health, and your medical bills will be covered,” explains Dr Asimah. “It could be the difference between a smooth treatment process and a rejected medical claim.”

With medical bills abroad potentially running into tens of thousands of pounds, it’s not worth the risk of not declaring your conditions.

So, before you jet off on your next wellness retreat or city break, take five minutes to check that your pre-existing conditions and medications match what is on your travel insurance.   Your future self – and your bank account – will thank you.

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