Our analysis reveals widespread confusion about whether or not in style weight-loss medicines represent pre-existing medical situations for insurance coverage functions. The analysis coincides with the corporate’s launch of enhanced pre-existing situations evaluation inside its Journey Insurance coverage Worth Benchmarking Software, now essentially the most complete journey insurance coverage protection instrument 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 how one can 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 price is especially placing given NHS England knowledge displaying these medicines solely turned broadly accessible by way of 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 situations (24%)
- Beauty therapies for look (11%)
- Life-style help instruments (10%)
- Not sure (26%)
“This confusion is not tutorial;  it has actual penalties for thousands and thousands of Britons buying journey and medical insurance,” mentioned Ian Hughes, CEO of Client Intelligence.
“When 1 / 4 of the inhabitants would not know whether or not their treatment 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 obese or overweight,  considerably beneath the NHS Well being Survey for England’s discovering that 64% of adults are obese or overweight,  the survey reveals potential underreporting that additional complicates insurance coverage declarations. With solely 6% at the moment utilizing weight administration injections, Client Intelligence initiatives potential market development of 500-1,000% over the following 5 years as NHS entry expands and personal prescriptions turn out 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 health care provider (71%)
- Treats a recognized situation (72%)
- Obtainable by way of the NHS (40%)
- Prevents future well being issues (33%)
Nonetheless, these standards create paradoxes. Botox, as an illustration, can deal with medical situations like continual migraines and muscle spasticity, but 86% of respondents categorised it as beauty, with solely 9% recognising its medical purposes.
Insurance coverage Trade Response Important
“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 situations, doubtlessly pricing out thousands and thousands of consumers
- Danger-based differentiation: Distinguishing between diabetic remedy 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 situations, together with these rising treatment classes,  essential intelligence because the market navigates this transformation.
Client Affect and Suggestions
The analysis reveals a essential discrepancy in how customers perceive their medical standing: while 60% of respondents are at the moment taking prescription medicines, solely 53% acknowledge having medical situations they’re taking treatment for. This 7-percentage-point hole highlights how otherwise customers reply primarily based on how questions are framed, an important consideration for insurance coverage purposes.
“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 situations,’ the chance of unintentional misrepresentation will increase considerably.”
Client Intelligence recommends that insurance coverage consumers:
- All the time declare any prescribed medicines, no matter goal
- Request written clarification from insurers about particular medicines
- Hold detailed data of medical consultations and prescriptions
- Assessment coverage phrases rigorously, significantly exclusion clauses
For insurers, the agency advocates:
- Instant clarification of underwriting tips
- Funding in buyer schooling initiatives
- Improvement of nuanced danger evaluation frameworks
- Proactive engagement with healthcare suppliers and regulators
- Utilisation of complete benchmarking instruments to trace market pricing evolution
“With pre-existing situations now built-in into our Journey Insurance coverage Worth Benchmarking Software, insurers can observe real-time market responses to those rising challenges,” added [Name]. “This transparency is crucial 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 the direction of numerous medical and aesthetic therapies, their classification, and understanding of insurance coverage implications.
