The research coincides with the company's launch of enhanced pre-existing conditions analysis within its Travel Insurance Price Benchmarking Tool—now the most comprehensive travel insurance coverage tool in the UK market.
The research, conducted amongst around 1,000 UK adults in August 2025, found that 26% of respondents were unsure how to classify weight management injections such as Mounjaro, Wegovy, and Ozempic—medications that have seen explosive growth with 6% of the population having used them.
This adoption rate is particularly striking given NHS England data showing these medications only became widely available through the health service in late 2023.
Key Findings Highlight Classification Crisis
The survey reveals a fragmented understanding of these treatments, with respondents classifying weight management injections as:
• Last-resort medical interventions (28%)
• Medical treatments for health conditions (24%)
• Cosmetic treatments for appearance (11%)
• Lifestyle support tools (10%)
• Unsure (26%)
"This confusion isn't academic—it has real consequences for millions of Britons purchasing travel and health insurance," said Ian Hughes, CEO of Consumer Intelligence. "When a quarter of the population doesn't know whether their medication counts as a pre-existing condition, we're seeing a perfect storm for claim disputes and coverage gaps. The Financial Ombudsman Service reported a 23% increase in travel insurance complaints in 2024, with medical disclosure disputes being a leading cause."
The Stakes: A Growing Market at Risk
With 45% of respondents classifying themselves as overweight or obese—significantly below the NHS Health Survey for England's finding that 64% of adults are overweight or obese—the survey reveals potential underreporting that further complicates insurance declarations.
With only 6% currently using weight management injections, Consumer Intelligence projects potential market growth of 500-1,000% over the next five years as NHS access expands and private prescriptions become more affordable, aligning with NICE's expanded approval criteria for Wegovy and Mounjaro in 2024.
The research identified clear criteria consumers use to determine whether treatments are 'medical':
• Prescribed by a doctor (71%)
• Treats a diagnosed condition (72%)
• Available through the NHS (40%)
• Prevents future health problems (33%)
However, these criteria create paradoxes. Botox, for instance, can treat medical conditions like chronic migraines and muscle spasticity, yet 86% of respondents classified it as cosmetic, with only 9% recognising its medical applications.
Insurance Industry Response Critical
"The insurance industry faces a defining moment," explained Hughes. "Insurers must rapidly evolve their underwriting approaches or risk significant customer dissatisfaction and regulatory scrutiny. That's why we've enhanced our market-leading Travel Insurance Price Benchmarking Tool to include comprehensive pre-existing conditions analysis—making it the most complete coverage tool in the market."
The research suggests three potential industry approaches:
1. Conservative stance: Treating all GLP-1 usage as pre-existing conditions, potentially pricing out millions of customers
2. Risk-based differentiation: Distinguishing between diabetic treatment and weight management use
3. Innovation opportunity: Creating new product categories for preventive health treatments
Consumer Intelligence's expanded benchmarking capabilities now enable insurers to track competitor pricing strategies across the full spectrum of pre-existing conditions, including these emerging medication categories—critical intelligence as the market navigates this transformation.
Consumer Impact and Recommendations
The research reveals a critical discrepancy in how consumers understand their medical status: whilst 60% of respondents are currently taking prescription medications, only 53% acknowledge having medical conditions they're taking medication for. This 7-percentage-point gap highlights how differently consumers respond based on how questions are framed—a crucial consideration for insurance applications.
"This discrepancy isn't just semantics—it demonstrates how the wording of insurance questions can inadvertently lead to non-disclosure," noted Hughes. "When consumers don't connect their prescriptions to 'medical conditions,' the risk of unintentional misrepresentation increases significantly."
Consumer Intelligence recommends that insurance buyers:
• Always declare any prescribed medications, regardless of purpose
• Request written clarification from insurers about specific medications
• Keep detailed records of medical consultations and prescriptions
• Review policy terms carefully, particularly exclusion clauses
For insurers, the firm advocates:
• Immediate clarification of underwriting guidelines
• Investment in customer education initiatives
• Development of nuanced risk assessment frameworks
• Proactive engagement with healthcare providers and regulators
• Utilisation of comprehensive benchmarking tools to track market pricing evolution
"With pre-existing conditions now integrated into our Travel Insurance Price Benchmarking Tool, insurers can track real-time market responses to these emerging challenges," added Hughes. "This transparency is essential as the industry navigates uncharted territory with medications that don't fit traditional categories."
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