In 2011, my daughter with Type 1 diabetes, Katie, was moved to insulin pump therapy and was provided with an Insulin pump by the NHS.

When the pump was delivered, we were advised by the NHS Diabetic Specialist Nurse and the manufacturers’ representative to have the pump insured for accidental damage and theft (pump manufacturers provide warranty protection for pump failure/malfunction only). I was told that if the pump was damaged or stolen then the NHS would not fund a replacement, and this would be at my expense.

This is where it became very difficult.

The recommendation was to simply include the pump as a named item on my home contents insurance. When I tried this, I was told by my insurance company at the time that this would not be possible. I then looked at what was available in the market, what the costs were, and more importantly, how the products met the needs of the pump user.

My findings were as follows:

1. Home contents policies could be upgraded to cover insulin pumps.
2. An excess may apply.
3. Policies may be susceptible to policy renewal price increases if a claim was made.
4. Many home contents policies had onerous exclusions which made the value questionable.
5. No home insurers could guarantee a replacement pump within 48 hours upon receipt of a valid claim.
6. Most of the pump manufacturers would help patients with loan pumps to cover holidays abroad etc ONLY if the loan unit was insured.

Since first looking in 2011, each year when I renew my home insurance, I look at alternative providers and ask if they will insure Katie’s insulin pump. Most now will, but often the standard cover is not high enough to cover the full cost of the pump or the pump needs to be a specified item so it can be covered outside of the home.