Diabetes Insurance & the DVLA

[shep1001]

Just been sorting out the insurance for the old man. On the latest insurance renewal quote if answering 'yes' to the do you have a medical condition the DVLA need to be aware of, 2 additional responses were required:

1) DVLA 'Aware' or 2) DVLA 'Unaware'


As a T2 on diet & Metformin tablet control who has never had a hypo the guideline on the DVLA website suggest you don't need to tell them.

By not calling them and telling them, on the basis he would be told you need to inform them as per their guidelines set out on their website are they effectively 'unaware' of the condition?

The reason I ask is 2-fold:


1) It adds about £100 to the insurance policy price if I were to select the 'yes' & 'unaware' options. If you answer 'yes' & 'aware no restrictions' it makes no difference to the policy price.

2) Dose he actually have a medical condition that needs to be 'declared' based on his current treatment where the DVLA are saying he does not have to inform them ?

[marshalla]

Surely if the DVLA guidance says you don't need to tell them then it's not a condition of which they need to be aware, so the rest of the questions are irrelevant ?

The correct person to ask would be his GP.

[shep1001]

marshalla said:

Surely if the DVLA guidance says you don't need to tell them then it's not a condition of which they need to be aware, so the rest of the questions are irrelevant ?

The correct person to ask would be his GP.

The GP repeated what the DVLA guidelines stated on their website, you don't need to tell them so long as you meet certain criteria which he does. Its a whole different kettle of kippers if you are on insulin or take other tablet meds and/or have had to be assisted 2 times in the last 6 months when having a hypo that you could not deal with yourself.

To be safe, as it makes no difference to the policy price, I am going to suggest he marks it as 'yes' & 'aware no restrictions'

[V8 Bob]

I'm T2 and this question was asked when I was first diagnosed with our company insurers. As you said DVLA are not interested so long as you haven't had hypo's.

So no need to notify insurers

[TwigtheWonderkid]

So they are asking if he has any disability that DVLA need to be notified of?

The correct answer is no and unaware, if he has a condition DVLA don't need to know about (there is a form called a D100 that lists notifiable conditions.)

Or Yes and aware if he has a notifiable condition.

Of course if he has a condition that should be notified and hasn't been, then they are not going to be happy.

[dacouch]

Does the Insurer have more than one option to describe Diabetes eg do they show "Diabetes" and also "Diabetes 2"

[aw51 121565]

There is Type 1 Diabetes and Type 2 (aka "late onset") Diabetes - the former will be insulin-dependent and the latter will not need insulin injections (controlled by medication & diet as per the OP's post).

[shep1001]

dacouch said:

Does the Insurer have more than one option to describe Diabetes eg do they show "Diabetes" and also "Diabetes 2"

No, apparently they don't ask you to disclose the specific condition(s) just yes or no then with/without restrictions which is usually a licence duration of 1, 2 or 3 years at which point you need to reapply. There may be other condition specific restrictions such as auto only or no driving at night but not for diabetes on a std car licence other than glucose testing before/during driving which again only applies if you are insulin dependant or on certain tablet meds but not metformin.

Shep

[Spitfire2]

shep1001 said:

To be safe, as it makes no difference to the policy price, I am going to suggest he marks it as 'yes' & 'aware no restrictions'

But that would be a lie. Why would you lie when you have absolutely no need to?

You are worrying unnecessarily and potentially creating problems for yourself.

Making he DVLA aware of a medical condition (which you are suggesting saying you have done when you haven't) is a VERY lengthy process even in simple cases.

[shep1001]

[quote=Spitfire2]

But that would be a lie. Why would you lie when you have absolutely no need to?

You are worrying unnecessarily and potentially creating problems for yourself.

Making he DVLA aware of a medical condition (which you are suggesting saying you have done when you haven't) is a VERY lengthy process even in simple cases.



Yes, simply phoning the DVLA is not sufficient it would appear, there is a form to complete that must be posted off if you want to notify about diabetes. Largely irrelevant now having picked the best policy that suited his needs from the comparison site we called the insurer and asked, they said Phh! not interested if the DVLA don't need to know so job done.

[Spitfire2]

shep1001 said:

Yes, simply phoning the DVLA is not sufficient it would appear, there is a form to complete that must be posted off if you want to notify about diabetes. Largely irrelevant now having picked the best policy that suited his needs from the comparison site we called the insurer and asked, they said Phh! not interested if the DVLA don't need to know so job done.

Takes 3 months minimum for them to process those forms - sometimes much longer.

Driver isn't restricted from driving during those times so if the form had been submitted you could "honestly" state that DVLA had been made aware. But as you don't have to, don't go there. Dealing with the fuds in the DVLA when you don't have to is like volunteering to be tortured.

[Who me ?]

V8 Bob said:

I'm T2 and this question was asked when I was first diagnosed with our company insurers. As you said DVLA are not interested so long as you haven't had hypo's.

So no need to notify insurers

Attitudes have changed over the past few years.I was diagnosed at least ten years ago, and phoned DVLA to be told "thank you, we need to know, but on tablets,it's not of concern,but we will record it". My insurance company at the time ,and those since have recorded it ,with no extra charge. At the time(of diagnosis), I drove up to 3.5T vans, and my employer had no restriction on my driving .
At this time, I was employed by a rail sub contractor and on a medical by Network Rail medics(Nurse, no doctor on premises at time),I had a restriction on weight lifting/working alone placed on my record. I visited my own doctor for further tests, and after the results ,she confirmed the diagnoses, but refuted the blood pressure results .
Personally, although there seems to be no need to notify anybody, I'd say it's sensible to notify DVLA,to get a "thank you ,not interested " reply, that you can show the insurers .

[Nigel Worc's]

aw51 121565 said:

There is Type 1 Diabetes and Type 2 (aka "late onset") Diabetes - the former will be insulin-dependent and the latter will not need insulin injections (controlled by medication & diet as per the OP's post).

Where do I start aw51 121565 , you couldn't be more wrong if you tried !

OP, the rules and guidelines seems to change almost daily (not actually true, but it feels that way, as they do change a lot and quite often).

All I can advise is you tell the truth, the truth to me would be if DVLA don't need to be notified, then you don't have a notifiable condition, but I'd guess within guidelines insurance companies can do as they wish, and ask what they want, hence some ask about speed awareness courses.

I used to pay a few pounds more per year until "new labour" stopped all that with some discrimination stuff, then either you had a licence or you didn't.

I find these days that quotes vary very widely between different companies.

I'm type 2 insulin dependant, 3 year restricted licence, (despite what aw51 121565 says).

[Nigel Worc's]

V8 Bob said:

I'm T2 and this question was asked when I was first diagnosed with our company insurers. As you said DVLA are not interested so long as you haven't had hypo's.

So no need to notify insurers

I think (and this was true last year when I renewed, but it changes constantly), that depends on what you drive.

Drive anything that requires a "vocational" licence, and even non insulin becomes notifiable.

[shep1001]

Nigel Worc's said:

I think (and this was true last year when I renewed, but it changes constantly), that depends on what you drive.

Drive anything that requires a "vocational" licence, and even non insulin becomes notifiable.

Yes, thats still the case. I went to a DESMOND course with the old man recently and was horrified by the attitude of several of the participants who were doing little or nothing to control their diabetes or modify their lifestyle so potential complications don't come back & bite them on the arse. Avoiding insulin/drugs/diabetic complications should be a real motivator especially in younger people with T2 otherwise it can seriously complicate your life in many ways, driving being one of them.

[Nigel Worc's]

shep1001 said:

Nigel Worc's said:

I think (and this was true last year when I renewed, but it changes constantly), that depends on what you drive.

Drive anything that requires a "vocational" licence, and even non insulin becomes notifiable.

Yes, thats still the case. I went to a DESMOND course with the old man recently and was horrified by the attitude of several of the participants who were doing little or nothing to control their diabetes or modify their lifestyle so potential complications don't come back & bite them on the arse. Avoiding insulin/drugs/diabetic complications should be a real motivator especially in younger people with T2 otherwise it can seriously complicate your life in many ways, driving being one of them.

My business partner was on a speed awareness course a couple of years ago, and one of his fellow participants tried excusing his speeding by saying that his blood sugars were going low, so he was driving faster to get home, hence a medical emergency.

You couldn't make it up, they'll get us all banned !