Having trouble getting travel insurance for... - PBC Foundation

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Having trouble getting travel insurance for wife whose got pbc plus on the verge of been enemic

bonnie129 profile image
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bonnie129
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I am also looking for travel insurance, flatly refused by TESCO. Bonnie 129 there is a list of insurers who may take you with PBC on the Liver North website.

Hello.

Check out Liver Trust North. They publish latest insurance probabilities at the end of their newsletters. British Liver Trust can also supply you with their current list of insurance co's who will probably cover you, email them and they will respond rapidly to you as they did to me 2yrs ago when I was thinking of travelling abroad (but never did).

Click on Publications on their site and then click on the latest newsletter.

As just noticed, Donkey has also mentioned this too. I believe I've also read on this site somewhere that the Post Office are very good. Sorry I have no experience of travel insurance. Always holidayed in the UK so had no prior need of travel insurance but expect now I too would have some difficulties though I just have PBC.

On a final comment, I found TESCO awkward back in 2008. My life insurance had just run out after having it for 16yrs (due to being a widow, had to have Trust put in place with life insurance until my children were 18), I tried TESCO, they came back to me saying there was a query with my records from GP. They wanted me to have a medical so I asked where and they then said they could send a nurse to my place of work to see me if more convenient which happened to be a GP surgery (not mine) and I didn't want that. So I contacted my GP at the time to discuss what query there could be. The GP couldn't actually see where there was one. I then checked online for life insurance and got a call back within minutes from the most suitable. Given I had apparently nothing wrong with my medical records at the time, I did get insurance which I took for 5 years jointly with my son who was at home as at the time he hadn't any and was 19 by then from Friends Provident. After I got diagnosed with PBC out of the blue in Dec 2010 I rang this company up to inform them. I got a call back from them and they said that it made no difference to my insurance BUT once it was at an end (Sept this yr) then I'd be declined due to PBC regardless.

From Sept this yr I'll have no life cover which I always have had so I'm going to have to wait until next year when I am 50 and take out one of those no questions asked 50+ insurances. But then I'll still not be covered adequately as these normally have a 2yrs period where you have to pay in before they'd pay out in the event of anything untoward happening.

The link is here for the Liver North....

livernorth.org.uk/

Megamum profile image
Megamum

Hi I have a very good travel insurance policy covering PBC, osteopenia, hypertension, migraine and a superficial leg injury which only required a Doppler scan and I paid £109:00 for 12 month cover with Rothewell Towler 01392 287450. Hope this helps xx

cavi profile image
cavi

Hi i am also insured with Rothewell Towler,the lady that dealt with me was very understanding and knew all about PBC so made it so much easier to answer the questions,Had no problems at all.Good Luck x

Lockness profile image
Lockness

Hi, after trawling the internet, I found columbus direct to be the cheapest. I have PBC and other medical conditions too.Good luck.

sjr1 profile image
sjr1

I got cover from columbus direct , other companies wanted in excess off £600 and upto £1,700 for a 2 week trip to america !!!.... Columbus charged me £109 for 2 weeks to america !!! So have alook at their site Columbusdirect.com

Val02 profile image
Val02

Just a note for your wife - I was close to anaemia and my dr suggested buying Floradix as it is natural, easy to digest and kind on the digestive system. It is now 4 months later and the levels of iron in my blood are normal, (havent had the test for feratin yet). As a result my hair and nails are soo much better too.

in reply to Val02

Seen this in Holland & Barratt recently (presume you are in the UK Val02).

I have a tendency to have a slightly lower ferritin level and in the past was diagnosed with anaemia due to iron and had a short course of iron tablets. My last check for ferritin showed it to be just one point below the normal level, best it had been since this PBC started 2010 BUT I did have a nasal cauterisation (that took a few minutes to do with a chemical 'matchstick) last year due to on/off nosebleeds that were caused by a very tiny pinprick graze inside my nose and nothing to do with PBC. I do believe that my iron levels were due to this and also the fact I am still a menstruating woman, not yet gone through the change (I am 49).

I bought a cast iron frying pan and use a very tiny tiny amount of butter or vegetable oil and rustle up scrambled egg and use it also for cooking tomatoes in. Apparently cast iron pans are supposed to add iron to food and tomatoes are apparently the best as they are acidic in content.

I've been rather wary of taking iron myself regardless as it has to be noted that in a later state of PBC the liver just keeps the stores of it and it can build up.

My theory with some of us being a bit prone to being slightly under what is considered the normal range for our ferritin levels is due to the fact that a compromised liver isn't probably as capable as dealing with iron in the system and I've also found out that for some, a slightly lower than normal level can actually be natural for some people.

I did find out that calcium, milk in particular can hinder absorption of iron.

I've not taken any iron except probably what is found in foods that we buy now as an additive (ie breakfast cereals) and it is almost 4mths now since I last had my bloods done so will be interesting to find out if the ferritin is checked.

I'm going to have fun next week as I switched GP surgeries beginning of April and this will be my first visit (need more urso) to see a GP since before 2013 and I need to find out when my next bloods are due as my last GP simply couldn't give a fig really and last two times I went I had to go back for missed ones!

FreeSpiritTravel profile image
FreeSpiritTravel

Morning Bonnie

You could try Free Spirit Travel Insurance, they are a specialist travel insurance provider for people with pre-existing medical conditions and disabilities & were the first provider of its kind 16 years ago. Policies can be issued online and via the telephone with a fully trained screening operator.

Always make sure that the insurance cover you purchase is adequate for your needs and will cover you in the event of a medical emergency, a cheap premium may not be the best policy and may reflect the level of cover you are buying.

Make sure you read the policy wording thoroughly in conjunction with your medical condition and make sure you disclose all of your conditons, medications and treatment when obtaining a quote to ensure full cover is in place.

I hope this information has been of use.

Kind regards

Rachel

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