MSE News: Lloyds to reinstate pet insurance for thousands

Former_MSE_Helen

This is the discussion thread for the following MSE News Story:

"The bank has caved in to pressure and will offer new policies to animals with pre-existing conditions, after axing cover ..."

Read the full story:
Lloyds to reinstate pet insurance for thousands

Consumerist

An LBG spokeswoman says: "We are writing to all Halifax and Lloyds TSB pet insurance customers who have pets with pre-existing medical conditions to confirm we are aiming to offer them a completely new policy.

But, I wonder if the new policy will still cover the pet "for life" as did the original policy. After all, premiums were charged on the basis of lifetime cover.

KxMx

Well with all the pressure, I don't see how they wouldn't offer lifetime cover again. After all these new policies are being offered only to pet owners with pre-existing conditions, all those previously with the insurer without them aren't being re-offered insurance.

I think it's fabulous news!

aliasojo

Excellent news but cynical old me wonders if there will be all sorts of added clauses or exclusions.

Will the cost of the policy have rocketed, will claims be subject to larger excesses etc etc?

I find it difficult to accept we will all be in the same position as before. I suspect there will be substantial changes which is why we are to be offered new policies and not just reinstatement of our previous ones.

nzseries1

When this happened, it got me so angry with Lloyds I almost wanted to close my bank accounts with them and take my business elsewhere, and I don't even have a pet. I HATE false advertising!!!!

VT82

^ this (except I don't have accounts with them, it was merely impotent rage)

callum9999

For the sceptics, I don't think you have much to worry about. There are a small number of animals involved, and if their treatment is so costly that "families have to choose between feeding themselves or treating their pet", I don't think they are going to last that much longer.

It's a burden that LBG don't want on their books, but in the grand scheme of things it's a drop in the ocean. I think they'll be more focussed on containing the fall-out than trying to save the odd pound here or there.

10ASH1967

I sent my claim for £355.87 to the finance ombudsman 8 weeks ago. This morning I got a call from lloyds TSB pet insurance to say my claim was now being paid back to me for the total of £355.87.
I had sent an official complaint because I made one claim for £190 that they paid andwhen I tried to make another claim I was told that it wouldn't be paid because my policy had expired even though it was for the same complaint but this time an operation and I had notified them when the policy was active. I'm amazed how quickly it has been handled just by writing to the finance ombudsman. Lots of advice on here helped me do it, thank you.

Dave1979

Just before they withdrew the pet insurance one of our cats had a seizure which we did not claim on as the vet didn't need see the need to do anything and the cost was under the excess. He just had another one this morning. We switched to Petplan but this will be pre-existing to them? Are HBOS likely to re-instate the cover for this or do they just pay for any claims arising?

Bromley86

We switched to Petplan but this will be pre-existing to them?

Yes. PP will want to see your animal's vet records before any claim is paid, so there's no way they won't notice.

Are HBOS likely to re-instate the cover for this or do they just pay for any claims arising?

In my case I was with Halifax. I received a letter offering me a new policy that, unlike normal new policies, covered all conditions that were covered by the previous Halifax policy. It had a date after which the policy offer would be withdrawn.

HBOS will not reinstate cover for the seizure. They may have offered you a new policy like the one above, but you will have had to take that policy up and pay them for them to pay out.