Tesco/RSA pet insurance

Box_of_Frogs_2

We changed our pet insurance over to Tesco on 24 May as our old policy expired on that day. This week our dog Ozzy developed a problem and we took him to our local vet (Companion Care) to get checked out.

He checked him over on Thursday, couldn't find anything wrong apart from a slight 'click' in his back, gave him a painkilling injection and told us to come back if he didn't improve.

Ozzy seemed to perk up Thursday night but on Friday, stopped running around like his normal self, refused water and by the evening, was walking very stiffly and arching his back. When I got him up on Saturday morning, his back legs were not working at all so I took him back to Companion Care and waited on their doorstep till they opened.

They did an x-ray during the day and called us back to say it looked like he had a back problem but he needed an MRI to confirm and they referred us to Fitzpatrick in Godalming. We took his straight there and they were waiting to receive us, confirmed he would have an MRI next day (today), but said the chances of recovery are only 50-60%. We will know more after the MRI.

However, on checking the policy docs, it appears there is a 14 day exclusion clause which means we are not covered.

What is the point of taking out insurance if you aren't covered from the start? Tesco told me it is to protect against money laundering - that just penalises everyone with genuine claims.

I am now left with a £2000 bill just to find out if Ozzy can be helped or not. Somehow I will find the money, I don't know how, but if there is a chance we can help him then I will do it.

So be warned if you are going to change your pet insurance - it might be wise to start your new policy 14 days before the old one expires.

sallyj17

So sorry to hear about Ozzie. Will be keeping my fingers crossed for him.

Yes.. have often seen this advice about overlapping policies .. because all pet insurance policies exclude the first 10/14 days after taking out the policy.

Although the normal reason given is to protect themselves against people who take out a policy when their pet is already showing symptoms of illness. It is sometimes called the "waiting period".

Not sure I understand the "money laundering" reason as most insurances like car insurance, home insurance etc can be taken out with immediate effect.

http://www.pet-insurance-guide.co.uk/pet-insurance-basics/waiting-period/

takethatfan1978

Oh no poor Ozzie,fingers crossed you get some answers soon. It is never nice when your pet is ill.

Most insurance companies have an exclusion period when taking out new cover. Tesco do actually have this stated on their page before you actually proceed with a quote.

If looking to change cover it is always advisable to have it arranged before old cover ends.

We have just insured our new puppy with Petplan and I sorted it immediately despite her having the 5 weeks free cover.

We had our last dog covered with Tesco and only needed it once,although they paid out it took them nearly 6 weeks!

gettingready

So sorry to hear about Ozzie, hope it is not what vet suspects and that he will be better soon xx

Zara had a spine MRI at Fitzpatrick around 2.5 years ago, from what I remember it was around 1500 at that time. Speak to them when you get a call about the appointment and they will be able to let you know the price.

Yes, all policies have the first 10-14 days when pet is covered for accident only and not illness - we always advise on this board to overlap old and new policy by 2 weeks to account for that, really sorry you were not aware

takethatfan1978

Any update on your boy ?

Box_of_Frogs_2

Thanks for the replies and kind wishes, and apologies, I thought I had replied, must have pressed the wrong button.

We had a call from Padraig at Fitzpatrick on the afternoon of 7 June to say they had carried out the MRI and it showed that Ozzy had a slipped disc and that as a result, his spinal cord had been damaged irreparably. There was a 20% chance that, if they operated on him, he might regain some feeling but he would have little quality of life as he would not be able to walk and would be double incontinent.

We made the heartbreaking decision to say goodbye to Ozzy and we went back to Godalming to say our goodbyes to our little boy. Even now i am in tears typing this out. How could this happen to such a lovely young dog? We all miss him terribly.

I cannot fault Fitzpatrick for their help and care and only today I received a call from my vet to say they had drafted a letter for me to send to the insurers stating that the problem was not a pre-existing condition and consideration should be given to settling the claim.

I will update further with any news in due course.

rising_from_the_ashes

Oh no, I am so very sorry to hear this - please know you gave Ozzy the best chance and did the very kindest thing for him, that wouldn't have been any quality of life


Re the insurance - yes, all policies will have an exclusion period and it's therefore advisable to overlap them (if the worst happens, you'd need to stick with your old one, but at least would have cover)

BUT most (in fact all except one that I've come across) tend to have the exclusion relating to illnesses etc - injuries are nearly always covered from day 1

Might be worth checking again

Fingers crossed for you

Box_of_Frogs_2

Update - Tesco/RSA have given me their final decision and unsurprisingly they say it is not covered. They quote the following policy wording:
We don’t pay if you of your vet notice changes in your pet’s health within the first 14 days of your cover start date, we won’t pay claims for these changes or any illness that develops from these changes.

Needless to say, I will be referring the case to the ombudsman as my vet has already confirmed it was not an illness, it was an accident.

More to follow.

Box_of_Frogs_2

rising_from_the_ashes wrote: »

BUT most (in fact all except one that I've come across) tend to have the exclusion relating to illnesses etc - injuries are nearly always covered from day 1

Might be worth checking again

Fingers crossed for you

Can you recall which insurer was the one that didn't cover injuries from day 1?

Thanks

HB58

I'm so sorry that you are having this hassle on top of losing your lovely boy.

sheramber

The insuarnce company are not considering a pre exisitng conditon. They consider it a condition that arose within the 14 day exclusion period.

e.g if your dog had had an accident- collided with another dog while playing or collided with a tree etc or jumped badly to retrieve a toy etc, slipped on the laminate flooring, or any other ocurrance that caused the slipped disc- then you would be covered within the 14 day period.

Hpwever, if the problem arose because of a weakness or degeneration of the disc this would be considered a conditon arising within the 14 days.

The first visit to the vet is the important date as that was the first indication of there being a problem, even of it was not fully diagnosed at that time.