trapped in pet insurance policy?

photosynthesize

Hi. We need to insure our pedigree puppy. When we registered with our vet, they gave us 4 weeks free insurance. During that time, our puppy managed to hit his head pretty hard. We didn't claim on the policy but we did take him to be checked. The receptionist told us we would now be forced to stay with this provider as nobody else would pay out for future claims once they saw on his records that he'd hit his head. This policy is prohibitively expensive, twice as much as other quotes we've had. Is the receptionist right or can I ignore their comments?

Quentin

Shop around, though look out for exclusions over previous vet visits.

(The receptionist has a vested interest in getting you to buy the policy they are promoting at that vets)

photosynthesize

what does the receptionist get out of it?

Quentin

The practice will get some sort of incentive to promote this particular policy, and the receptionist will be tasked with doing the face to face promotion with prospects

iammumtoone

I think (someone will confirmed) that in this instance it is probably that a new policy will not cover anything relating to this visit so if you have to claim for a future injury relating to its head you wont be covered but relating to its leg you will be fine.

I am sure it will be fine you took him to be checked as you were concerned (like you would a child), how many children do you know that have had long term effects after their parents taking them to the doctors because they banged their head hard.

If you can't find an alternative policy that will exclude this vet visit, how about staying with the current one just for a year (to be sure no further effects) then move after that.

boliston

photosynthesize wrote: »

Hi. We need to insure our pedigree puppy. When we registered with our vet, they gave us 4 weeks free insurance. During that time, our puppy managed to hit his head pretty hard. We didn't claim on the policy but we did take him to be checked. The receptionist told us we would now be forced to stay with this provider as nobody else would pay out for future claims once they saw on his records that he'd hit his head. This policy is prohibitively expensive, twice as much as other quotes we've had. Is the receptionist right or can I ignore their comments?

Do puppies run about a lot like kittens?

All the kittens we have ever had have hit their heads regularly as they run about and jump on and off things!

Does this mean that no kitten could ever be insurable?

iammumtoone

boliston wrote: »

Do puppies run about a lot like kittens?

All the kittens we have ever had have hit their heads regularly as they run about and jump on and off things!

Does this mean that no kitten could ever be insurable?

I think the difference here is that the OP took the dog to vets regarding it, so its on 'record'

I do think it is bad that the OP being a concerned responsible pet owner went for piece of mind to check, is now being penalised for being that sensible owner. A owner who had just left it would not be having this issue, which is not how it should be.

elsien

What was the outcome of the vet check as in diagnosis/treatment needed?

I think your best bet is to do a couple of phone calls to insurers as a general query (make up some details if you don't want it on record right now) to see what they say about excluding head injuries/ how long for.
It certainly won't stop you being covered by another insurer for other conditions.

sheramber

When you take out a pet insurance policy anything noted on your pet's medical record will be a 'pre existing condition'. This is a wide definition as it includes anything that could be connected to that condition. This will be exclusion on the policy.

Beware of cheap policies as they are cheap for a reason . Some will wriggle out of paying claims or the amount you can claim will be limited by an amount or by a time limit, usually 12 months. So ,after 12 months from the start of the condition you can no longer claim for it.

Make sure you are comparing like for like. Lifetime cover with reinstatement of vet fees at the start of each policy year are the best cover, but are usually more expensive.

Next are policies that cover each condition for an amount , such as £4000, £7000 etc, over the life of the dog but once you have claimed that amount you cannot claim any more.

Most companies give you a discount for the first year so premiums the next year premiums go up for loss of discount plus any annual increase as well.

Check the excess you pay , especially when the pet gets older when there is often a co-pay as well the normal excess.

All companies increase premiums each year to account for increased running costs but some companies also increase premiums if you make a claim.

You may find a company who are prepared to lift an exclusion after a certain time with no recurrence of symptoms. You need to get that agreed in writing by the underwriters,

Make sure you read the policy document- not the policy summary- for any policy you are considering to make sure you know exactly what you are covered for. Sometimes find out too late they are not covered for something they thought they were covered for.

photosynthesize

The vet thought he was fine, just told us to watch him closely for a day or so, so no actual injury.
Are you saying if he develops a brain tumour in a few years' time, insurers will use the head injury as the cause to avoid paying out?

Quentin

photosynthesize wrote: »

The vet thought he was fine, just told us to watch him closely for a day or so, so no actual injury.
Are you saying if he develops a brain tumour in a few years' time, insurers will use the head injury as the cause to avoid paying out?

Not if it's covered.

It all depends if you can get cover for this (which will have to be disclosed when taking out the policy)