Insurance - weight questions.

Re: Insurance - weight questions.

Bob Russell — Wed, 15 Jun 2011 08:11:10 GMT

I suspect this will be covered because the owner would not be expected to know this was a problem when the policy is taken out.

Re: Insurance - weight questions.

CatherineThomas — Tue, 14 Jun 2011 22:35:38 GMT

Yeah I've done a cryptorchid castration recently which was claimed on the insurance. I thought it was strange that they agreed. I can't remember which insurance company it was, I have a feeling it was either sainsburys or M&S.

Re: Insurance - weight questions.

Claire Fisher — Tue, 14 Jun 2011 21:41:41 GMT

[quote user="Michael Woodhouse"]

Had a client get paid by their pet insurance for a chryptorchid castration, despite the fact that by it's very nature it was present before the insurance started and a prophylactic surgery. Think it was More Than but don't hold me to that.

Couldn't believe that one.

[/quote]

Sainsburys paid for one too - I think the T&Cs said as long as the dog was insured before 3 months old it was covered.

Re: Insurance - weight questions.

Michael Woodhouse — Tue, 14 Jun 2011 20:47:09 GMT

Couldn't believe that one.

Re: Insurance - weight questions.

Louise6732 — Tue, 14 Jun 2011 19:41:30 GMT

Slightly off topic, but had a pyometra op today, dog was insured. Got me thinking, are there any insurers out there who woudn't cover for pyo's since it's technically preventable by spaying?(Such as majority of companies won't pay for vaccine-related illnesses if the animal isn't up to date with vaccines) Perhaps this is already the case for some companies re pyometras, I haven't encountered it yet but maybe it's only a matter of time before they ague this line?

Louise

Re: Insurance - weight questions.

HMC — Tue, 14 Jun 2011 12:50:20 GMT

can we name and shame any of these companies? It would be interesting to know.

Re: Insurance - weight questions.

Clive Ansell — Fri, 10 Jun 2011 05:51:29 GMT

Does anyone have any experience with Swift Cover (In association with Thornside) pet insurance?

I have my car insured with them, and when I had an accident in November 2009 (Hit a foxhound) their service was excellent; legal advice, car collected repaired and returned in 4 days, and a courtesy car provided, A choice whether to use their approved repairer or not, and the work guaranteed for 5 years. Just wondered if their pet insurance was as good.

Re: Insurance - weight questions.

Laurence Webb — Thu, 09 Jun 2011 20:36:21 GMT

[quote user="CatherineBoden"]

Someone told me recently that some of the insurance companies are refusing to pay out for RTAs now because they say it is a preventable condition. has anyone else heard this? [/quote]

No, but I've a friend who treated a dog following an RTA whose insurance company did not pay out as there was a clause excluding conditions that occur if the dog was not on a lead. I don't think this specified accident or illness, so theoretically a dog could suffer a gastric torsion and be without cover if they failed to keep it on a lead in the lounge of an evening.

Re: Insurance - weight questions.

CatherineThomas — Thu, 09 Jun 2011 17:11:55 GMT

I don't know for sure but that would be my guess!

Re: Insurance - weight questions.

Bob Russell — Thu, 09 Jun 2011 17:03:39 GMT

Do I smell E&L?

They told me COPD was a hereditary problem so would not pay for it!

(COPD not CPOD - finger slipped!)

Re: Insurance - weight questions.

CatherineThomas — Thu, 09 Jun 2011 15:20:01 GMT

Someone told me recently that some of the insurance companies are refusing to pay out for RTAs now because they say it is a preventable condition. has anyone else heard this? I'm not sure which companies they are but I could probably take a guess on at least one.

I don't see how they can justify it. If someone hasn't vaccinated their dog then they have probably made a decision not to but so often a door is accidentally opened and the dog runs out into traffic, that's an accident, it's not a decsion by the owner to allow the dog into the road.

Re: Insurance - weight questions.

Kate Richardson — Thu, 09 Jun 2011 08:53:29 GMT

[quote user="James Laidlaw"]Filled out a client insurance claim form yesterday and for the first time saw a question section asking: Weight of animal (kg) Ideal weight (kg) Is this animal overweight Is there a medical reason if yes.[/quote]

Looks like another 'get out of jail free' card for the insurance companies to me

Re: Insurance - weight questions.

Noweia — Wed, 08 Jun 2011 22:22:43 GMT

For 'ideal weight', if the animal is of acceptable BCS, I would fill in the actual weight again (rather than look up breed weights etc). I do it on vaccination cards, and my opinion is still the same even if asked by someone else.

Re: Insurance - weight questions.

James Laidlaw — Wed, 08 Jun 2011 21:43:57 GMT

Where do you source your average breed weights from - cause a quick check of our clinic wall chart seems to be at odds with reality, and google identifies a lot of variation!

James

Re: Insurance - weight questions.

Bob Russell — Wed, 08 Jun 2011 13:54:47 GMT

I am always cautious about filling in bits where I have to express an opinion. I readily answer the question 'is this condition likely to recur' with the comment unknown or unclear.

If obesity is to be an issue when a claim is made it is for the insurance company to deal with the client directly. I do agree that an owner with a grossly obese pet may 'deserve' a poorer pay out than an owner that works hard to keep a pet fit and well.

If I am to act as piggy in the middle I expect the insurance company to be very up-front with their clients and make it clear that obesity could lead to a reduced pay-out before I will express an opinion on ideal weight.

I am happy to identify breed average weights to fill the box.