Aaargh! Why did she have an accident 10 days into new insurance!

[siennamiller]

So, changed z's insurance last month, having never had to have a vet out to her. Showjumped on Saturday, then on Sunday she fell off the trailer ramp, slipped off sideways, and is lame, v sore. Vet wants to X-ray and scan, but insurance are saying they might not cover it as it is in the first month. If she had a cut/wound they would, but because it is internal they might not .
Waiting to hear back....

 

[*hic*]

I feel your pain - mine injured herself 13 days and 23 hours into the 14 day exclusion zone by falling in the field. Although mine had various differences, they WOULD cover for injuries in that time and would not cover for illness. Have a read through and make sure, most, I thought, cover for accident and not for illness.

Mine was complicated by the vet not having faxed over the vetting as he had assured me he would, so they decided they wouldn't cover her at all.

The replacement we bought for whilst the mare was off pratted about on the ramp and fell off SI damage, groin strain and a ligament that detached itself, taking a chunk of spinous process with it. I really hope your mare has not done anything as destructive to herself. He was insured.

 

[siennamiller]

Oh no, you poor thing. That's rubbish 😭. Well, kbis definitely won't cover it, as there's no external injury, even though I can prove she was sound, as we jumped British novice the day before. Not sure of my options now really. Doubt that I can afford scans etc....

 

[ponydi]

X-ray shouldn't break the bank with any luck

 

[Speedyfluff]

Accidents are usually covered even during the exclusion period. The only things that aren't covered are illnesses, colic, OCD, or any other chronic condition. You will be covered for injury such as falling off ramp or horse getting kicked etc.

 

[wkiwi]

It might be worth seeing if the vet will talk to the insurance company?

Alternatively, do you have independent witnesses who saw the accident? you could take the line that there was proof of an accident and propose to the company that 1. if the vet checks show injury damage then they pay, but if 2. the vet checks show illness related problems then you pay.
Then get the horse checked out but you will have to pay for it until you know the results (I don't see other options here unless you want to euthanase, or vet is happy to provide pain relief and conservative treatment but i think this would depend on what they suspect and whether it would be a welfare issue).
If it turns out to be accidental damage and your policy states the horse is covered for accidents during this time then i don't see how the insurance company can't pay out (or risk bad publicity).

 

[Tapir]

quite often it's only "accidental external injury" which is covered for the first 14 days. If there is no external injury, then there is no claim unfortunately.

 

[benz]

Similar thing happened to us recently, a few days before the 30 day exclusion expired horse went lame after escaping from paddock in the night, vet had a look as was there to see another horse, couldn't find anything so said rest and we'll see, came sound after a few days rest, went lame again 2 weeks later on same leg, kbis won't cover it as say all the same issue which arose in 30 day exclusion time - x Rays, injections, surgery....aaaaahhh! I feel your frustration

 

[ladyt25]

Your insurance should cover you immediately for an accidental injury. It is only illness, disease or a degenerative condition (ie arthritis) that would fall under the standard 14 day exclusion period.

When I did horse insurance we paid a claim for death sadly on horse the new owners sensibly insured before they picked it up. Unfortunately whilst trying to load it fell and fatally injured itself (broken leg). That was an accidental death so there was no question about paying out even though the insurance had been in place less than 24 hrs

 

[siennamiller]

quite often it's only "accidental external injury" which is covered for the first 14 days. If there is no external injury, then there is no claim unfortunately.

^^^^ this, unfortunately. There's no external injury, and even tho I can prove she was fine the day before they don't want to know . X-ray, sedation, scan and clinic visit, will be about £350 which is beyond my pocket.
Don't know what to do. She is an older horse, and is don't know if she will get back to Sj/be anyway ....

 

[wkiwi]

^^^^ this, unfortunately. There's no external injury, and even tho I can prove she was fine the day before they don't want to know . X-ray, sedation, scan and clinic visit, will be about £350 which is beyond my pocket.
Don't know what to do. She is an older horse, and is don't know if she will get back to Sj/be anyway ....

I guess it is a wake-up call for all of us to check insurance policies carefully, as i wouldn't have thought of that.
Would be a bit concerned about your '£350 is beyond your pocket' comment. I know that people's circumstances can change suddenly, but this doesn't seem a lot for a vet bill and is probably less than the cost of a year's insurance anyway. Of course there may be even further costs of treatment, but even euthanasing the horse and getting it cremated will cost most of this (although you might get cheaper from your local hunt or similar). Sorry to be brutal, but it is best to have a contingency sum available for unexpected things that horses can do and the horse could equally have had a very expensive colic call-out during the exclusion period.
Good luck with whatever you decide, but I think your first option should be discussing a payment plan with your vet.

 

[siennamiller]

I pay my insurance monthly, and we have just had a bad time with husbands bike repairs etc. etc. etc, so the money is not there.

 

[benz]

I pay my insurance monthly, and we have just had a bad time with husbands bike repairs etc. etc. etc, so the money is not there.

Have you spoken to vet about the possibility of paying monthly? I know some vets will do this for long term customers.

Otherwise can you get a credit card? There are lots of companies offering 0% rates eg for 12 months, that's if you've a decent credit rating (not like me!) but even the high rates aren't that bad and work out much less than those 'payday loans' even when paid off over a longer time.

Alternatively what about pasture rest? Try it for say 3 months and in the meantime save for vets fees? You never know she might come right just with rest. Hope you find a solution x

 

[Elbie]

Once you have a diagnosis it may be worth trying to pursue a claim. In some cases where there is no sign of an external wound they may be willing to cover it if the vet says it's the result of injury. If your horse had strained a tendon then they wouldn't pay it but something else they may cover.

The normally exclude any tendon or ligament injuries from the criteria of accidental external injury but it would be worth pursuing if these structures aren't involved. They can only say no!

 

[siennamiller]

Ok, thanks Elbie

 

[ILuvCowparsely]

So, changed z's insurance last month, having never had to have a vet out to her. Showjumped on Saturday, then on Sunday she fell off the trailer ramp, slipped off sideways, and is lame, v sore. Vet wants to X-ray and scan, but insurance are saying they might not cover it as it is in the first month. If she had a cut/wound they would, but because it is internal they might not .
Waiting to hear back....

I feel for you


I am making my first claim since 2003 as my new mare has scarcoids

 

[siennamiller]

I had a lot of success with camrosa, and tying the sarcoid off. Apparently turmeric is very effective too.
Hope your horse is ok.

 

[ILuvCowparsely]

I had a lot of success with camrosa, and tying the sarcoid off. Apparently turmeric is very effective too.
Hope your horse is ok.

She has one on the face which we have to put creme on twice a day ( going to be hard) as I am away and she wont like it

the others the vet will come up 4 times to treat with Liverpool creme, she is also on scarc-ex

 

[siennamiller]

I hope she gets better for you. Horses!!

 

[merlin12]

If you can afford a horse you should be able to afford the vet. Hopefully your Insurance will pay up.Very difficult situation for you.Talk to your vet about the situation, he may allow you to pay by installments if your Insurance does not pay up.