BHS gold membership insurance question

[BlueSocks]

Hi all

I am thinking of changing insurance for my 3, as it's just so expensive to cover three for vets bills etc. I plan to put money away each month for vets bills rather than have it on my insurance. My question is, if I take out BHS gold membership, does the public liability and personal accident cover all 3 of my horses? ie if any one of them caused harm to someone else or their property while out riding or if they escaped from the field for instance, would the BHS gold cover it? I'm a bit confused!! How does everyone else arrange their insurance? Thanks x

 

[OWLIE185]

I believe that the BHS Third Party Public Liability insurance covers to the recommended amount of £10,000,000 Ten Million Pounds. (Many do not provide cover to this level which a recent court case demonstrated was the amount that one should insure to).
I would suggest that you contact the BHS directly to find out how the insurance cover operates if you have 3 horses.

 

[AmieeT]

I thought Gold covers you for any horse that you ride.

Ax

 

[Exploding Chestnuts]

As far as I am aware third party insurance is to cover you from incidents which you or your horses [or horses you handle] are involved in, obviously it does not cover death or vet fees, it is not the same type of policy. BHS is third party plus free legal advice [ which is very difficult to access].
Other horse policies might have third party as an add-on, but are primarily for death / illness etc OF THE HORSE.
Paying for three horse vet insurance type policies will probably be rather expensive, so most people would keep a sum of money aside and not pay annual premiums for three "run of the mill" horses. If you have one which is worth megabucks, that is a different scenario.

 

[MiJodsR2BlinkinTite]

Mmmm, am following this one with great interest, as am in same position as OP.

Betcha you're insured with NFU OP???

Am I right??

I've got both horses plus the farm/yard covered with them; and by god its costing me a fortune - saw my accountant last week and he blew through his teeth at just how much I was paying out.......... says there are company's which cover far more risk and which charge less, so I'm looking around at the moment.

 

[BlueSocks]

Yes NFU! Been with them for yonks but they are getting sooooo expensive, particularly for my older lad!
So it sounds like with the BHS Gold memebership, I would have Public Liability and Personal Accident, plus legal advice for all 3 horses covered by one membership.
Think I need to do some sums. Does anyone have recommendations for decent veteran cover? So difficult when they get older but are still active and healthy to work out what is best insurance wise.
Thanks so far all x

 

[BlueSocks]

Just taken this off SEIB insurance page - what do you make of this? (considering that they are the suppliers of the BHS gold cover)

"If you do not have horse insurance then Public Liability insurance for your horse can still be obtained and there are many options out there. For example the BHS Gold Membership includes Public Liability cover provided by SEIB for your horse up to £10,000,000 per incident however this cover is a ‘last resort’ policy and therefore will only take effect if there is no other Public Liability policies available that cover the horse. Terms & Conditions do apply so do please check with SEIB or The BHS."

 

[Princess Rosie]

I have three and was told it would cover all my horses.

 

[Exploding Chestnuts]

Just taken this off SEIB insurance page - what do you make of this? (considering that they are the suppliers of the BHS gold cover)

"If you do not have horse insurance then Public Liability insurance for your horse can still be obtained and there are many options out there. For example the BHS Gold Membership includes Public Liability cover provided by SEIB for your horse up to £10,000,000 per incident however this cover is a ‘last resort’ policy and therefore will only take effect if there is no other Public Liability policies available that cover the horse. Terms & Conditions do apply so do please check with SEIB or The BHS."

What the "insurer of last resort" means that if you are covered in another way, then the other insurer will be the "first resort", [ most house insurances give third party insurance for example, within certain limits]. It is not a "get out clause" it is perfectly normal insurance speak.
Car third party insurance may apply if your car is involved.
I am not sure that everyone appreciates the several types of insurance we are likely to require/need at some stage in our lives.
Personal accident can insure things like loss of limb , but not illness. I am not sure the if the BHS covers personal accident.
Permanent health insurance [in case of illness] can be expensive, it would not be part of the BHS scheme.

 

[Princess Rosie]

Just had a look at the cover and BHS gold covers personal accident up to £10,000. x

 

[Exploding Chestnuts]

Just had a look at the cover and BHS gold covers personal accident up to £10,000. x

Which is not a lot if you were to lose two limbs!

 

[BlueSocks]

I thought that too Bonkers but it seems to be the norm on the various websites I've looked at so far. Thanks for everyone's input so far. Insurance seems to be becoming a such a massive cost for horse owners / riders so any advice / ideas are very welcome. Makes it worse when your renewal is in Jan along with car insurance too!!
The "last resort" quote concerned me but if it simply means if you haven't got PL and PA on your existing insurance then that's when it would apply, then it doesn't seem to be a problem.

 

[Goldenstar]

The personal accident cover from the BHS is very very limited , for example my life changing leg break was not covered .

 

[popsdosh]

Which is not a lot if you were to lose two limbs!

More than if you have no cover at all!!
You cannot get the same cover for less anywhere I know of! At least with this cover you have not got the same little issues as you have using for example the cover on the back of BE or BD where I believe the first £1K of any claim is not covered and they also are insurers of last resort. Those worrying about the personal accident side you really need to put your own policy in place but dont knock the BHS for not giving more cover as it is very expensive when you take part in a high risk sport.

 

[BlueSocks]

The personal accident cover from the BHS is very very limited , for example my life changing leg break was not covered .

Sorry to hear that Goldenstar. If you don't mind me asking, why was this?

 

[Exploding Chestnuts]

The personal accident cover from the BHS is very very limited , for example my life changing leg break was not covered .

That is it, the BHS membership is primarily for membership, the Gold part gives us an extra benefit, an insurance policy, but it is limited.

 

[Honey08]

You insure with the BHS gold membership for third party cover, if you want personal accident insurance it's not the best policy and another one would be best for you.

My BHS insurance covers all my horses and anyone who rides my horses unpaid, they said, therefore a sharer etc. I think it also covers me on other horses (unpaid) too.

 

[Exploding Chestnuts]

More than if you have no cover at all!!
You cannot get the same cover for less anywhere I know of! At least with this cover you have not got the same little issues as you have using for example the cover on the back of BE or BD where I believe the first £1K of any claim is not covered and they also are insurers of last resort.

Yes, but what you have to accept at some stage is that you get what you pay for, there are not a lot of horse specific insurance policies, and you may find that many are SEIB, who probably have insurance backed by Lloyds or some such.

 

[popsdosh]

Yes but what you have to accept at some stage is that you get what you pay for, there are not a lot of horse specific insurance policies, and you may find that many are SEIB, who probably have insurance backed by Lloyds or some such.

If you take the personal acc cover out it is still probably the most comprehensive liability cover you will get at a very reasonable cost.

 

[BHS_official]

If any horse you own caused damage you were liable for - whether it was out riding, the horse escaped its field, etc. - you'd be covered as a BHS Gold member. This applies to any horse you own, look after or ride (terms and conditions apply; see our website for full details).

The public liability insurance provided as a BHS Gold membership benefit now also extends to £20 million, not £10 million.

Gold membership also includes personal accident insurance in case you're seriously hurt or involved in a fatal accident. If anyone is concerned they need a higher level of cover, e.g. for loss of earnings following a broken limb, we'd recommend looking at a specialist rider insurance policy from a reputable insurer.

Both types of insurance on our Gold membership are provided by South Essex Insurance Brokers (SEIB), so you can be confident it's from a market leader.

Gold membership also includes 24/7 access to a free expert legal, VAT and tax helpline - and it's there for any issue you need advice on, not just equestrian matters.

Full details on both the public liability and personal accident insurances, plus other benefits of joining our charity, are available at https://www.bhs.org.uk/membership/types-of-memberships/gold-membership.

Our Membership team are always happen to chat through specific issues if needed, too - just give them a call on 02476 840506.

 

[Honey08]

It never fails to make me smile how these BHS officials appear like Mr Ben's shop assistant at the mention of anything BHS. (If anyone is old enough to remember Mr Ben, if not swop for "like magic").

 

[Exploding Chestnuts]

It never fails to make me smile how these BHS officials appear like Mr Ben's shop assistant at the mention of anything BHS. (If anyone is old enough to remember Mr Ben, if not swop for "like magic").

Is Mr Ben the old guy with a shop, and Bagpuss in the window, nowadays that would probably not be P.C.

 

[Beausmate]

I have claimed through the BHS/SEIB insurance for a third party incident. I wasn't impressed.




(Mr Ben is the chap in the bowler hat who visits the fancy dress shop, passes out in the changing room and has a little adventure. )

 

[Ellen Durow]

Yes, it does. I did this some years ago on the NFU rep's advice when I had two horses. I checked with BHS and they told me that one membership covered public liability for any horses I owned as long as they were my own recreational horses and not used for profit/business.

To be on the safe side ring up BHS and ask them.

 

[Ellen Durow]

Mmmm, am following this one with great interest, as am in same position as OP.

Betcha you're insured with NFU OP???

Am I right??

I've got both horses plus the farm/yard covered with them; and by god its costing me a fortune - saw my accountant last week and he blew through his teeth at just how much I was paying out.......... says there are company's which cover far more risk and which charge less, so I'm looking around at the moment.

And your accountant is a horse insurance expert? Yes, there are cheaper companies but be very, very careful. NFU may be expensive but I have never had any complaints regarding the way my claims have been handled.

There are several cheaper companies but read the small print VERY carefully and make sure the cover is adequate. Check with your vet that they will deal direct with the insurance company, only taking the excess from you. Vets are not stupid and know which insurance companies are bad payers! It's no use regretting your actions when your horse has to be put down because you can't afford necessary treatment.

AND DO NOT EVEN THINK ABOUT E&L UNDER ANY OF ITS NOMS DE GUERRES.

 

[Rudders74]

Having been exposed to the unfortunate situation of having to make a claim on BHS public liability insurance after previous horse spooked and bolted through a village I now know an awful lot about the process and its not good news im afraid. In order for the person/property your horse has damaged, to be recompensed, you must be found negligent. I wasnt as my horse was tethered properly and I was a few metres away, it was an unforseeable event so the insurance wouldnt pay the chap whose car got clipped. If I had left my horse untethered in the street whilst I got drunk I would have been found negligent and the insurance would have paid out. Its weird but I suppose if you think about he scenario of two cars having an accident, one party is always at fault (negligent) in some way, which determines whose insurance pays out. The large majority of events I can think of where horses may cause damage wont involve negligence in a lot of cases ie you fall off and it bolts causing an RTA or escape out of a seemingly secure paddock etc. I built up a large file of information and evidence of past case history etc with help from an industy expert, not because my claim was large, it was relatively minor really, I just couldnt take it in that what we all think is there to protect us really isnt. It all left me feeling rather exposed....

 

[Exploding Chestnuts]

Having been exposed to the unfortunate situation of having to make a claim on BHS public liability insurance after previous horse spooked and bolted through a village I now know an awful lot about the process and its not good news im afraid. In order for the person/property your horse has damaged, to be recompensed, you must be found negligent. I wasnt as my horse was tethered properly and I was a few metres away, it was an unforseeable event so the insurance wouldnt pay the chap whose car got clipped. If I had left my horse untethered in the street whilst I got drunk I would have been found negligent and the insurance would have paid out. Its weird but I suppose if you think about he scenario of two cars having an accident, one party is always at fault (negligent) in some way, which determines whose insurance pays out. The large majority of events I can think of where horses may cause damage wont involve negligence in a lot of cases ie you fall off and it bolts causing an RTA or escape out of a seemingly secure paddock etc. I built up a large file of information and evidence of past case history etc with help from an industy expert, not because my claim was large, it was relatively minor really, I just couldnt take it in that what we all think is there to protect us really isnt. It all left me feeling rather exposed....

I wonder if the BHS will respond to this, this is the type of incident which one might expect to be covered for, and I think they probably have a lot of members who join just for this reason, I know I did.

 

[Rudders74]

I wonder if the BHS will respond to this, this is the type of incident which one might expect to be covered for, and I think they probably have a lot of members who join just for this reason, I know I did.

Im not sure they can really as its not specific to BHS policy/insurers, apparently negligence forms the basis of all public liability claims, so the same could happen with another insurer. To make matters worse it can also come down to the individual claim handlers interpretation of negligence, as I found very similar cases which had gone both ways ie some paid, some didnt. Its a lottery!

 

[popsdosh]

No third party liability insurance will cover that damage they will only pay out if you are found negligent.

 

[Exploding Chestnuts]

No third party liability insurance will cover that damage they will only pay out if you are found negligent.

Hypothetically could one not claim that anyone riding a horse and not being able to stay on board was negligent in taking it out on a public road where it might get spooked?