Catastrophe insurance?

[Melody Grey]

I think I read about catastrophe insurance on here a while ago and want to know more.

My insurance renewal has come through with (understandably) a lot of exclusions:
skin tumours and all related conditions, equine gastric ulcers and all related conditions, the suspensory ligaments of both hind limbs and all related conditions, the back and spine, the tendons and ligaments of both fore limbs and all related conditions, the coffin joints and all related conditions.

I obviously still want public liability insurance and ideally to insure against accidents, theft and straying and colic (horse has never had colic and can be confirmed by my vet). Has anyone found this in my situation? Which insurers? What are the premiums like?

Advice much appreciated.

 

[COldNag]

I have had a similar dilemma and have now switched pony to this type of cover with SEIB as the vet cover is much higher than most . Doesn't cover colic but I wonder if that is available?

Harry Hall looked promising but only available for age 15 and under.

I also have an oldie with Petplan veteran insurance. Cheap premiums but vet cover only £1k

 

[Melody Grey]

I have had a similar dilemma and have now switched pony to this type of cover with SEIB as the vet cover is much higher than most . Doesn't cover colic but I wonder if that is available?

Harry Hall looked promising but only available for age 15 and under.

I also have an oldie with Petplan veteran insurance. Cheap premiums but vet cover only £1k

Thanks for this- will look into these. The horse is 13 so might be a goer with the Harry Hall one!!

 

[COldNag]

Thanks for this- will look into these. The horse is 13 so might be a goer with the Harry Hall one!!

Harry Hall looked perfect for me until I found the age restriction!

I just got fed up paying high premiums with so many exclusions that I decided to take the risk to move away from previous policy . I now have to keep my fingers very firmly crossed!

 

[Lady Jane]

KBIS do Catastrophe Cover: https://www.kbis.co.uk/catastrophe-cover/

Limited cover but good price, age upto 20 and includes colic

"vets fees up to a maximum of £7,500 in total during the policy period with a 15 month claim period. The cover is for accidental, external injuries only (i.e. involving an open wound), plus the inclusion of three life saving veterinary procedures; Colic surgery, joint or tendon sheath flushing as a result of sepsis, and surgery for pastern or pedal bone fractures"

 

[Squeak]

World Horse Welfare do a veterinary cover with public liability and third party etc.:

ChampionPlus with Veterinary (worldhorsewelfare.org)

It worked out better for me than Harry Hall due to not limiting it to two horses and having a lower excess. I don't think it would cover colic though.

 

[criso]

I've got one with Shearwater. I added on tack and death/theft. Can't remember if you can add on public liability as I already had it.

The colic cover is for the surgery, not the cost of vet coming out to treat.

If the horse has been treated for ulcers, would insurers try and argue that colic was a related condition?

 

[Melody Grey]

I've got one with Shearwater. I added on tack and death/theft. Can't remember if you can add on public liability as I already had it.

The colic cover is for the surgery, not the cost of vet coming out to treat.

If the horse has been treated for ulcers, would insurers try and argue that colic was a related condition?

Thanks. I’m sure I’ve read that people have managed to get colic cover for horses that have been treated for ulcers, but am yet to try this myself. There has been almost 12 months since last ulcer treatment without repercussions, so hopefully that will help!

 

[criso]

In that case KBIS and Shearwater offer the most comprehensive cover but as I said colic cover is only for surgery. The quote above from KBIS gives a good example of the wording.

 

[Abi90]

I’m with KBIS on catastrophe cover as she was excluded from everything except what that covered anyway!

 

[Skips11]

I have both of mine with Harry Hall. You can add more than one horse for the same price!

Called to ask about colic exclusions as mine has had ulcers but nothing is excluded and they both have full colic and external injury cover. Paid quarterly and quite reasonable considering both horses are covered for colic surgery as well as any awful wounds etc.

Not had to claim yet but very happy with them otherwise

 

[HorseMaid]

Have got mine insured with Harry Hall. Had a stay at horsepital recently due to a mystery injury sustained in the field requiring flushing of hock joint and IV antibiotics for a weekend, they paid out the full amount without any fuss!

 

[Melody Grey]

Update:
Harry Hall would exclude colic since the horse has been treated for ulcers (fair enough!)

KBIS catastrophe cover looks good, but there is no cover for anything other than colic surgery/ joint flushing/ external injury. KBIS won’t run a catastrophe cover alongside a veterinary policy elsewhere (did ask!)

I’m thinking to go with KBIS catastrophe cover? Thoughts welcomed!!

 

[criso]

When I looked Shearwater were a bit cheaper than KBIS for similar cover so I went with them.

 

[Melody Grey]

When I looked Shearwater were a bit cheaper than KBIS for similar cover so I went with them.

Thanks- will give them a call!

 

[Sealine]

I was getting quotes yesterday for insurance further to renewal premium of £900 for my 19 year old horse with hock spavins. I only want insurance for public liability and vet fees (no tack, loss of use, colic surgery), needs to cover hunting and hacking.

In case anyone is interested for comparisons this is what I've been quoted:
Equesure (current insurer) - public liability, accidental/external/visable vet fees £3k per claim £10k per annum, includes death, theft, straying and disposal, excess £175 - £344
KBIS - as above but with no annual limit on vet fees, excess £140 - £330 (option to add Catastrophe which includes colic surgery, joint/tendon flushing, pedal bone surgery total £405)
Harry Hall - public liability, accidental/external/visable vet fees £3k per claim and per annum, £165 excess - £220 (does not include disposal)

Note: The Harry Hall age limit mentioned above only applies to the colic surgery option.

 

[Melody Grey]

When I looked Shearwater were a bit cheaper than KBIS for similar cover so I went with them.

For;

KBIS £7.5k cover for £300
Shear water £6k cover for £325

I was getting quotes yesterday for insurance further to renewal premium of £900 for my 19 year old horse with hock spavins. I only want insurance for public liability and vet fees (no tack, loss of use, colic surgery), needs to cover hunting and hacking.

In case anyone is interested for comparisons this is what I've been quoted:
Equesure (current insurer) - public liability, accidental/external/visable vet fees £3k per claim £10k per annum, includes death, theft, straying and disposal, excess £175 - £344
KBIS - as above but with no annual limit on vet fees, excess £140 - £330 (option to add Catastrophe which includes colic surgery, joint/tendon flushing, pedal bone surgery total £405)
Harry Hall - public liability, accidental/external/visable vet fees £3k per claim and per annum, £165 excess - £220 (does not include disposal)

Note: The Harry Hall age limit mentioned above only applies to the colic surgery option.

interesting that your KBIS quote includes the option to have vet cover added to catastrophe- I was told this morning that I couldn’t do this and it was one or the other (would have been my preferred solution)....might try again!

 

[criso]

For;

KBIS £7.5k cover for £300
Shear water £6k cover for £325

interesting that your KBIS quote includes the option to have vet cover added to catastrophe- I was told this morning that I couldn’t do this and it was one or the other (would have been my preferred solution)....might try again!

When I took it out Shearwater included mortality and theft and straying as standard. Adding it on to KBIS made it more expensive.

I actually pay a bit more than £325 but I added tack for theft or damage as my home insurance won't cover it unless it's normally kept at home.

ETA my insurance is up for renewal so I will ring KBIS up for a quote and look at equesure if they do it now

 

[Sealine]

With KBIS I think it's what they referred to as Scale A vets fees for the £344 and Catastrophe was £405. Maybe it's one or the other but Catastrophe offers the extras (colic surgery etc) on top of the Scale A vets fees.

 

[criso]

Just doing my comparisons now

Shearwater £379.01
KBIS £395.20

Both include tack cover which adds a bit extra and loss/theft as standard. KBIS is 367 without without. KBIS do offer the option of 3000 worth of cover for £319 with tack which could be enough for external injuries. However that doesn't include joint flushing or surgery, colic surgery etc.

Waiting for Equesure to call back.