Cushing Test affecting insurance beware

R

rockingham

New User
Joined
22 May 2013
Messages
2
Visit site
I am new to posting on forums, in fact this is the first time but as mum left at home with horse as daughter has gone to university i seem to be confronted by new challenges and expenses every day. I have our horse's teeth checked twice a year and he is up to date with flu jabs. Six months ago at his annual flu appointment as Cushings tests were being offered and despite no symtoms apart from a hairy coat (he is a Dales pony that greww too big) and no laminitis ever i had the test done. He had a high score which one half tablet of Prascend has reduced although there are some signs with a second test that this may be creeping up. (tablets one pound each). I was sad for him but glad there was something to help. However I was very angry to find when i received my insurance renewal that not only had he beem excluded from treatment for Cushings but also for EMS and laminitus. I have tried to argue the case with Petplan but so far no movement. My vets were unaware that this could happen but i have asked that they tell owners considering this test that this could be the result. Has anyone else has this experience. The vets say they are seeing some wide spread exclusions follwoing treatments.
 
Did you claim for the prascend on your insurance? My old horse tested positive for Cushings and vet told me I would be able to claim for prascend for one year and then as in most conditions/illnesses the insurance company exclude it and most likely anything related Cushings eg laminitis. Sadly I lost the horse due to laminitis but the insurance did pay out in full for all his treatment and drugs.
 
I'm surprised that you/the vet are surprised tbh?? Your horse has cushings the insurance are not going to therefore cover it on renewal that would be bonkers of them. - You should still have a years payment for the treatment though.
 
rockingham said:
but i have asked that they tell owners considering this test that this could be the result. Has anyone else has this experience. The vets say they are seeing some wide spread exclusions follwoing treatments.
Click to expand...

sorry you have had a baptism of fire to horse keeping.
I am not suprised the insurance companies would include exclusions.

However, I hope your comments won't put people of testing.
A cushings horse needs careful managing and treating with the correct medication. Not testing and treating them, IMHO, does far more harm than worrying about insurance exclusions.
 
Thanks for all the replies nice to know someone out there although sorry to hear of your problems. I entered into the cushings testing as I believed fore warned is fore armed however whilst i expected treatment for cushings to be limited in terms of insurance to a year ( and as I am aure you know this is an incurable and lifelong condition which will always require treatment) my horse does not have and never has had Equine metabolic syndrome or laminitus both which are expensive conditions and emergenies in one case. Now because he tested positive he will not be covered for these two conditions something that seems not to be universally applied. The vets were not aware that a positive test for cushings woul lead to an exclusion for these other conditions in a horse that has never suffered with either condition.
 
but both EMS and even more so laminitis are linked to cushings. (I would be very very surprised if any insurer covered a horse for laminitis that was cushings positive.) As with everything regarding insurance for them it is a matter of risk. Mine has all four feet excluded having only been lame on one ;)
 
The insurance will see the positive cushings result as a 'pre existing' condition which is why it is not included in your insurance renewal anymore. Im guessing its because at some point you might just claim for treatment which they will not want to pay out for. When we claimed for EMS/lami they wanted all vet reports to say he hadnt had lami before or they wouldnt pay. As it is an uncurable condition I would think they will refuse to remove it.
 
Yep could have predicted that. The insurance companies ask your vets for a print out of treatments before renewal. hence why they ask you for your vets name and address. They dont have to ask your permission to do this.

This is another reason why if something needing treatment is over the excess i just claim the insurance as it will be excluded whether you claim or not.
 
very predictable that laminitis wouldn't be covered. It is so closely linked with cushings. I doubt you would have any chance of fighting the insurers on that one.
You say he has never had EMS. Presumably you have test results to confirm that. If so then I think you would have to put the case along with the test results to them. I doubt you would be very lucky as EMS, PPID and laminitis are so linked. The treatment for EMS, as far as I am aware is based on diet and exercise so any treatment cost would be minimal.

I wish you luck but I would be very very suprised f the insurers changed their minds.
On a different note with the exclusions can I ask if it is worth insuring your horse?
many of us "self insure" ie save the premiums in a bank account and for some it turns out to be a better system. Apologies if this is a bit off topic.
 
I second considering the self insure route. A savings account is one way to do it. Another advantage is you aren't restricted to treatments insurance and vets insist on in laminitis for eg.
Obviously you will need third party.
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top