Equimed AG Boots, LV and insurance

[Billabongchick]

There are a few older threads on these but they are aimed more towards mud fever and how effective the boots are. I have had awful problems with UV Photosensitivity (Leukocytoclastic Vasculitus) with our mare on all 3 white legs which culminated in steroids and various prescribed creams to get rid of the horrid lesions and inflammation. Poor girl has been stabled non stop for months other than exercise while we have tried to get on top of the problem. Progress was slooooow.

Anyway, I read about the Equimed boots but couldn't really afford them (especially not knowing if they'd work) and then was lucky enough to buy a pair second hand from a livery who had sold her horse and said they were amazing. Well they really are; within a week there was a huge improvement particularly in fluid/filled legs and 3 weeks on we are now virtually scab-less on the 2 hind legs (only have the one pair of boots which I've put on hinds as her foreleg wasn't filling overnight). Improvement is to the point that our vet was pretty impressed/shocked when I showed her a photo. We are now looking at daily turnout with UV boots soon now the mud is receding (yipppeeeeee!!!!)

Seeing as two x tubs of the cream cost the same as a pair of these boots is it possible that insurance company would pay out on another set of these? My vet was so impressed she said she is happy to 'prescribe' so to speak. I don't like claiming on insurance but we had to as bill was high with steroids etc and had we stuck with just cream I think we would have got through another 4-5 pots to get to this level of healing which would all have been added to the claim. We can use the boots long term preventing additional claims in the 12 month period. Will they laugh me off the phone if I call up to ask as I know it's a bit unusual?! Or has anyone had 'medical items' rather than 'prescribed medicines' allowed on claims? Insurance has been very helpful so far but I don't want to take the p...

 

[Elbie]

I'm assuming they don't actually treat the condition, they just prevent the symptoms developing?

If so, some companies may refuse to pay the full amount as they aren't "treating" the condition. However, they may contribute towards the cost (50% or something). Some companies for example will make a payment towards sweet itch rugs as they do help relieve the symptoms, however, they don't always pay the full amount (if I remember rightly, for a sweet itch rug the company i worked for would divide the cost by 365 days so you get value as £x per day, and then pay how many days cover of the 12 month cover period you have left).

Ask your vet to put in writing how brilliant they are and compare costs of boots to topical treatment (i.e. cream) and they may be won round!

 

[Billabongchick]

Thank you Elbie; they do actually treat the skin as have silver and carbon in the lining which kills the bacteria and helps with healing for dermatitis-esque complaints. The fact the legs are kept clean underneath helps as well as we found the cream would get poo and bedding stuck to it but frequent washing was irritating the lesions. The boots have dried the scabs out so they are almost powdery and flake away. (Sounds gross but a huge improvement on weepy lesions!)

Might be worth a call then and see what the insurance company says!

 

[Elbie]

Ah right (should've read up on them!).

They may be generous then and pay for them in full or offer to pay part.

Get your vet to advise how much a tub of cream costs and how long this would be expected to last then how much this compares to the boots and how the benefits of the boots outweigh the use of the cream (better healing etc).