Furious with insurance companies. Advice please!

F

Fransurrey

Well-Known Member
Joined
27 April 2004
Messages
7,702
Location
Surrey
Visit site
Just when I thought I had it sorted...

This year I noticed Henry wouldn't be covered from next year for illness, so I debated with the broker about either 3rd party only or switching to another company. All arranged today, but then in a phone call, she mentions that he has an exclusion with the new company, not only for laminitis (he had a one-off attack summer 2009), but also Cushing's AND Metabolic Syndrome!

I didn't realise that my existing policy also had a Cushing's exclusion, which I'm furious about, as it's in microscopic text on the back of the policy. So, what to do??? Apparently the only way to get the Cushing's exclusion lifted is through a negative test. Do wot??? I have to pay for vet call out and testing, when there is no evidence of a condition??? Bloody furious to put it mildly. Am tempted to cancel every policy and join the BHS. They must be raking it in from people like me who've had enough!!
 
They're not raking it in from me. My horses are all insured as business stock so I have a minimal annual payment for liability etc only. That is rather unfair of your company though but their rules so you have to decide whether to stay with them or break out and go with some other company (who probably have their own rules) sorry.
 
The cost of the blood test is very minimal. I'd definitely be paying for it to have the exclusion lifted! Take your horse to the vet to remove the call out fee too.
 
I don't think it will be long before the only insurance you can get for horses, is accidental insurance. I don't see how these companies make any money these days, and they are not charities.

I paid for many years and never claimed and then in my horses last year, the scales tipped and my last claim exceeded all the premiums they had from me.
 
I had the same happen to me, my horse had a single laminitis attack and next renewal he's not covered for Cushings, no option of having a test. I had one done anyway and he was negative.
 
If your horse has never been diagnosed with cushings then I would query the exclusion with the insurer and ask for their rationale behind putting the exclusion on. I understand them excluding laminitis if your horse has had an attack that wasn't trauma-related (ie from kicking a wall or something). However, cushings and laminitis are not conditions that always are related at all. It may be an underwriter or someone in the company thinks they're very smart and knows all about horses so therefore they "know" that if a horse has had laminitis then it's obviously going to have cushings and metabolic syndrome!! You need to question them.

For the record, no, horse insurers (and I imagine pet insurance in general) does NOT make money. Average premium £300, average claim £1200-£1500. You do the maths! Insurance is just that, insurance. It is not to cover you for existing issues, it is for the unforseen. You don't HAVE to have insurance for your horse so whether you do, and what extent of cover you have is your choice.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top