Insurance...bah!

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So to cut a very long story short...
On the 10th Nov 2010 I made the heartbreaking decision to have my old man put to sleep. He fractured his carpal bone 12 months earlier and we did everything (bar operate, I felt he was too old to be put through this) to get him sound again. So anyway me and the vet decided that he had, had enough, he was virtually crippled and the leg just wasn't healing.

So now the insurance are refusing to pay up on my death claim saying that his destruction didnt meet BEVA guidelines. Fair enough maybe it didn't im sure they are in the right, but my vet bill is astronomical (sp) and the thousand pounds he was insured for would have really helped pay this off, would have made a good dent anyway! (there was no insurance money left as we went for broke on anti biotics while he was hospitalised to save his life)

So all in all im just having a moan, im sure they are right blah, blah, blah, but I just feel pants and really let down, I have paid insurance for him since I bought him 8yrs ago and I was hoping all this would have been sorted by now.

It was the hardest thing in the world losing him, but I know I made the right decision for him. Just them refusing to pay etc is dragging it all on longer than I thought it would have.

Sorry guys, im just peed off! :(
 
Hmm, tricky. The insurance company are sort of right if the horse wasn't a case for immediate humane destruction as there was no other option. If you had loss of use cover you could have claimed under that. You could dispute it but that would essentially mean the vet would have to confirm the horses quality of life was basically zilch and they may reconsider their decisions. They may decide on an ex-gratia type payment and say pay you a % of the cost in order to compromise.

Unfortunatlely insurancee companies do have to have these criteria to try an prevent people just having their horses PTS as they don't have any use for them any more/don't want to pay for vets treatment and think they can get some quick cash if they just put a death claim. Sadly, many of the reasons insurers put such terms on policies is because of people putting such claims. You can but try and dispute it. Nothing to lose.
 
Why do we have it??!! They always find some reason or another even if you are completely in the right! I would just persevere for a bit, if you have been paying them all that time I def think you are entitled to something!! :)
 
Thanks for your replies :)

Its petplan who I know have a very good reputation. Im not saying they are in the wrong I just feel crappy.

My horse was very lame, we'd gone on for over 12 months and I just felt enough was enough for him. He never complained once he was my angel and I just couldnt see him suffer anymore. In the end he could barely walk across the yard.

I didnt have loss of use for him, as I never saw the need, he was to be retired with me anyway and i only paid a small amount for him, it was just such a shame he retired so soon. :(

I suppose in their eyes I could have gone on with the bute and box rest, but I knew my horse and I knew he had, had enough. He wasnt the whimpy type so to still be so lame there was no hope for him ever being sound. He had arthritis in his back legs anyway so all the box rest was doing him no good.

I may dispute it, but tbh I think i've run out of 'fight' I gave all that to him. I just feel let down by them 'tis all!
 
if you're not happy with the decision and feel you ahd no other choice for the welfare of your horse (and if the vet can back you up this will help) then you have nothing to lose by going back to them and telling them the situation. Honestly, people do it all the time and quite often the insurer will reconsider a case and may well agree a settlement.
 
I made the decision with the agreement of my vet to have my old mare put down following a serious injury in the field. I knew that her being PTS did not meet the BEVA guidelines so I knew I would not get any insurance money for her but still felt it was the right decision for her. She could have had an operation which the insurance would have paid for but the prognosis would have been very poor.

I am sorry for you but I don't know of any company that doesn't clearly state that if your horse if PTS without their consent then it has to meet BEVA guidelines - which basically are that it has to be on immediate humane grounds (I have had three other horses PTS which did meet BEVA guidelines and had no problem with insurance).

I am a little surprised your vet didn't advise you of this but doubt you would have any comeback on them either.

Take heart from the fact that you made the right decision for your boy.
 
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