Insurance claims - bone spavins

C

chestnut cob

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Anyone had an insurance claim for bone spavins turned down by their insurance company?

I notified my insurer straight away (same day vet was called), they have all of the claim forms and relevant paperwork. They are now making noises along the lines of "arthiritic conditions don't just come on overnight, we will need to look over his entire (whole life!) medical history".

Is it usual for them to look back that far? TBH there is no reason for them to turn the claim down as I've had the horse a year and in that time he has never had a lame day. There are no pre-existing conditions that could possibly lead to spavins. His changes were very mild and according to vet, probably were only just starting. As far as I know the horse has never had a lame day in his life so there shouldn't be anything for them to "discover" in his medical records anyway.

For those who have had a claim turned down (specifically for spavin)...what was the reason for it?

Sorry, I am a worrier! I do know that they have no reason not to pay but the fact my claim (along with everyone else who was with Eq Direct) are being assessed by loss adjusters is a bit of an unknown quantity
crazy.gif
 
My horse was diagnosed with spavin (along with various back issues) and the NFU have paid straight up. Again - he never had a lame day since I'd had him (well not to do with that at least!!). I think you need to stand firm. According to my vet's insurance companies are trying anything to get out of paying at the moment. Make sure your vet is in touch with them - will probably help if they can speak to him.
 
Thanks G. Mine had literally about 3 days of lameness, though it was more like "not quite right" before I called the vet out. Vet looked and said he wasn't moving quite right behind, more like not stepping through enough for such a big horse (he's 17.1hh) than anything else and arranged with me to come back a few days later with x-ray machine etc. The x-rays showed up mild changes, which were probably only just starting, and we injected the hock plus had a course of Adequan.

They have said they are going to look at the claim in detail next week and will get back to me. I genuinely can't see any reason for them not to pay. Horse has shivers, which insurer knows about, but that is totally unrelated to spavin and couldn't possibly be related to it. Vet has even put on claim form that horse has no pre-existing conditions that could have led to hock spavins.

Hopefully it's all just talk from the insurer (well, the loss adjuster) and they'll pay up.
 
It's not E&L!

I mentioned it in my original post. I was with Equestrian Direct so am now being dealt with by the loss adjuster that ED's old underwriter appointed to deal with "old" customers. So yes, I was with a reputable company.

TBH it shouldn't matter who it is as long as it's not E&L, as they have absolutely no reason not to pay...
 
No just some have a reputation for being difficult early on, mine were with my claim (not Spavin, PSD) although once they were happy with implications in the claim they paid within 2 days.
 

I had a claim for spavin earlier this year.

My insurers took a long time to pay out and they wanted every single piece of veterinary history i had on my mare.
They paid up eventually though.

Same company I claimed for a tendon injury and they were a hell of a lot quicker, so I think that with long term/arthritis cases then they DO try and wiggle out of it.
 
I guess I'm in a slightly different position in that the horse in on loan. In your case, you can only provide the vet history as far back as when you bought the horse, whereas I guess in my case they can contact the owners (or ask me to do it) to ask for all of his medical history since he was born (I loan him from the breeder). Not that there is anything in there for me to worry about as far as I know... TBH hopefully they will realise that I've had him long enough (a year) that something like this would have shown up/been claimed for already if it was a long standing condition.

MF - did your insurer make the same sorts of noises as mine is doing to start with?
 
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