Making a claim on insurance

checkmate1

checkmate1

Well-Known Member
Joined
28 August 2007
Messages
796
Visit site
Have never done this before so rang up my insurance company today to find out what to do, my question is will what I'm claiming for be exempt from now on with my insurance? I did ask them, but they said they need to look at the details first, do you think my vet will know the answer?
Indie damaged her back (deep muscle layer and suspected slight sacroiliac tearing), I paid the vets bill thinking what as it wasn't much more than the excess so not worth the effort, but I have been told that the subsequent physio she will need (at least 4 treatments at £35 a time) can be claimed for. Do I? It was accidental damage she did out in the field, and when treated and everything she will be back to normal. I don't want her back to exempt on the insurance what if (God forbid) she gets kissing spine or something awful in the future? (am I being dramatic?!). Sorry if this is a tad confusing!
 
If its muscle damage from an accident it should be ok!
However who are u insured with it mighten be worth claiming!
 
I made a claim with my insurance company (SEIB) for a very simular thing with my mare, she had some muscle damage along her back.

To make a long story short after a lot of debating on paying out, she is now not covered for that area if she damages her muscle again!!
blush.gif
Hence i'm moving to NFU.
grin.gif
 
If your veterinary treatment wasn't very much - say round the £150 mark then I wouldn't claim personally.

Chiro visists at around £35 is a pretty standard cost - and again, not worth claiming for imo.

I always think that insurance is there for emergencies - not for unexpected veterinary costs.....
 
One of our chaps had muscle damage on his back and the insurance company paid all the phsio - some of which had to be done under general anesthetic. We sent him to Avonvale vets they have a great back vet there. Hope you get it sorted
 
[ QUOTE ]
I made a claim with my insurance company (SEIB) for a very simular thing with my mare, she had some muscle damage along her back.

To make a long story short after a lot of debating on paying out, she is now not covered for that area if she damages her muscle again!!
blush.gif
Hence i'm moving to NFU.
grin.gif
[/quote

Think very carefully before claiming as it will undoubtably result in an exclusion. Changing insurance companies won't necessarily mean that they will cover it as you have to declare any previous conditions/ claims when taking out a new policy. usually the new insurance company excludes it also and it is risky to not declare it too.
 
You will need to declare any incidents that have happened to your insurance company at renewal anyway otherwise it could affect your cover. Therefore it is irrelevant whether you claim or not really. It depends on your excess and what the costs will be as to whether you feel it's worth it.

Each company differs in what they will and won't exclude and, as an underwriter for horse insurance I have heard/seen some rather OTT exclusions applied following these sort of muscular problems. Personally in my opinion it would not be something we would exclude initially if merely muscle damage following a fall for example. However, if the horse kept having similar problems it is likely an exclusion for the condition /area may then be applied. As I said though it depends entirely what company your with!
 
I personaly wouldnt say anything, you could just be having treatment for bad backs - lots of horses have this from various diffrent causes.

My horse went lame for about 4 weeks after scans and tests they still didnt know what what wrong, then one day her fetlock blew up and vet said it was mud fever! however after claiming her ENTIRE hind leg was excluded - moral?
dont claim unless you have too.
 
Thanks everyone, I'm not going to claim shes only 4 and I can't risk her back being excluded from the cover.
 
you've just told the insurance company she has a problem - they're going to exclude you anyway so you might as well claim!

you have a duty at renewal time to inform them of any times your horse has seen the vet except for vacc in the previous year. my insurance sends me a specific form to fill in - not all do, but it does say in the small print that if you have had a vet see the horse and dont tell them then they will invalidate your insurance. you have to be honest with them or they'll stuff you anyway. my horse had mites the other year - didn't even cost the excess to treat him, but had to declare it at renewal time as vet had been out twice to see him and they excluded it - it's just tough.
 
Don't forget though, as LadyT says, you do have to tell the insurance company that she has been seen by the vet. If she injured her back in the future and you did need to claim, you could have a problem if her vet notes indicated that she had been treated previously for a back injury.
 
You have informed them by phoning so you may as well claim. It will be excluded unfortunately. You have to declare it anyway at the next renewal. Dont let your vet faff about. has he suggested scintigraphy to establish whether it is SI or KS? Sometimes if they think they are not covered they dont get on with things if you know what i mean. At the end of the day you pay extortionate amounts for vet cover so in this situation you may as well use it.

My horse has Sacroiliac injury so feel free to pm me. It is a long term problem with no easy solution but i found Physio the way to go.
 
I wouldn't bother claiming in this instance, and have never had to declare any veterinary treatment when my policy is due for renewal. If this is the case, just say it was an ill fitting saddle.
 
It doesn't necessarily mean it will be excluded, it will depend entirely on what the problem is (and who you're insured with!). I have my horses backs checked probably once a year by a McTimoney guy but don't advise my insurance as it's not due to them actually having a problem just more to ensure they are ok before they start any hard work really. But, if you have had a vet out then, as someone said, should you have a similar claim in the future your insurer is likely to ask for a veterinary history and this incident will be shown and could cause problems for your claim.

If it is found your horse has just strained his back and just requries some physio then just tell your insurance company if you are not claiming that it was just a mild muscle strain or something and has been resolved. If they exclude something like that then I would suggest changing companies to be honest!

You are definitely best to be honest and upfront. We (insurers) much prefer our policyholders to let us know every little thing (within reason obviously) than to 'hide' problems that have occurred.
 
[ QUOTE ]
have never had to declare any veterinary treatment when my policy is due for renewal.

[/ QUOTE ]

have you really read your small print carefully? every policy i've ever read says you have to inform your insurers of any non-routine vet visits, regardless of whether you claim or not or they will invalidate your insurance.
 
It is part of your policy contract that you HAVE to notify your insurance company of any incidents you feel could affect your policy (ie at renewal). I am sorry but this is why people get cross and rant about insurance companies alot of the time as many claims are turned down actually down to non-disclosure of information by the policyholder.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top