MRI scan

WellyBaggins

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Hello, my horse is lame and we don't know why, we know it is foot but not really any clearer after x-rays, he is having further nerve blocks to pin point exact location and the vet is suggesting MRI, does anyone know if this is covered by the NFU? Thanks in advance :(
 
My mare had an MRI scan in 2009 and Im insured with NFU. They paid half of the bill and I had to pay the other half. You must inform them first and get their agreement, policy says in writing but verbal was fine for me, make sure you get their name at the other end of the phone.

The scan showed a tear to my horse's DDFT as she had been on/off lame too. Its great to watch and got to the bottom of the problem straight away.
 
We went to Hird & Partners at Shelf, Halifax, and my mare was under the care of Peter Scholefield, brilliant Vet and spot on with his diagnosis and treatment plan. She is now sound..and hopefully will stay that way!
 
Double check but when I was renewing with NFU they told me they had changed their policy on MRIs and now pay all of the costs.
They have to approve it in advance though.
 
had one last year all paid for by NFU as the vet informed them he could not make a firm diagnosis without one, ddft tear in the rear hind, still off work, vet coming on wednesday to reassess
 
Thats good if NFU pay for it all nowadays. Typical I always miss out! Perhaps they have come to realise that its cheaper for them to pay out for an MRI earlier in the diagnosis process than to pay high Vets fees for xrays, nerve blocks etc. It is very precise and saves a lot of time. Not always the appropriate way to go but in my case it would have been ...........
 
An MRI is never a cheap option, my horse has just had his fees including MRI paid by Seib, not sure it's saved them any money though as its approaching the 5k limit, mostly diagnostic costs and irap treatment, no op
 
Just make sure your vet is doing palmar/plantar digital nerve blocks as abaxial sesamoid don't narrow down the region enough. You can only image an area the size of a grapefruit. Good luck! Let us know how you get on.
 
Thanks mojo, he has already had the abaxial ses blocks, he is having his coffin joint and navicular bursar blocked (seperately) this time, everything crossed for a result as the x rays did not really show much!!!
 
When I was with NFU they would only cover half the sum of the MRI which I believe is a total cost of £1000. You would therefore have to fund £500 yourself.
 
I'm pretty sure all insurance companies cover the full amount now. Once a few started, the others followed suit as they didn't like being left out!
 
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