URGENT - Good insurance companies for young horses

[Kallibear]

I needs a decision by tommorow!

What is the best insurance company for a young (18mnths) horse? I want him covered for EVERYTHING that could ever possible go wrong, ever. Price doesn't matter as it will only be temporary (3 months, so they need to do month contracts)

 

[Hollycat]

Watch out for companies that do not include illness in the first 2 -4 weeks of cover. This is the majority of companies. Your horse colics on day 5 - you will get no vets fees and if it dies no payout in event of death.

I used shearwater for my new horse - though I was very annoyed to find I was not covered for illness until they got the vetting cert which was not what they told me on the phone. On the phone they said I was covered for illness stright away.

 

[Kallibear]

Good point. Shall most definintly ask that!

 

[Maesfen]

I have mine with KBIS, always helpful and horse people themselves. I've just done my foal and it only says conditions which occurred or started prior to inception date would be excluded. They will cover you from over the phone but they'll send you a form to fill in and return as well. You might need a two star vetting, could depend on value.

 

[ladyt25]

Most companies will not insure for illness within the first 14 days it's standard. See it from then insurere's point of view - you do not have your horse insured, it gets ill so you think "sh*t better get it insured" so you do. Then, a day or so after insuring pony is getting worse so you get the vet out and claim. You could therefore state the pony did not get ill unitl after you'd taken out the cover when in fact it was and the insurance company is left paying the bills for your horse.

It does/has happened I'm afraid hence why insurance companies bring in this rules/exclusions to cover.

 

[jaffs]

NFU.
they have been brilliant with my cover and claims

 

[Kallibear]

Have phoned about, thanks.

KBIS don't cover any accident other than an open surface wound for the first 14days. That means no broken legs/necks etc, which I most definintly want.

Petplan has a 14day exclusion on illness, but not injury - horse is covered from the day I start the policy for accidents of any kind. Colic is not included

Tried NFU but they told me to call back on monday, which I shall do.

Any 'catches' I should look out for? Reading the small print of some it turns out that many don't cover hospitilisation costs, even if they pay for the actual treatment. at £30 a day, I'd quite like hospitilisation costs included.

 

[Hollycat]

NFU won't cover for illness I think for the first 14 days (though it may be a month). It has taken them over 6 weeks to settle my claim which I think is a bit long for something as strightforward as it was. It wasn't getting the money as much as the fact I just wanted the whole thing to be over and not to have to speak about his death on the phone to this person and that person querying things. They also lost some of my paperwork and they paid the vets double quick as the vets charge for late payment - but they didn't pay me double quick which they should have. They were EXCEPTIONALLY nice and sympathetic on the phone about his death though so they are forgiven and I would reccommend them for a subsequent policy as if you have had the horse previously insured with someone else then you do not have this time period where you are not covered for illness. So I alwasy initially insure with someone else, then on renewal go with NFU.

As my horse died of colic I am very wary of these policies that don't cover for illness. Particularly as colic is most likely to occur when a horse has a change in feedstuff etc which is exactly what happens when it goes to a new home. Shearwater were over £100 less expensive than NFU for better overall cover so I used them, though as I said I was pissed off when I got their letter saying I was temporarily not covered. If I use them for this new 3 year old I have just bought I will fax the vets cert stright to them, or perhaps ask the vet to do that so there is no delay at all and no break in m,y cover. I shall certainly phone KBIS as I like the sound of their cover too. Its always good to compare prices and sometimes if you say well X company quoted my £100 less they will come down on price a bit

There will be loads of small print for whatever insurance cover you use. Think about hospitalisation (which you have), cost of disposal of a body (a good few £100), transport to hospital - costly if you don't have your own box, public liability - BHS, BD etc members have this so don't pay twice. Alternative therapies may not be covered, also check if physio & remedial farriery is covered and whether MRI's are covered. Can't think of any more offhand!