vets charging admin fees for processing insurance forms- is this the new norm?

[throwawayaccount]

as title, just received my newsletter for my vets- and there's a small section about a £20 charge being introduced to process each new claim form from 1st july, that you have to pay yourself (not deductible by insurance).

does anybody else's vets charge an admin fee for processing claim forms?

 

[Abi90]

Yes my former vets in Northumberland the vets here i Lincolnshire have both charged admin fees for insurance forms

 

[TPO]

It's not new although not every practice does it.

I was with a practice as a short term measure after leaving a horrendous equine practice before joining my awesome equine practice. The in between place charged £20-30, can't remember exactly, for filling in the forms and they were the worst/slowest at even filling in the forms ironically.

 

[ownedbyaconnie]

Yep I had this on my most recent claim in April.

 

[Patterdale]

It’s not new, I’ve paid admin charges over ten years ago. It’s fair enough, it takes them time.

 

[throwawayaccount]

I never knew that, although tbf i've only started filling in claim forms since last year (and have since never stopped!!) learn something new every day

 

[Fluffypiglet]

Yup, had to pay £30 last year and just sent in more forms which I'm expecting to get another fee for. Just another expense in horse ownership unfortunately ?

 

[teddypops]

It’s not new, all the vets I’ve used in the last 18 years have charged an admin fee for filling out insurance forms.

 

[ycbm]

as title, just received my newsletter for my vets- and there's a small section about a £20 charge being introduced to process each new claim form from 1st july, that you have to pay yourself (not deductible by insurance).

does anybody else's vets charge an admin fee for processing claim forms?

I think it's new to your vet because they've recently been bought out by one of the big two companies.

 

[throwawayaccount]

I think it's new to your vet because they've recently been bought out by one of the big two companies.

i might aswell be lighting my money on fire now

 

[AShetlandBitMeOnce]

Yep, mine is £25 and it still takes them 6 weeks, if not longer.

 

[Britestar]

Yes its normal.
It takes time. If you have half a dozen or more to do, it can take a good chunk of the day to do them.

 

[AFB]

I thought this was the norm - and I haven't made a claim in about 12/13 years

 

[Renvers]

Mine hasn't, but my small animal vets now employs a person just for this purpose. Maybe your vets have had to employ someone or found that the amount of work is reducing visit time and so has to cover the lost revenue?

 

[MidChristmasCrisis]

Mine didn’t charge but they did take quite a long time to submit the form…early April opened the claim….vet info submitted May 23..claim agreed 25th May..couldn t get an appointment at horspital until June 15th.

 

[poiuytrewq]

It’s not new, I’ve paid admin charges over ten years ago. It’s fair enough, it takes them time.

Yes I thought that myself during my current claim. Claim forms, continuation of claim forms and a long wait for payment. I don’t think my vets did charge but I’d not quibble it really if they had.

 

[brighteyes]

Bizarrely, I'd LOVE to do that job!

 

[Britestar]

Bizarrely, I'd LOVE to do that job!

Its highly frustrating!

 

[poiuytrewq]

Bizarrely, I'd LOVE to do that job!

? I could handle it too!
I don’t mind form filling and am interested In vet stuff.

 

[criso]

Mine used to have a 2 tier system, nothing if you do the admin, organise the claim forms, send on invoices to be paid etc, all they do is fill in the vet report Then they charged £15 if they do a direct claim where they take care of everything and once you've started the claim they liaise with the insurers, send the invoices, get them paid etc. I've done both, £15 is very little to let them sort it out and it also means they deal with and chase delays. Other times I've been with insurers who wouldn't pay the vet direct so it was easier for me to do it.

I did get a £15 fee by mistake when there was a hospital visit for an already active claim but it was removed when I queried it. However I got the impression in that case it was because I was a client of theirs and a referral from a another vet would have paid an admin fee.