Which Insurance Company is best?

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alidav65

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My question is, if anyone can please help out there, is there any way of comparing horse insurance, in the same way as car insurance etc?

Having been through a very expensive but, luckily, successful :D colic episode with my broodmare recently I have found that Horse Insurance has been seriously affected by the recession too. :mad: For example, my current provider, Petplan, have only paid half of the livery and nursing costs for the time that she was at Liverpool Veterinary Hospital and refused to pay for the special Horse Ambulance which my vet insisted she be taken in. Petplan have told me that, when my policy is renewed I will no longer be covered for ANY livery hospitalisation costs as it has been excluded for all renewals from last November, along with many other new general exclusions which they have applied due to 'cost cutting'.

My only option at the moment seems to be to get details from each one (but they don't like to supply you with anything but 'top line' detail until you take a policy...then you can see the SMALL PRINT!!!) The other option means that, if you just go with the company you trust then you only find out what is not covered once your horse has a problem, but by then it's too late...PLEASE HELP!!!!
 
Hmmm My policy will exclude my horse from Sarcoids and related issues from this September,so there is no point changing compainies because the insurance companies will exclude it too. This is how they work!!!!
Dont know what to suggest really.
 
Whichever company you change to now will posibly put an exclusion on any pre-existing or pre-claimed condition. However, if you are going to re-insure, I can highly recommend NFU. They pay out and are quick about it. Also, when it looked I was going to lose one of my boys, they sent someone round to literally give me a hug, make me a cup of tea and talk through what i wanted to do in the event of having to make that final horrid choice. They are really helpful and being just about to put (another) horse through large amounts of surgery, I called them and they didnt even blink and seemed genuinely more bothered about my horse than the fact they are about to pay out £1000's.

Awesome, they really are. And no, I dont work for them!:o
 
We've always had good service from SEIB. Although I admit I will look into NFU after reading percymum's post!
 
Is true Sharon, I think you are right, they are all as bad as each other and it's us poor horse owners who have to shoulder the extra cost. Thanks for your reply and good luck with the sarcoids, had them burnt off my young event horse as they were all between her back legs and, although it doesn't look pretty, they have never grown back.
 
Hi Percymum, great advice, thank you, sorry to hear about your poor boy but that is the best support you could wish for when you are going through such a tough time. Sounds like the NFU may be the best bet if they put horses before money....what a refreshing change! Thanks again, I will call them tomorrow : )
 
Hi Shay, thanks for that, Liverpool RVC actually told me that SEIB were good prompt payers too but that they were one of the companies who were drastically cutting down what they would cover for, no matter if you have had claims or not. Guess we all end up paying for it in the end!
 
I would never use anyone but NFU, even though their premiums tend to be higher than companies such as Petplan.

They paid out extremely promptly on all my best friend's claims, including for remedial shoeing, colic surgery and loss of weight, and for his livery hospital costs. At one point she had three claims going on for a six year old. She then had to have him pts after an accident and they paid up immediately for his loss.

They are also extremely helpful, and when I came to insure my own horse, they were great about talking me through everything, helping me with the quote and letting me know what was worth getting and what wasn't.

As with above, I don't work for them, but can't rate them highly enough. They are expensive though. (As a guideline, I pay £60 pm for my 5yo to event (she's just starting), which covers vets fees and loss of horse.)
 
Thanks Teazle, that's really good to know. I have called NFU today and they were excellent on the phone, really helpful and, as you said, gave me some great advice on what I did or didn't need. Thanks again!!
 
I too would thoroughly recommend NFU. They are courteous, concerned, quick to pay out and generally seem to know what they're talking about. Yes they are more expensive but I think you get what you pay for and they are worth the extra. I've been with them for 8 years and can never fault them. Have cat insurance with them too and they are good for other pets as well. And I dont work for them either!!!
 
My horse had a minor suspensory ligament injury and for 5 years I could not get that leg insured. That was until I went with NFU, immediately they said it was ridiculous that no one would insure my horses leg and that they would.

I now have my two horses and my dog insured by them and my next dog sue in 3 weeks will also be insured with them.

The staff are friendly and extremely helpful, they pay out on claims with no questions asked (My latest claim for my dog is £4000).

I'd recommend them every time
 
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