would this claim be valid? Advice please

[mightymammoth]

I had my horse 2 star vetted before I got him about a month ago and he passed. The vet noted on the report of examination "spur on left longer teeth arcade" and advised me to get a dentist to see to him which today I have done.

Today the dentist said that a couple of his teeth on the left side are a mess and that there may be a fracture on one of the teeth and its going to require the tooth being removed. He reffered me back to the vet starigt away (different vets practice to the one that did the vetting) He also said that he would have been like this for many years

Does the initial vet commenting that there is a spur on the tooth mean that I wont be able to claim on the fracture and anything else that needs doing?

Hope this make sense, I am with pet plan equine,

thanks

 

[Black_Horse_White]

Did you send a copy of the vet report to Petplan? If you have then I think the tooth would be excluded. If you didn't then they would only know if they requested the horses history form the treating vet. As it's a different practice then it wouldn't be on the history. It's up to you want you want to do, if you don't tell them it's fraud, if it were me I would tell them and see what they say.

 

[Black_Horse_White]

Sorry about the spelling, can't edit on my phone.

 

[be positive]

Usually if the condition is considered to have been present when purchased/insured even if unknown or not picked up for some reason they will not cover your costs, I would contact your insurers for clarification.

 

[mightymammoth]

hi thanks yes I would tell them and think I would have to anyway as you have to send a copy of the vetting form to them with any claim. I am just a bit annoyed that the vetting did not pick up on the tooth, I would have had him anyway but at least I could have budgeted a bit better for it.

 

[Holly Hocks]

Usually if the condition is considered to have been present when purchased/insured even if unknown or not picked up for some reason they will not cover your costs, I would contact your insurers for clarification.

Actually that's not always right - my horse fell ill seven weeks after I bought her with sinus problems which turned out to be as a result of an infected fractured tooth. When it was discovered, the vet said that it could have been there several months. I am with Petplan and when I told them this, they said that it didn't matter as if it wasn't evident when the horse was purchased then it would be covered. Having said that, my horse was cheap and I didn't get her vetted.....I am pretty sure that as something has been picked up on a vetting, it could well be excluded.
OP - any exclusions will be shown on your certificate of insurance - usually on the back page - have a look and see if there are any shown. If not, then you may be ok.

 

[mightymammoth]

Hi, thanks it does say that they dont cover any pre exisiting conditions but I didnt know he had it when I got him just that he had the spur on the tooth which I assumed could be corected by the dentist. Do you think the spur on the tooth is classed as a pre exisiting condition? even though the condition has turned out to be a fractured tooth?

 

[Bikerchickone]

Maybe I'm being stupid here but if the vet doing the vetting didn't pick up on the fracture but only something minor surely if the insurance won't cover it that vet should? After all, you have the vetting to prevent you laying out money on a horse with a costly problem already in existence. I'd ask Petplan, they've always been really helpful when I've needed to call.

BTW don't know if it's the same but when my youngster had a wolf tooth removed it cost me less than £100 so you may not even need the insurance anyway?

 

[mightymammoth]

thanks yes I agree the dentist did say that the "vetting" vet is liable so I could go down that route as a spur on the tooth is a bit different to the tooth being fractured etc.
I just have visions of ending up at the horse hospital with costs mounting as I am not sure if they can remove the tooth on the yard and what it entails. Vet is coming out wednesday so hopefully he will either be able to sort it or tell me where I go from here...

 

[Elbie]

If it wasn't picked up on the vetting then there's not much than can do. They can't prove either way that the fracture was there prior to purchase, much the same that you can't prove it wasn't. The fact you got a vetting is good support. They would generally delve if say, you came on cover then the day after your horse needs major dental work, or if your vet gave a clean vet cert then the next day something was wrong.

If you've recently (as in last 3 months) taken cover out they may ask for vet cert, or if you indicate on claim form you have one or told them over phone you have one (they will mark this on your record), the claims team may ask to see it.

You should, however, tell your insurer anyway about what's on the vet cert!

 

[mightymammoth]

If it wasn't picked up on the vetting then there's not much than can do. They can't prove either way that the fracture was there prior to purchase, much the same that you can't prove it wasn't. The fact you got a vetting is good support. They would generally delve if say, you came on cover then the day after your horse needs major dental work, or if your vet gave a clean vet cert then the next day something was wrong.

If you've recently (as in last 3 months) taken cover out they may ask for vet cert, or if you indicate on claim form you have one or told them over phone you have one (they will mark this on your record), the claims team may ask to see it.

You should, however, tell your insurer anyway about what's on the vet cert!

thanks for this my excess is £135 so if its around this I wont bother claiming but I have visions of ending up at the horse hospital and imagine that costs the earth. I dont have any experience of horse teeth removal and what it involves.

 

[Elbie]

Its always a pain when you get things mentioned on your vet cert that may affect claims. When your vet comes out (esp as it is a different vet to that that did the vetting), perhaps ask him what his opinion is regarding if how long the fracture may have been there and if it could be related to the spurs (no expert on teeth but doesn't seem like it would be?). If the insurance company question it it will be down to your vet to clarify whether its related to what was on the vetting.

At the end of the day, you were responsible and had a vetting. As far as you're aware you purchased the horse fit and healthy without the fracture being there.

 

[mightymammoth]

thanks for the supportive advice, appreciate it

 

[Bikerchickone]

When my filly had her wolf tooth out they did it on the yard and although I couldn't be there, as far as I understand it was very simple and absolutely no need for her to go in. We were stabled right next door to the vet hospital too, so could have easily walked her in if need be, but they still did it in her stable.

 

[Bikerchickone]

PS I even got to keep the tooth, which, sad as I am, I thought was pretty cool lol!!!

 

[mightymammoth]

PS I even got to keep the tooth, which, sad as I am, I thought was pretty cool lol!!!

Your not sad I will do the same lol

 

[Bikerchickone]

Lol, guess we're both a bit strange then! Hubby thinks I'm mad keeping an old horse tooth!!

 

[Stinkbomb]

I ahve had two horses had teeth removed. One because of a fracture and one because it was growing the wrong way. Both were taken out by repulsion and both cost well over £1000. Sorry hope this isnt the outcome for you.

 

[mightymammoth]

knowing my luck it will be over £1000, good job i have cancelled christmas

 

[Daytona]

My mare had a fractured tooth, vet came out to sedate her , ripped it out ,pretty quick. Job done, no hassles and was not worth a claim on insurance as was not that expensive, so don't panic. Ps if there is no exclusion actually saying the teeth ate excluded I pretty sure you would be ok anyway as someone else stated it will be on your cert exactly what's not covered.

 

[Elbie]

if there is no exclusion actually saying the teeth ate excluded I pretty sure you would be ok anyway as someone else stated it will be on your cert exactly what's not covered.

But they place exclusions going from what information you give them when you take the policy out. So if they request to see the vet cert they may retrospectively place an exclusion. Would be worth discussing with your vet to clarify if spurs can be related, just as a back up! They may not even ask for further details.

 

[GreedyGuts]

A full dental examination is not considered to form part of a vetting, either 2 or 5 stage, although most vets will have a cursory look for overgrowths/missing teeth whilst checking age. On this basis I would doubt very much that you would have any luck pursuing the vet for you costs relating to this. However, I would expect your insurance to pay out if treatment is required.