Ferkin' insurance

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Discussion

parapaul

Original Poster:

2,828 posts

205 months

Wednesday 29th December 2010
quotequote all
We recently changed our dog's insurance from Direct Line to the well known company who offer lifetime cover.

Whilst with DL we had to claim, and, to be fair, it was a big claim. Doggy developed an ulcer on her eye, and had to have some pretty nifty eye surgery to save her sight. No idea what caused said ulcer, but the best guess by the vet was a grass seed or tiny piece of grit that had got lodged and irritated the cornea.

Obviously we declared this when moving to the new company, and we were slightly annoyed when the new insurance certificate arrived, complete with an exclusion for ALL eye related problems. I phoned the insurers, who said that if we could get a letter from the vet then the underwriters would consider lifting the exclusion.

I spoke to the vet, who was happy to write a letter to the effect that the ulcer was an injury rather than a medical problem, that it had fully healed following the surgery and was no longer a concern. Brilliant.

The other day the revised insurance certificate arrived in the post. Not only had the fkwit insurers not removed the exclusion for all eye problems, they had now added an exclusion for ALL skin related problems! yikes

After phoning the vet and confirming that they had sent the right letter, I phoned the insurers again and asked them, very politely, what the fk they thought they were playing at. After leaving me on hold for 10 minutes or so, the lady came back on the phone and explained that the underwriters would remove the eye exclusion after doggy had been clear of problems for 2 years, which isn't until springtime.

Fair enough, but it would have been nice if they'd written a 1-line covering letter to save the phone call. Now, about this exclusion for skin problems...

Oh, yes... We took the dog to the vet last summer after she stuck her nose in a patch of poison ivy or something similar and it swelled up like a balloon. No big deal, no insurance claim, and all sorted with some antihistamines. But the medical records the vet sent had listed this as 'contact dermatitis' so now they won't cover anything else mad

Again, they say they'll lift this restriction in spring when she's been clear of her life threatening rolleyes skin problems for 6 months, but only if we remember to write and request it, they couldn't possibly do it automatically...

Ferkin' insurance... Bluddy animals, who'd have them, eh? thumbup

mrmaggit

10,146 posts

255 months

Wednesday 29th December 2010
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F**kwit insurers!

Mind ewe, people have the same problem with DVLC and driving licences, having categories removed and the like.

Pot Bellied Fool

2,163 posts

244 months

Wednesday 29th December 2010
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It's why I use a broker for insurance, possibly not the out & out cheapest way of doing it but but you deal with real people who know their stuff. Don't think they do much with dogs though, concentrating on Horse Insurance and commercial stuff - which given my office ceiling came down yesterday is probably a good thing!

Piglet

6,250 posts

262 months

Wednesday 29th December 2010
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Pretty standard to be honest. Presumably Direct Line were excluding the conditions anyway as they were pre-existing and you didn't have whole of life cover in the first place?

bexVN

14,682 posts

218 months

Wednesday 29th December 2010
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This is why I ALWAYS ALWAYS warn clients if they want to change ins companies, there is a good chance this will happen if there is any type of medical history. Not saying it is right but it is what happens all the time. (For a very good reason as many people would take the piss)

However I do feel ins companies are wrong when they do a whole exclusion for one specific condition.

bull996

1,442 posts

216 months

Wednesday 29th December 2010
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Should have told them it was a new dog and that you werent aware of any issues.

Then use a different vet!

bexVN

14,682 posts

218 months

Wednesday 29th December 2010
quotequote all
bull996 said:
Should have told them it was a new dog and that you werent aware of any issues.

Then use a different vet!
Hmmmm....Fraud, me thinks redface)

Mrs Grumpy

863 posts

196 months

Wednesday 29th December 2010
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I am with the same insurer. My policy excludes all skin related issues as he reacted to a tick. I queried this and they said the same about the two-year time frame, but also said if anything else came up and it could not be related to the tick bite, then they would pay out.

That reminds me - I need to put in two claims. Taff has to be knocked out cold before any examination can take place so it is always expensive frown

Jasandjules

70,502 posts

236 months

Wednesday 29th December 2010
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Piglet said:
Pretty standard to be honest.
Indeed, and with your own health insurance too..

However, what it means is that you have to choose your insurance company very carefully when they are kitten/puppy....

bull996

1,442 posts

216 months

Thursday 30th December 2010
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bexVN said:
bull996 said:
Should have told them it was a new dog and that you werent aware of any issues.

Then use a different vet!
Hmmmm....Fraud, me thinks redface)
Yes it probably is.