Pet Insurance

[kallis3]

I'm surprised that an emergency call out wasn't covered though if it was necessary - I must dig my three policies out (all dogs are with different insurers!!!) and see what it says on those.

[plasticdaft]

an emergency call out due to not being able to get your pet into the car/not having transport etc will not be covered by any policy. If you have to go to the vets in the middle of the night,emergency rates will apply and will be covered but not any charges relating to the animal getting to the vets.

If the vet says on a claim form that the emergency call out was essential as the animal could not be moved then a claim would be fair. But I dont think this was the case with Blaze.This is where a good relationship with your vet is handy as the wording on any claim can make a difference to the payout.

Paul

[Skippy]

It should be claimed, especially as my Mum is paying over £50 a month for the insurance with £125 excess! Sainsburys are vastly overpriced and the only thing I can say in their favour is they pay out quickly!

It seems to me that insurance companies don't assess the individual circumstances - Blaze was in a bad way (bleeding, not moving) and none of us could move her without the risk of hurting her. If it had been my insurance policy I would have argued it but my Mum was just pleased with what she got.

[kallis3]

I agree with Skippy that this should be covered. How do we know whether or not we are going to make things worse by moving our pets?

Fortunately we have never been in this situation and hopefully never will be but I think that you should make a claim and, if the vet agrees that the call out was necessary, it should be paid.

[plasticdaft]

I was basing my comment on the original post where Skippy said there was no one to take them to the surgery. Clearly if a vet is called out to your home out of hours and is happy to put on the claim form that the call out was out of necessity then insurers should and probably will pay out.

You are more likely to claim on pet insurance than any other type,and I certainly wouldnt be without it and probably have claimed £5k plus over 15 years of having dogs,so have probably got back what we have paid in.

Paul

[Skippy]

I didn't make it clear, sorry. Even if someone had bene able to take them to the vet none of us would be able to lift her - she is a lab x Rotty.

[plasticdaft]

Thats different Skippy,my advice would have been to make sure the vet noted the home visit was needed. Even if you have to clear it with insurers 1st. We didnt get a claim paid for emergency fees as the insurers decided that we could have waited until the surgery was open rather than take the dog at night(9pm,and surgery is vet hospital so staffed round the clock).What they said was we should have just contacted the claims line and they would have authorised the out of hours treatment without any bother,but as we didnt check with them 1st!!!

Paul

[Skippy]

I think my Mum just panicked - she's 81 and on her own with the dog. Mind you, I don't think the vet would have said it was an essential visit as after laying down all day and not moving for anything, Blaze dragged herself up and went to the door when the vet arrived and then walked (albeit it slowly) out to the doggie ambulance!

She's a very strange dog who absolutely loves the vets - I don't walk her now but when I did she would pull to go into the surgery!

[plasticdaft]

Taz most definately pulls to the surgery door then gets inside and wants back out again!!!

Paul

[Skippy]

Blaze never wants to leave the vets!