Pet Insurance Articles



Summary

How the cost of pet insurance is increasing as veterinary care becomes more sophisticated. Plus examples of disputes between vets and owners over veterinary bills and the way in which these disputes are handled by the ombudsman.


Do Not Have A Dog Fight Over Your Pet Insurance

How to look after your dog and keep it insured
Good Dog Care Is Vital
Why You Should Consider Pet Insurance For Your Family Pet.
A well argued case taking out pet insurance to insure your pets
Pet Insurance. Is it a waste of money?
Pet insurance won't cover your pet for elective or routine treatments so what does it insure, what sorts of plan are available and what do they cost? This article is an informative read before you buy!
It's a Dog's Life when the Credit Crunch Bites.
The cost of pet insurance is rising, which has put an additional burden on homeowners. This article investigates.
Insurers sharpen their teeth
Do you own a courageous and loyal Labradore? A shaggy Shetland Sheepdog? Or even a graceful English Setter? Then your pet insurance company is about to send you barking mad.
Life Insurance News
Two years ago Ben was found to have arthritis. Payment for treating his condition was covered by a medical policy and 4000 pounds was paid out by his insurers. However, they then maintained that arthritis had been diagnosed prior to his policy being taken out. What a surprise you might say. Insurers are continually turning down claims because the patient has not disclosed their full medical history. However in this case the patient is a dog. Nowadays humans and dogs are facing similar medical insurance problems, as disputes with insurers become increasingly complex. These disputes are probably more complicated as the policyholder cannot speak for themselves and so owners, vets and veterinary nurses have to testify on their behalf.

Unfortunately Ben had a problem with his medical records. They had been written up by his veterinary nurse, who had recorded that the onset of his arthritis had started 8 months earlier than it actually had. However his owners asked the Financoial Ombudsman Service to review his case and Ben won paws down and less arthritic!

Pet cover is one of the fastest growing products in the insurance sector, so it is hardly surprising that complaints directed to the ombudsman have soared…….up 18% to date in 2007-08 compared to an increase of 23% in the whole of 2006-07. At the present rate, over 300 pet complaints will be made in the current twelve month period.

The most common problems reviewed by the ombudsman are:-

•  Limits on policies.

There are annual limits to the amount of cumulative and individual claims you can make. If these limits are not stated clearly, the pet owner may well win his case.

•  Part of the cover written into the policy may be removed when the policy is renewed. Examples of the type of treatment removed from policies recently are homeopathic and dental care. Owners have often won their cases when they had not been told of the amendment. This has been particularly true when a pet has actually been undergoing treatment.

•  Disputes between the owner and the vet about the effectiveness of an operation or treatment

•  Alternative treatments like hydrotherapy have also been the source of disagreement. Have they been included in a policy or not?

•  Veterinary treatment has become increasingly sophisticated and expensive with fees escalating to thousands of pounds without the pet owner realising what the final bill will be.

Numerous cases have been reviewed by the ombudsman recently where large fees were in dispute……a bill for 2000 pounds for a sick kitten……4000 pounds for treating a horse who was suffering from colic…….and a personal accident claim for 12,000 pounds when a parrot died after crashing into his toys in an aviary. The ombudsman threw out the last claim as the policy did not include personal accident cover and cover of this type was only available for people!

The British are known for their fanatical fondness for their pets, so it is hardly surprising that the ombudsman is used to handling distraught owners and emotive disputes.