Well, I've just had a sudden moment in realising that we have a £7,000 limit for any one condition for our little Sadie.

She's just had TPLO surgery on her right hind leg and will eventually need it on her left.

Would you consider this to be the same condition or would you think the insurance co would count them as separate? (We are with More Than).

I've got a horrible feeling they'll try to say one caused the other or both happened together therefore they are one and the same, which would mean we're going to go way over the limit (£2,700 for one leg plus all the x-rays and medication she'd already had in the previous six months which we've claimed for, and then there will be around another £2,700 for the second leg)

Just wondered if anyone here had any previous dealings of a similar kind!

Many thanks

They most likely will treat it as the one condition, I'm afraid.  

no,
i thing they will paid out beacuse it is the same condition BUT it the other leg,

i know a friend that as a large breed and had hip op and elbow and a lot more work that cost over £15000 the company paid out and that year his insurance was due the price didnt go up???
and well know  company that most of us are with on this site.

As HD is considered to be bilateral condition it wll be the same thing.  Is the £7000 per condition or per year?  That is the bit you need to watch, as some of the better policies offer lifetime cover with the amount insured reinstated each year.

Unfortunately it is per condition. I'm afraid it was rather short sighted of me not to notice that, and probably even if I had I would have been too niaive to think anything could cost that much. I guess I know better now.  I think it will be worth me looking for a different insurer for the future...I'm certainly learning!! 

I've sent them an email to ask what their classification would be. I'll post their response when it comes through. I just thought I'd better find out so we can make sure we've got the extra money ready when it's time for the second op.

Thanks all

I don't think you can look for a different insurer now I'm afraid. I thought that insurance companies wouldn't cover you for exsisting conditions - so you could be stuck with them?

M&S class it as a separate condition, so £7000 per TPLO on each leg :)

I'm thinking further ahead re a different insurer, cause heaven forbid something like this should happen to my other lab, so I would rather pay a bit more each month than be worrying about whether we are about to hit the 'per condition' ceiling.

I'm so hoping that they'll think the same as M&S (and if they don't I'll tell them M&S do!) Thanks Chocymolly!

It was something I was worried about too, with Izzy having 1 cruciate ligament go and £4000 later so I spoke to M&S and they were adament it would be a different condition if on a different leg.

I have my other dog - Molly, with morethan, so I hope she never has this injury :(

M & S offers cover with the amount insured reinstated each and every year.  So, if you had treatment in year 1 costing £7000, you could have treatment in year 2 costing the same and so on, regardless of conditions/illnesses. 

More than offers a max amount per condition.  So if your dog had say 3 conditions, he'd be covered for £7000 per condition.  Just different types of policies.

that who the person i wrote about above post is with and they paid for all the op and all four legs

Just to come back to this, I spoke to More Than claims department today and they have confirmed that each leg will be treated as a separate condition........HOOOOORAAAAAY!! Such a relief. Sadie's leg seems to be healing nicely and she is moving around so much better albeit still early days.

Thanks for all your replies

Well that's a relief for you (& I, should Molly ever need it)

How long ago did your dog have the TPLO?

Sadie had her TPLO last Tuesday (3rd April). Stitches should come out this Tuesday and then she has to go back 6-7 weeks after the op for an x-ray to check how it is settling. It's hard to stop her rushing around the house and I think she's a bit grumpy about not getting to the park with our other girl but she'll be out and about again soon!

Aahh poor Sadie, Izzy had TPLO 6 weeks ago,  we are now up to doing 30 minutes each day road/lead walking, 2 more weeks 'til post op x-rays! Yippee!!!!! (she has been crate/pen confined since end of Nov '06 )

Hope Sadie's recovery goes well,

XXX