Hi,

Just wondering what counts as pre existing conditions when considering changing insurance companies? My lot have mainly had cut pads and minor injuries that have been claimed for in the past which are obviously healed now.

My lab last year developed vestibular syndrome due to a middle ear infection. He was treated but there was a heafty claim put in to my current insurance as he had an MRI scan to check for tumours. This has completely gone now but my wondering is would this be a pre existing condition and could it be claimed for should he develop it again? (My understanding is that it would be like cutting a foot again after it had fully healed-but not sure)

Thanks

I believe the new insurance company would treat it as a pre-existing condition and you wouldn't be covered with them.

I have also heard of gastroenteritis being excluded as a dog had it and a claim was put in, and also cut pads, even if a different foot.

None of those are chronic conditions but illnesses or accidents, but it seems your only allowed one incident of anything before it becomes excluded.

If you find a new insurance company then it makes sense to read their policy documents before moving, and I'd recommend you ring them too and ask for confirmation in writing if necessary.

They all word their policies slightly differently but reading the documents I have, for Marks & Spencer (policy doc here) at least, then it looks as if the condition you describe would be considered a pre exisiting condition.

However, if you've been reassured that a reoccurence is unlikely then it might not worry you if it were excluded.  Sometimes it comes down to the level of support you can get from the vet; if they can argue that a condition is totally unrelated in every way, to a previous one, then you might get a claim paid.

Thanks, ill give the prospective new insurers a call this week to see where we stand

When my boy got bloat i was told i wouldnt be covered for bloat again obviously plus any digestion issues which is a huge exclusion.

We have had lumps claimed for in the past, but a specific type of lump (can't remember what it's called, but not cancerous).  We now can't claim for any more of this particular type of lump - although all other lumps are covered!  Ironically, you can't tell what a lump is until you biopsy or remove it - so we would have to embark on treatment, not knowing whether we'll be able to claim or not...

Ask the insurance company direct.  My boy had what I now believe was possibly a mild vestibular attack a couple of years ago, it is listed on the exclusions of his present policy but after speaking to the insurers, they have said that if the vet involved writes to them to state that it was a one-off attack, it can be covered in future.

Really must get that done!

When my boy got bloat i was told i wouldnt be covered for bloat again obviously plus any digestion issues which is a huge exclusion.

Not good news.  I always understood a dog was more susceptible to bloat after initial incident. :-(

Another reason for me not to bother with insurance I guess - I have researched it recently and found monthly premiums that are acceptable - but then realised there is a £125+ excess.

IMO many vets appear to use insured pets as massive money-making schemes.

If, or when, my dogs require treatment then I shall be checking costs carefully to ensure the vet is offering best value for money in the same way as the garage that services my car does.  Yes, its my dogs and I love them, but I'm nobody's fool either.

Anything , can be classed as a pre-existing condition,    when ever you make a claim, the insurance companay will insist on vet records and if any thing crops up that has been treated and is any way can be  linked to  the illness, the new insurers may  exclude  said claim.

Thats a risk we take when we  change insurers.

on my last dog the insurance company paid out for surgery to mend the damage caused by spay that was causing her incontinence- they paid out a lot and quickly but when it came to renewal said they would only cover head, neck, legs and tail. anything furthur abdominal was excluded..and she was docked so there wasn't much tail to cover!

I've had a lot to do with insurance companies and I think no matter what it is, something big like an op for bloat or something simple like a ripped nail, once its happened you create a history of that condition/incident and they won't cover. The animal is thought to be susceptable to that particular thing.