6 Ways to Make Sure Your Pet Insurance Claim Is Approved
Buying pet insurance can be complicated; there are so many different types of policies available and the level of cover differs depending on the insurance company. The terms and conditions are filled with confusing financial jargon that can, unfortunately, catch many pet owners out when they go to make a claim.
We’re making more pet insurance claims than ever before, but there’s also been a rise in the number of claims that get rejected. We’ve taken a look at the most common reasons as to why insurance companies reject claims and devised a handy guide so that you know you’re doing all you can to ensure your claim doesn’t get rejected.
Have you thoroughly read the policy and do you understand it?
Policies differ between insurance companies so search the market and find the perfect policy for your pet. Once you’ve settled on a policy, make sure you read it thoroughly and know exactly what you are and aren’t covered for. Understanding the terms and conditions of your cover is vital so if you come across any confusing jargon or anything that’s unclear, just ask your insurance provider.
Do you know when your policy starts?
Some insurance providers have an “exclusion period” of at least two days for accidents and 10 days for illnesses. But this does vary between providers, so make sure you’re clear on the start day when you buy the insurance. This “exclusion period” gives you the chance to cancel your policy and take out a different one but it also means that you can’t make a claim in that time. If you can’t find your start day, check with your provider.
Are your pet’s details correct?
You need to keep your provider up to date with any details relating to your pet, including moving house, changing owners or moving vets. Your pet’s details can affect your premium and if they’re not updated, you may be unable to claim.
Does you pet have a pre-existing condition?
Most insurance companies in the UK don’t cover pets with pre-existing conditions. However, insurers define “pre-existing” in different ways and best case scenario, it means any illness, injury or related condition experienced during the two years before taking a policy out. New policies rarely ever cover chronic illnesses. If your pet does have a condition and you’re unsure whether it’s covered or not, just contact the insurer and ask.
Is your pet the right age?
Most insurers have minimum and maximum age restrictions on their policies. The minimum age limit might be a few weeks old but the maximum age limit can vary depending on the insurer and the breed.
Excluded treatments
Certain treatments aren’t covered in most policies, including vaccinations, spaying, neutering and pregnancy related issues. Some insurers require your pets to have certain vaccinations in order to be covered so check your policy first to make sure you don’t face any nasty shocks if you have to make a claim.
What can I do if my pet insurance claim gets rejected?
If you think your claim’s been unfairly rejected, you can file a complaint through your insurance provider. If this doesn’t get resolved as you hoped it would, you can take your claim to the Financial Ombudsman Service for free.