Forry - insurance -

[Bara]

It shoundn't be this hard, should it? We've paid for 10 years.

So - apparently he has arthritis - which is excluded from his insurance policy. So I can't claim. £1,800 - which is approx $3000.

What shall we do?

[Deb]

It's about the same for those of us with Registered QH's. My Candy is insured, but at age 25 the QH Registery declares them deceased. The Registery Certificate has to be surrendered to the AQHA whether the horse is actually deceased or not. We can request to have the Registery Paper back, but it will be stamped "DECEASED".

We've been insuring Her for 14 years. We just have no choice, but to take it as it comes.

[niaru]

Wow, arthritis is excluded from the policy? That is crazy! Unless it was a "pre-existing" condition at the time you purchased the insurance?

Uggh.

Deb that is crazy too!
Most insurances don't want to insure horses after 15 years of age...

I *wish* we could get our money back when we've paid for years and the horse had no trouble that the insurance had to pay for.
Grrrumblll.

[samantha]

That is really unfortunate If it is excluded from your policy it doesn't sound like there is much to do.

I work in claims and do equine insurance. Our policies do not directly exclude arthritis but joint injections are not applicable for coverage- so the most popular treatment for arthritis isn't covered. Doesn't necessarily mean it is excluded. In Forry's situation, he could have had arthritis when she bound coverage on him, or could have had a situation between then and now which caused the underwriters to put an exclusion on the policy. Regardless, it should have been known that the exclusion was on the policy, or that joint injections aren't covered, or whatever- before now.

I for one will always insure my horses. I paid premiums on my mare for 5 years and never had one problem. I didn't insure Saint, had him for 8 months, paid a colic surgery out of pocket and he ended up being euthanized. I will eat the premiums if it means that I don't have to make the decision about whether or not I can afford surgery.

[Bara]

Thanks, All. Deb - that is very distressing to have your horse officially deceased when she's very much still there!

No, it wasn't a precondition of the policy, but these people have a reputation for slapping on an exclusion the instant there's a suspicion. Forry has never had arthritis (Edgie has) but we did have physio for a bad back. When I look back, they excluded arthritis at that point. So, I can try to fight it - yet one more battle...

These are the same people who put an exclusion on 'over-reach' injury after a claim because 'He's prone to over-reach'. ONCE! He did it ONCE!

I'm bitter, twisted and broke!

[niaru]

Again, wow.
I hope you win the battle and then ditch these guys and find a more decent insurer.
I would be livid.

[Einstein]

Bara, maybe I misread, but it read to me Forry had an exclusion from a back physio, and that was before you tried this claim, so I would think this wouldn't be something you can win. I would still call, can't hurt.

No matter what, it's a service you are paying for, so if you don't like the service, I'd go to a different company.

Deb, you have a 25 horse insured? Who did it for you?! I had An Lar insured for his whole life, but past 19 it got more and more limited each renewal. Finally he was deemed uninsurable at a certain age, way before 25! I would have like to have kept him insured until the day he did die, but it wasn't an option, because of his age. What company do you use for Candy that allows a horse that old to still be insured, and what coverage did you get?

[Bara]

No, you're right, Michelle. The exclusion has been added for nearly a year (MUST learn to read.)