How Do I Make a Horse Insurance Claim?
Equestrian Insurance is an essential part of owning and caring for horses. Unfortunately, accidents and illnesses can happen, even to the healthiest and most well-cared-for horses. When something goes wrong, having insurance can provide vital peace of mind as well as important financial protection. In this article, we will discuss the horse insurance claims process, including what to do if you need to submit a claim.
Notify Your Insurance Company
If your horse experiences an accident or illness that requires veterinary care, the first step is to contact us as soon as possible after any immediate danger has passed. At Carriagehouse Insurance, we have made the process of contacting us as easy as possible, which is why we are known as a specialist Equine insurance provider who has been trusted for over 30 years. You can report potential claims at any time through our website claims form, by email, or by calling us during office hours on 01206 337388.
Provide Documentation
We do like to speak to you about any potential claims so that we can discuss any specific instructions on how to navigate submitting a claim, talk about the information you and/or your vets will need to supply and advise if any procedures need prior authorisation. We then email you the claim form and/or veterinary surgeon report forms plus a detailed set of claims procedure notes.
To process your claim, we will require these forms to be completed and submitted to us. Depending on the condition you are claiming for, other information required will include your horse’s veterinary history and the referral hospital reports which will detail their diagnostic test results, treatments and prognosis. You and your vet may be asked to supply images such as the X-rays and gastroscope pictures for our advisory veterinary surgeon to review. In the sad event that your horse has to be put to sleep, you will be required to supply a death certificate and a post-mortem report, if the cause of death is unknown. Be sure to keep all records and receipts related to the incident, as these will be necessary for accurately processing your claim. Unfortunately, missing documents or receipts can lead to delays in the claims process.
Work with Your Veterinarian
Your policy requires you to work closely with your Vet and follow all their advice regarding the treatment and rehabilitation of your horse. Your Vet will play a crucial role in your claims process as they will need to provide documentation concerning the investigations and treatment provided. We may also need to communicate directly with the veterinarian for them to provide us with additional information or answer questions. We are happy to discuss your horse’s issues in relation to the insurance cover provided directly by your veterinary surgeon if you wish us to do so. In addition, when a claim has been accepted, if you instruct us to do so, we can also pay your Vet any monies due to you.
Wait for Your Claim to be Processed
The length of time it takes to process a horse insurance claim can vary depending on the complexity of the case and the insurance company’s policies. At Carriagehouse Insurance, we aim to guarantee the settlement of your claim within five working days after receipt of all appropriate claims papers and veterinary information. However, once all the documentation has been received, most claims are settled within 24 hours of being accepted. We will keep you updated on the progress of your claim and whether or not we are awaiting further information. We will write to you to confirm what we have received and what we are waiting for. Please bear in mind that Third Party Liability claims do take longer due to their complexity.
Receive Payment
If your claim is accepted, we will provide payment for the covered expenses, less your policy excess, less any amounts not covered by the policy or any amounts not related to the claim such as annual vaccinations. All payments are made by bank transfer to either yourself or to the relevant vet practices as agreed with you.
On-going Treatment
As a veterinary fee insurance claim has a twelve-month period under the terms of our policies and as a lot of horses’ lameness and illness require long-term treatment or rehabilitation, your invoices will come periodically. We can make interim payments during this period and once we start paying, we only require a copy of the new invoice and the relevant clinical notes to settle the ongoing costs.
Final Note
The Horse insurance claims process needn’t be complicated during a time of stress and worry; by following the above advice, you can ensure that your claim is processed as smoothly and quickly as possible.
However, if you are faced with an emergency and your Vet recommends certain actions which include emergency euthanasia or hospital admission, please follow your Vet’s advice and act in the best interests of your horse. We are all horse owners at Carriagehouse and fully appreciate that there are times when these appropriate actions are more important than trying to contact us.
So to summarise: If you need to submit a claim to us, be sure to contact us as soon as possible and then provide all the necessary documentation. You can find out more about our claims process and documentation, or contact us today for more information.