Posted: Wed Apr 29, 2009 8:33 am Post subject: How Does an Insurance Claim Work?
Thankfully I've never had to make a claim, but a friend told me last night that when her dog was seriously ill and had to have an operation and intensive care, (the total cost being around £800) the vet made my friend pay the bill upfront to them and told her to go away and claim her money back from the insurance.
I was surprised as I didn't think this was how insurance worked. I thought the whole point was that the insurance was there to cover you when you didn't have that sort of money sitting in your account. I couldn't afford £800 just like that, if I could why would I bother with insurance?
This kind of worried me So is this how it usually works? You have to pay upfront then claim the money back? Or is it just this vet?
BTW, I'm off this week to check out a new vet and I will probably be asking them a similar question to the one above
I think it depends on the vet and the insurance company, many vets will go through the insurance but they can take a long time to pay up and that`ll probably be why your friends vet asked for money up front.
I`d check your policy says the vet can deal direct with them as well as the vet will do this.
We are with Petplan and have to pay the vet upfront then claim back from Petplan less excess. Our first claim was for £2400 which took them 6 weeks to send chequefor needless to say this went on Access,(which i had to get my amount allowed on it increased prior to paying vet!!!!
It really does depend on your vet, and your insurance policy.
Some vets have agreements with some insurance companies.
Some vets are a little more relaxed about payment.
You should definitely ask that question when you're looking at new vets, absolutely.
I can understand vets not wanting to wait for the insurance company to pay them - what happens if you were not covered for that ailment (if it was a pre-existing condition)? Or what if you had not paid your premiums and the claim was disallowed? There are a bazillion ways for a pet insurance company to not pay your claim, so the vet would be taking a very big risk of possibly not receiving payment.
It is a very wise move for people who don't have fat bank balances to perhaps look at getting a spare credit card, never ever EVER use it for anything, so that it is always available up to its full limit. Even just a £1000 card can, if not cover the whole cost of treatment, it would be a great deposit and would allow the vet to breathe a little easier knowing that you're good for at least SOME of his bill.
I think when bills start getting a lot bigger, if you have a good relationship with your vet, most vets would give you some leeway. At least, I know ours would.
Check with your insurance provider, sometimes they have lists of preferred vets who will allow treatment to be billed straight to the insurance company. And of course, check with your vet too
OK, thanks for that, I'm glad I asked because I didn't realise that I may be asked to pay upfront and claim later.
I am with Petplan too, Pam. But as I say, thankfully, I've never had to make a claim.
The vets I am going to look at are supposed to be really good about payments and are understanding if its a really large bill that you might not be able to pay all at once. But I shall definitely be asking them about insurance claims.
Where on my policy will it tell me if a vet can deal directly with the insurance company?
hi sophie,i think it depends on the vet and the insurance company,ryleighs first op we payed for then i claimed it back but the when she needed the second one 800 pounds again i just could not do it so i rung the insurance and they agreed to pay the vets direct.then i had to sort out with the vets and they did agree to do this.
It is a very wise move for people who don't have fat bank balances to perhaps look at getting a spare credit card, never ever EVER use it for anything, so that it is always available up to its full limit.
This is what I do.
My own vets will accept direct payment from "some" Ins Co's but not others and the Specialist I saw wanted payment from me after treatment, then I had to claim it back. My Credit Card took a real bashing that month but I was very grateful I had it.
It depends on the vet whether they will do a direct claim or whether you have to pay up front.
I had one vet who not only offered direct claims positively encouraged them - I found out why when I spoke to the insurance co about not paying one bill as I felt they had been negligent - they were getting me to sign the claim form and then putting in much much bigger claims than I'd been told - and I NEVER EVER got to see a bill - was told that as it was coming from the insurance co it wasn;t necessary - and when you are worried about a sick animal you actually don;t argue...and those that know me know that usually I'll stand my ground....
One vet I had would do a direct claim (I was presented with a bill of £3,000 and expected to cough up there and then) but for the privilege charged £20 PLUS interest at 15% from memory each month....I paid up and claimed... can;t think why!!!!
My current vets make it clear by notices as you walk in that you pay and then claim back and after my previous experience with the fraudulent claims (in my view...) thats the way I prefer it now, though at the time I was put out!
I'd agree with the strategy of keeping a credit card for vet bills as you never know - the large ones have all been accidents and so completely unpredictable....
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So is this how it usually works? You have to pay upfront then claim the money back? Or is it just this vet?
