Query r.e Dog Insurance

[StephenQueenBooks]

My dog has unfortunately become sick with a heart murmur and now unfortunately needs medication so I put in a claim with her insurance - they paid out (not much) straight away and the claim is accepted.

However they are now asking for her medical history as its been noted she had a heart murmur in 2022 and again in 2023 with notes saying owner informed etc. My mum also takes her for her appointments when I'm working and never mentioned this to me (the vet said nothing to worry about) so I never disclosed it at renewal.

Will this mean her insurance is now invalid as it will count as pre-existing? I was unaware of this but from the notes it looks like I was told about it. I'm just confused as they've paid out and then mentioned this afterwards and I'm worried I'd be in trouble or something.

Thanks in advance for any help!

Is it a lifetime policy that has renewed automatically or did you buy a new policy since the note has been added to your dogs medical records?

It's just a yearly policy that renews - just something cheap but at least some cover as it's all so expensive.

I think the fact that your mum was told but she didn't pass the message on is meaningless, as far as the insurers go - your mum was there in your stead so they will consider telling her to be the same as telling you.

As PP says, I think it'll come down to whether this is a lifetime policy that was in place before with the same insurer in 2022/23 or whether this is a new insurer/policy since then.

It's just a yearly policy that renews - just something cheap

So what the the conditions of the policy? Is it lifetime cover? i.e. any illnesses are covered for life vs a limit of £x per condition?

If it's a lifetime policy, it should be fine. If it's a yearly policy, then it's likely that each year, any conditions that are diagnosed then get excluded going forward. That's why lifetime policies are so expensive.

Thanks for replying- do you think they'll just decline my claim? They've set it as accepted and sent an email to say they're going to transfer the funds but I haven't actually received anything. Do I just send it back to them if I receive it? Genuinely worried they're going to think I did this on purpose!

It's a lifetime- super policy with animal friends and there is a limit of up to £1000 per illness per year. Sorry I'm not really sure how it all works.

I get that completely, she was either told and because they've said its nothing to worry about keep an eye on it she's not thought much of it, or she's just not wanted to worry me.

If it's a lifetime policy they should pay. From their website: The limit resets when you renew, and we’ll cover your pet’s conditions for as long as you have a policy with us.