Pet insurance cock up. Will I be able to claim?

[IIama]

Hi,

I adopted a rabbit about 12 months ago. Took out insurance straight away. After a couple of weeks I decided I didn’t like his name so I changed it. When I registered him at the vets I used the new name.

Well, I’ve just found out he needs an operation under general anaesthetic. I only remembered the name issue when I looked over my insurance policy document. I’m really worried the insurance company won’t pay out now.

What are the odds I’ll be able to claim anything back?

I’m not sure how much the operation will cost but looking online it will be in the hundreds and he might need it repeated every few months for the rest of his life… bugger!

Thanks

I think I would just tell the vet his "official name" they know you only have one rabbit so it's not like you got one set of insurance and have two rabbits. But do it asap.

Cant you change the name back with the vet to the original name that matches the insurance?

Thanks both. I’ll ask the vet. Hopefully they won’t be too reluctant. They are the ones who have to claim directly to the insurance company.

I am worried they may think I am carrying out some kind of insurance fraud and won’t want to get involved… hopefully they understand

Are rabbits chipped? My cat insurance has chip numbers on it, if that helps.

It's a tricky one. If all other details match, description, age etc, then maybe they will accept the change of name. Or, maybe ask the vets to change his name back to the original or at least state 'Reggie, previously known as Roger', so the paperwork matches?

@fruitbrewhaha For what it is worth, I do actually have two rabbits. They are not very alike though. The other one is a female and only has three legs! Expensive little devils.

@supertedlasso Not chipped unfortunately. They are house rabbits with their own bedroom so I didn’t think they needed it. Regretting that now! I might go get them chipped anyway.

@Walkingalot Description matches. DOB, breed, colour, neutered etc. Unless they get worried I have identical sibling rabbits!

I am going to ask the vets. I don’t know if the name change will show up in his notes, which the insurance company asks for when processing claims.

Don’t you have to have pets chipped for insurance? If Rabbit is chipped it should be easy. If not, like pp said, “Reggie previously known as Rodger” should work.

@NannyWeatherWitch Not rabbits, cats and dogs you do (my dog is chipped). I didn’t think house rabbits really needed to be chipped. I will get them both chipped when I drop my boy back off though.

The receptionist is going to ask the vet and call me back about the name change so fingers crossed 🤞🏼

We would put the old name in brackets along with its current name. It shouldn’t show up any name changes on the system unless someone has called him by his other name in his history which will be sent off to the insurers when they assess your claim.