Help - Any Vet out there - I need some insurance advice!

[Twohootsunderthemistletoe]

Hi

Really hope I can get some advice as I am banging my head against a brick wall with my cat's insurance company!

Our cat had cystitis on 5th November this year. We were away at the time so I took him to an out of hours vet and then a follow up vet (on the first vet's advice) the following day. Cat was given antibiotics, a steriod jab and painkilling jab. Cost £160 in all! I have put a claim into the insurance co and they are refusing to pay it as...

He has had cystitis before and they are saying it's a 'pre-existing medical condition' which he had before I commenced the policy with them (Dec 04!) for which he isn't covered. It gets a bit more complicated as I've changed vets since he had the complaint last time. I've just been in touch with my previous vets and they tell me they have two outbreaks of UTI on files (May 04 and Nov 04) and then we moved vets and haven't had any more problems until Nov 06. However, the insurance co are saying they've been in touch with my old vets and they have four episodes of UTIs in 2004. I am going to contest this as the appts were not connected to UTIs at all!

I have argued that I do not think a UTI/Cystitis is a pre existing medical condition - he isn't on ongoing meds for it and he hasn't had an outbreak in 2 years (Nov 04 - Nov 06)!! I appreciate he may be more susceptible to UTIs but I certainly wouldn't class it as a medical condition!! It's not like he has heart problems or a gammy leg FFS!!!

They will not budge on it - what do you think please (professional opinion). I've asked my current vets to let me know their opinion but as he's never been there with a UTI the receptionist said the vet won't like to comment - am awaiting a call back from them!

I personally think the ins co are doing everything to try and get out of payment - especially as they are 'making up' two episodes of UTIs in 2004 that he didn't actually have (in addition to the two he did have)! They have issued me a cheque (came today separately to the letter saying they won't pay up) and then have told me they've cancelled it!

Am mad about it tbh as anyone/animal can get a UTI at any time!

Please either put me out of my misery or tell me I'm very wrong to want to contest this!

Hi
I'm not a vet but worked in a vets as a receptionist/nurse for four years and used to deal with pet insurance companies all the time. UTI's are always a pain in the arse claim-wise because insurance companies would like to consider them 'conditions' as some cats constantly have them. First thing you should do is ask your old vets what they have got on the records about the visits your ins company are claiming were for UTI, it may well be the vet has mentioned in the notes the UTI your cat was suffering from even if the visits were unrelated. THe ins company will most likely have copies of the notes as well.

Which insurance company is it - one beginning with PP by any chance? They are usually more reasonable than some of the others actually so would be surprised if it was them!
I actually remember a case VERY similar to your happening when I still worked a the vets but I can't remember what the outcome was fully - sorry!! I hope MN vet can come along a give you some more advice!!
IT's one of those situations that could go on for some time, and may well simply come down to the ins company's discretion whether they pay out

peggotty - I've now spoken to both vets (new and old) and whilst they 'sympathise' with me they are not willing to stick their necks out! They both said that as it's been two years since his last infection that they do not think it is an ongoing condition but that it is pre-existing. What they are not sure about is, if infact it is a 'condition' at all - this refers more to something happening 'all the time' when in fact this has never been the case!

So basically I am on my own with it!

Anyone know of any good pet ins plans which ALLOWS pre existing conditions! As I am damned if I am going to pay out that kind of money again and not get any back when I am paying insurance!! (Don't get me wrong it's not the money per se - would always pay that for him - it's the fact I have insurance and they won't pay up!!!) very and need to cancel policy but want to get another in force asap!

Ps it's not PP - I was with them from him being little but changed two years ago to T*sco pet ins. As the vet said they are being very 'mean' as it's more than two years ago since last problem. Some ins would pay up on that as it's been so long but then I guess it's up the small print!

Really need some recs for pet ins asap! TIA

Tbh I don't think you'll find ANY insurance company that will accept pre-existing conditions. Vets where I worked were reluctant to stick their necks out in this kind of situation as well...
Who are you with just now (don't answer if you'd rather not say..)?

Aaah Tesco! It all becomes clear. What a shame you didn't stick with PP, they really are one of the best (although not the cheapest it has to be said). Of course, that's not very helpful to you now.. sorry.

THis whole pre-existing thing is stupid isn't it!? If a cat had been run over before taking out a policy, they couldn't exclude 'cat being run over again' from the policy could they?!? However, if the cat broke a leg in a car accident, they would exclude any treatment as a result of the accident to that leg. They can be so damn sneaky!

Yes I agree that it's silly and my guess is it gets them out of loads of claims as the link can be v tenuous. Am actually wondering if it's worth insuring him at all! Most things we've had him in for in the past have been around £60 for tx and we haven't claimed as there is a £40 excess!

Yep, have now realised all ins plans exclude pre existing conds - silly me eh!

I never claimed with PP - but they put my premium up massively in the years I was with them so I moved - probably not a good move. Having said that both vets said they weren't that great these days so...

Think they are all about the same tbh. Insurance cos just don't like paying up

hi,
I am a vet, so can help you a bit on this.
The thing is that as a vet I would consider your cat's intermittent/recurrent urinary problems to be associated.
Some cats are succeptible to urinary problems, or FLTUD.
I suppose I would say that once a cat has one bout of FLUTD I would be expecting him or her to have more bouts.

As much as I hate to- I agree with the insurance that it is a pre-existing condition, sorry

I can understand your frustration, but I am not sure that you will get anywhere sadly.

Hope he is doing well on his medications

Thanks for your help - he isn't on any medication as it's not an ongoing 'problem'.

Interestingly even the 'old' vet agreed that the insurance company were being over the top and that she didn't think the UTIs in his case were necessarily linked - esp as it had been two years between episodes.

I've just had to let it go but, I hate to say that I am loathe to take him to an 'out of hour' vets again should it reoccur (but would obviously take him to a normal hours clinic). I just can't afford to be spending around £130 each time (for out of hours) when I can't claim on the insurance that I am paying for!! How sad

have a look at this information sheet from the Feline Advisory Bureau which is well respected veterinary group.
In one of the lower paragraphs it does talk about recurrence of signs- in the paragraph about the management of the disease.
fab cats fact sheet
I would be very very wary of not getting it treated as it says on the sheet, sometimes the urethra can block with stones or "plugs" which can be very serious.

If money is tight, maybe you can just put a little aside each week as a contingency fund. I would carry on with the insurance, as there is a myriad of other things that could go wrong, not affecting the bladder.

HTH and good luck