Dog insurance help

[spiralshape]

My dog had a really bad middle ear infection a few months ago , the insurance company said they wouldn't pay out as she had been diagnosed 2.5 years ago (13 days after the policy started cut of is 14 days ) with an ear infection so they would class it as pre-existing - her cover level with them is 13k.

I'd left another lower level insurance policy bumbling along, as I just forgot to cancel it . We managed to claim 1k on that ( the policy cover is 1k per condition per year) and we paid the other 6k. Anyway I'm sure she has IVDD we have an appt with a neurologist tomorrow. Surgery for this is 8k, my problem is the first insurance policy state:

If there is any other policy in which your pet is covered you must report the incident to them. We will not pay for any incident covered by another insurance company.

My question is does that mean they won't pay out if she needs the opp ? Obviously the other insurance company will only cover up to 1k so won't cover the cost of treatment , does that class as it not being covered . So will they pay out ?

Any help appreciated! I'm hoping she won't even need the opp, but stressing myself over the money. Especially after just paying out 6k that's basically wiped us, although I of course would find the money somewhere to pay for the opp. Sorry for the rambling.

Doesn’t it just mean that you can’t claim from both insurers for the same course of treatment?

You'll need to ring the insurance company but many won't pay out if you're also covered by someone else.

@catelynjane this is my worry. I'm assuming they can find out on my vets notes, but we actually haven't claimed at my normal vets for 3 years. As never normally worth it with excess.

Insurance companies all talk to each other (a bit like with car insurance) so you'd have to be very careful.

The other option is to cancel the cheaper policy to claim the big bill, I guess?

If you're covered by both companies I suspect you'd need to claim from both. I don't see why the second company wouldn't pay out if the first won't cover the full amount. There would be no point in taking out insurance if you can't claim on it.

Most insurance companies will refuse to pay out if they find you have cover elsewhere.

It's not illegal to have two insurances in place, they'll never pay out more than the claim but I don't see why the first insurance can't speak to the second & come to an arrangement. First thing to do is talk to them

@Messyhair321 no, it's not illegal - but most will have it in the small print that they won't pay out if you also have coverage elsewhere.

Personally the last thing I would do is admit to company A that I'm also covered by company B - you could end up with both policies cancelled and no insurance at all!