£2k vet bill - is there anything we can do?

[stainesmassif]

our cat had some treatment for a bladder infection before christmas, all ok now, and i thought we were ok financially as the cat is insured.

more than have just written to me to tell me that because there were clinical signs of cystitis before the start of the policy date we can't claim

1. i have no idea if there were signs before the start date - am checking with vet's now
2. i was persuaded to change my policy from tesco to more than over the phone and was not asked about any treatment that the cat had received prior to commencement of the policy

is it possible for the vets to help me out by amending the wording of the claim? i can only assume that this is where the insurance company have got this information from.

or is it possible that i've been mis sold the policy? £2k!!!

I've just been looking on their web site and it says

'This new policy will not cover anything that is caused by, relates to or results from an illness, injury or clinical signs your pet had before the new policy starts or the costs of treating an illness that shows clinical signs in the first 14 days of the date the new policy starts.'

so i guess this depends on their interpretation of whether his previous treatment related to his later illness. any vets/insurance experts out there?

Can you speak to the vet? presumably the insurance company have got that info from them. Have you been to the vet about this problem before? I've just got pet insurance and they are very clever to include that 14 day clause.

What clinical signs were there?

This is a standard insurance clause and the reason neither of my cats are insured. One cat is on so much medication that they'd blame any new condition on an existing one or the drugs she's taken. The other cat was diagnosed with cat flu (even though vaccinated - apparently vaccinated cats can get it just it won't kill them if they are). Unfortunately I don't think it can class as you being miss-sold the policy as the form you will have undoubtedly signed would have had this clause in it.

You have to speak to your vet and ask them if they think there were clinical signs of the condition before the 14 day clause ran out and if so, why didn't they tell you? If your vet and the insurance vet disagree they are supposed to get an independent one to assess the situation but since it is based on your vets records I think they need to check what they have written and why.

Unfortunately it seems to me that your vet has just not kept you informed or risks and possible causes of previous conditions/treatments. My vet is generally very good and has warned me that my cat's treatment of steroids for her allergies could result in her developing diabetes. I'm prepared for this and if/when the news comes I will deal with it and have to pay the costs. I hope that isn't the situation for you too.

If it turns out that there is nothing you can do about this clause then your vet should help you out with paying the costs. Speak to them, there aren't many people with £2000 sat in their bank accounts that they can just pay to the vets - they will understand. When my little girl got sick in December she raked up £400 of vet costs which I just didn't have. I am now paying it back at a rate of £75 a month.

Good luck, I know how stressful it is worrying about vet bills and a sick animal! I hope it gets resolved quickly.

I know all about this, I had a problem with the Tesco mob that I am still trying to resolve.

2k for a bladder infection?

Is your cat now 2/3 18ct gold with diamonds and emeralds where his eyes used to be !