Equine Insurance
Insurance is available for horses and there are now several companies each offering various differing policies. The policies offer varying degrees of cover for different uses.
Horses are expensive to buy and to keep and Insurance provides a way of enabling the horse owner to obtain financial assistance when things go wrong. Policies and terms of cover can be quite variable so it is best to look around for the type of cover, which suits your circumstances and budget, but includes the activities for which your horse will be used.
Insurance, in our experience, certainly provides peace of mind and enables decisions to be made at usually stressful times without having to worry about the cost of potential treatment.
It is worth mentioning a common term used in equine insurance policies: 'Humane Destruction'. There is often confusion over what is covered by this. It usually covers the horse against fatal accidents and acute life threatening injury or disease. Chronic, long standing conditions are excluded. If in doubt please contact your specific insurance company for clarification.
Making an insurance claim
When you give us your signed claim form, with the 'Owner Details' filled in, our Vets then provide details of the treatment given. We send the completed forms to your insurer and keep a record of all the claims we help process, the dates when the forms were sent and any payments received.
We are happy to accept direct payment from your insurance company, although you should read the 'Practice Guidelines' provided below. Aireworth Vets does not usually make a charge for completing and processing insurance claim forms on behalf of our registered clients, irrespective of whether the claim is direct or not.
Please be aware that we can’t guarantee you will be covered. Claims can be declined for several reasons including: problems with premium payments; cover expiry; or if there is a pre-existing history of a similar illness - even if it occurred at a different veterinary practice.
Insurance policies vary enormously and many policies have specific exclusions. As the policy holder you should be aware of what treatment is likely to be covered by your insurer, most companies provide a help-line for enquiries.
Practice Guidelines for Making a Direct Claim
If you wish to make a direct claim where the insurance company pay us directly, please note:
1. Direct Claims are accepted entirely at our discretion and if we feel that there may be a problem with your claim we will ask for payment within the terms of your account or at any time thereafter.
2. All excesses and any items not covered by your policy must be paid for within the terms of your account.
3. Claim forms must be handed in promptly with Owner Details fully completed and signed.
4. We expect to receive payment from your insurer within 60 days of sending the claim form.
5. If your insurance company are slow to pay you may be surcharged and it is your responsibility to pay all surcharges and chase your insurance company for payment.
Practice Guidelines for Making an Indirect Claim
If you wish to make a claim where the insurance company pays you (rather than us), please note: All treatment must be paid for within the terms of your account.