Pet Insurance and Vets

[Sunnie]

We were due to take out a Pet Insurance last summer I discovered our cat with lumps.Rushed him to the Vet & it turned out to be shotgun pellets lodged just under his skin! The Vet told me that this was common that animals are shot by idiots in this area!!. I told the Vet about insurance but he said that as i reported it BEFORE taking out Insurance he was NOT covered. Help, what does one do (�400+) I felt that the Vet did not care and could have come to an agreement. Desparately, I even showed him the Insurance quote which was dated before I took the Cat to him. What can I do? It seems that they do not care about the animal welfare, only the money. Any suggestions anyone?

[mjd]

Go to a different vet after your insurance starts.

[Eels]

It's not the vet's fault!

You were asking them to commit fraud - they would have risked criminal charges AND being struck off the Register of Veterinary Surgeons for doing that.

I wouldn't ever ask anyone to put themselves in that position for me - I certainly wouldn't be offended if they refused!

[veritymoon]

im sorry it is fraud and insurance companies do ring up vets and check also if your animals records are on computer when the vet sends history to the insurance company they will spot it and throw out the claim.

[Sunnie]

I feel like a real criminal now. It is totally my fault. I wished I had waited a few more days till the Insurance papers came in through the post before panicing and rushig to the vets. Some people are clever in how they work things out. Unfortunately, i am not. I don't blame anyone but sometimes i wish people in the business were a little sympathetic - as the difference was just a matter of days

I realise that there is nothing anyone can do and that's that. I am glad he is just an animal - if you see what I mean. I don't expect anyone to give me a useful answer other than Fraudster, criminal and all the rest of it jargon in this world.

[lankeela]

But if you had waited a few more days before going totthe vet, your cat could have become ill through infection in the wounds. I would always err on the side of caution, and visit th evet if in any doubt about any condition affecting an animal.

[Eels]

I'm sorry Sunnie but playing the martyr will not win you any friends.

The vet was not being unsympathetic, they were being honest with you. You were asking them to commit fraud, and they refused - that's the bottom line.

For your information, had you waited to take out the insurance before getting your poor cat to the vet you would have been no better off. Aside from the fact that many insurance policies do not pay out for claims made within the first 10-14 days, the vet would have had to state when they thought the injuries occurred, and it would be plain to see that the wounds were not fresh. Added to that, your cat would have suffered.

I'm afraid it is just one of those things - a bitter pill, perhaps, but certainly not the vet's fault.

[veritymoon]

At least you took your animal to a vet we had a guy bring in a greyhound with a broken leg he admitted it happened 2 weeks ago and was waiting to be able to use his insurance the poor bloody dog ended up losing the leg as it had healed so badly and in the wrong shape.

can you set up with direct debit with the vet to pay it back in installments?

do you have a credit card you could use?

could you borrow money off a loved one?

do you qualify for help with veterinary bills?

do know what else to suggest?

[Sunnie]

THanks Eels, you'r a great help. We need people like you to police this site. All you seem to be able to say is How wrong someone is - F***k the pet. How dare I get the Vet into trouble? I dont want diciplinary action by you. It is not the honesty of the Vet but the uncaring, unhelpful attitude. 'Animal lover' -absolutely NOT and nor are you.Maybe you could be that VET. Go and pick on someone else as you are NO help.

Veritymoon, Thanks for your advice. I asked if I could pay in installments but the VET refused. So, next step. I managed to borrow money from 2 people now. I am now changing to another Vetinary practice recommended by friends. Apparently, he is mature, caring and very helpful - a bit like a good Doctor. ANd I care about my pet - and that is what matters.

[Eels]

Sunnie you're missing my point! I'm not suggesting that you got the vet into trouble - you didn't. You made a request which they refused. My point is that they didn't refuse because they were uncaring, they refused because it was illegal.

Now if they treated you in an uncaring manner then that's something totally different. My problem was that you felt they were being uncaring because they weren't willing to risk criminal charges for you.

[Sunnie]

Eels
Vetinary practices are different from each other ,so I have discovered.. Some Vets really care more for animals wellfare in the long term and others don't want to know.. This type of vet has a 'one-track' answer which only involves the vet alone - he IS the matyr.. THey could resolve issues by being more helpful with the view that the animals wellbeing is crucial.. WHen a vet is so dismissive - he is certainly not caring for the wellbeing of the animals in anyway.

You obviously don't understand. I have seen a good vet now, who has accepted installments for the operation (i don't have to borrow money now) because he understands the predicament. Reputations spread.

Your answer is more like 'THE COMPUTER SAYS NO!'. maybe the Health Centre Reception would be a good area to work.

[Eels]

The caring nature of the vet was not the issue - the potentially fraudulent insurance claim was what concerned me.

I am glad that you have found a good vet - especially since it seems that your cat has waited since last summer to have the pellets removed ...?!

Incidentally, I work at one of numerous practices which will happily accept installments. Of course sometimes things happen that can't be predicted, and owners with insurance are still in the minority. So we allow people interest free credit, effectively. Some of them will still never pay us what is owed, but such is life.

Doesn't mean we'd sign off a false insurance claim, sorry!

[Sunnie]

I gathered that you were a Vet. I am glad you now understand, but you do sound more of a business man than a vet. Yes, you have to run a business but surly you must understand that there must be other ways of helping out. I am pleased that your Vet.Practice offers other ways to help. No one wanted anybody to commit a Fraud - Yes, I did ask at the time and all I wanted was some sort of help for the poor animal.

I was then told that this would NOT bother him by the same vet- which, luckily, it seems to have not. Since than we have moved, I have the interenet and my conscience pricked me as I felt that this cannot be right there must be another way to remove the pellets. In the long term it cannot be good to leave it there. So here I am looking for advice. Change Vets and get good advice.