PET insurance may help to protect you from unexpected vet bills; but how do you make a claim on your pet insurance when you need to?
Pet insurance may help you financially with veterinary bills; pet insurance providers will cover up to a specified amount in vet’s fees each year. For example, some reputable pet insurance providers may cover for dental treatment, complimentary therapies and even veterinary treatment abroad. This is good to know when your pet falls ill or has a problem, but how should you go about making a claim?
1. Contact your provider
In order to claim, you’ll need a claim form. This can usually be obtained by giving your insurance provider a call, or some pet insurance providers may have the form available on their website.
2. Details of the claim
You should be prepared to give your provider all the details about your claim. It may be helpful to write down details of the claim, as you will find the claims process is a lot quicker with the more details you provide during the first call. You should have to hand information about the vet who treated your pet and the reason for the treatment. You should also tell your provider whether you have already paid the vet bills so they can process the claim accordingly.
3. Complete the form
You should complete the claims form with your vet and enclose any other information your insurance provider requires, such as invoices and a clinical history for your pet. Once you’ve returned the form it will be assessed by veterinary professionals to agree a settlement amount according to your policy.
4. Payment
If your claim is settled and you’ve already paid the vet, then you will usually receive a cheque for the costs - minus the agreed excess - of vet’s fees and relevant expenses. Otherwise, if the vet agrees, your provider may be able to pay the vet directly.
Not all insurance providers have exactly the same process for processing claims, however this should give you an idea of what you can expect from a reputable provider. If in doubt, contact your pet insurance provider to find out more details.
