Submitting a Pet Insurance Claim
One of the questions I hear frequently from pet owners is how exactly does submitting a pet insurance claim work? When you’re at your own doctor, they seem to do all the work for you leaving most pet owners in the dark as to what really goes on behind the scenes.
Well, it’s quite simple actually (at least in most cases). Most companies have a claim form where you’re asked to fill out your contact information, the amount of the claim, what it’s for and then your veterinarian is usually asked to fill out a portion and sign the form as well. Typically the insurance company will ask you to fax or mail in the form along with the invoice from your veterinarian. The company may or may not ask for medical records, depending on the situation. For example, if your dog or cat fell from the deck and hurt his or her paw, they wouldn’t need medical records because there is nothing in the pet’s history that would relate to this claim.
Why then, can a claim take so long? I often wonder that myself. If the pet insurance company does need further medical records, they will often ask your veterinarian directly and if there is a delay in that process, well it adds time. In fact, I would imagine that getting complete medical records is one of the biggest reasons why there would be a delay in the process. Fortunately, in the past many companies might have taken weeks to get your reimbursement, but now that competition is stiffening, it’s not rare to receive payment within a few days to a week.
I have heard horror stories as mentioned in my post about It’s going to take how long to receive reimbursement?! where people are having to wait longer than a month with some companies. But, like I mentioned, I think you can expect to see this waiting time diminish.
I’ve had VPI for about 3 years now for my 2 cats. A couple of years ago one of them had digestive problems. The vet x-rayed and did blood tests and the total bill was about $300. I paid upfront and submitted my claim. I can’t remember how long it took for reimbursement but I think it was about a month. I received nearly all the $300 back minus a deductible and was quite pleased with the service.
In reading your earlier post I see that some people have had problems with VPI. I hope that my experience is the norm and not a fluke!
Out of curiosity, do you remember being okay with the time it took to reimburse? The simple fact that you don’t remember how long it took suggests that it must not have been too big of a deal, which is good.
Also, I hope it’s the norm too for your sake as well as your kitties:)
I don’t recall that I was anxiously waiting for the check so it must not have been long. I do remember that money was tight at the time so if it had been a significant wait I think I would remember that!
I used to be with Pet Care Insurance and I would say it took about a month to get reimbursed. We are now with Pets Best and we have put in a couple of claims…both took about two to three weeks I think? It was pretty quick.
Yeah Sarah, I think your story just reinforces my belief that waiting times are going down. Glad to hear you didn’t have to wait forever!
My daughter has Pet Care insurance and we have been battling with them to pay a claim. First they wanted a statement from the vet that the pet was under their care. Than they wanted a copy of the medical records. Than they wanted all the health history on the pet. The pet happens to have been a rescued animal and therefore there is no history. The vet had to write a letter stating that the pet was a rescue animal with out previous medical history. I wonder what they are going to ask for next.
Hey Fran,
While I’m not surprised that the company is asking for all these records (as most pet insurance companies would require full medical history), I am surprised that they wouldn’t just call up your vet and ask them to fax the information in. And at the same time I would think that the vet giving “full medical history” would be enough to show that that was all that was available.
I am also surprised that they had to state that the pet was under the care of your particular veterinarian. I mean, wouldn’t the medical history with the vet’s logo and contact info be enough?!
Out of curiosity, did your daughter have to fill out and submit a claim form as well? This is also a place that could have housed a lot of sought after information you mentioned above.
Keep us posted…