‘What to ask a pet insurance provider’ Series…#5
For the last few weeks I have been putting out a series of questions that you should ask yourself/a potential pet insurance provider before purchasing insurance. Please read Series 1, Series 2, Series 3, and Series 4 to catch up!
13. How are claims submitted? How long do I have to submit a claim? Will my costs change based on the number of claims I submit?
This is an important process to understand, since, duh, this is how you get your money back! Make sure you understand what you have to do, what your veterinarians has to do, and exactly how long you have to do it. Some companies require you submit your claim within 30 days of the treatment, some 3 months, some a year, but make sure you understand that time line. The last thing you’d want is a denied claim simply because you exceeded the amount of time you have to submit!
14. How long does it take, on average, to be reimbursed?
This is a little trickier to get a straight answer. There aren’t many rules regulating how long a company has to reimburse a client. Some companies will advertise their average turnaround time, while others will dance around the question. Either way, do your best and see what you can get out of them.
15. Does this policy use a list of “usual and customary fees” to determine how much I will be reimbursed? Is that list up-to-date? Are the fees consistent with what my veterinarian expects to charge?”
For this I would recommend getting this answer in writing. Find out exactly how much you will get reimbursed on an approved claim, and even think about taking those costs/fees into your veterinarian to see if they make sense. If your veterinarian says “no way, these prices are way too low” then you might want to consider another company.
