SarahJ88 Posted February 23, 2012 Share Posted February 23, 2012 So here is my dilemna, I have pet insurance with prosure and up to a certain point they have been okay except for the fact that I didn't wait the 30 day wiating period and my dog got an ear infection, now they are classifying that as a pre-existing condition which I cannot claim against - ever. So fast forward a year and have claimed a $3000 surgery on Ava which they thankfully reimbursed 80% of. My issue hwoever is that Ava is a golden retriever and has issues with ear infections, if I get her clipped and they give her a wash they get water in her ears and fast forward 3 weeks and where back at the vet asking for more ear drops. Last month I took her to the vet for her yearly vaccinations and she had an ear infection, gave her the drops and went back a month later - hadn't cleared, gave more ear drops and went back 2 weeks later - had cleared. Submitted the claim form which was roughly $500 worth and got a response yesterday saying it had been denied due to a pre existing condition (re 30 day waiting period) so I am looking for a new pet insurance that is not with the hollard company (which I know is going to be tough). This isn't the first case they have rejected my claim, Ava was diagnosed with ocd at 8 months old and had to have several xrays because of this. We had an issues about 4 months ago where she just wasn't herself, salivating and bloated and we thought she may have swallowed a macadamia from our neighbours tree, we took her to the vet and got the xray and submitted the form, then got a reply about a week later from the insurance stating an entire vet history needed to be submitted. My vet thankfully had to write to explain the situation and I doubt if they hadn't of done that I wouldnt have got the money back. It's like they are only letting me claim one thing and then it's classed as pre-existing and I'm not allowed to claim it ever again, this includes xrays, ear swabs etc. So does anyone know of any pet insurances that aren't controlled by the holland group? I know prosure is and unfortunately so is mbf pet insurance. Any help would be appreciated. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FHRP Posted February 23, 2012 Share Posted February 23, 2012 (edited) I doubt you will find any pet insurance company that will cover a 'pre existing' condition. It's unforutunate that the first ear infection occured out of insuance cover and some companies may have shorter waiting periods, but it will still be classed as a pre-existing condition by any subsequent insurer. In fact if you change, you will probably be covered for less than the dog currently is as the OCD will probably rule out covering any joint issues and the macadamia incident could exclude all stomach issues with another company. Edited February 23, 2012 by FHRP Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Salukifan Posted February 23, 2012 Share Posted February 23, 2012 If she's getting ear infections because of water, then the groomer ain't doing a very good job. What do you feed her? A lot of ear infections are yeast related and diet changes can help. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cavNrott Posted February 24, 2012 Share Posted February 24, 2012 (edited) Not surprising the health insurance people consider it a pre-existing condition because it was during the waiting period so wasn't covered. If there is a loophole to be found insurance companies will find it and use it to their advantage. One of my dogs ruptured a disk in his spine and needed specialist care, a myelogram and laminectomy surgery. Fortunately we were just 1 week inside the cover period. They didn't want to pay. They asked for a full history from both vets I have used in the past for all of my dogs trying to find any mention of spinal problems in this dog. This dog had only ever seen one vet and had never had a sick day in his life until the disk problem. We went to the second vet because the ruptured disk was an early Sunday morning emergency. The Insurance Company insisted on a full history from both vets. Needless to say the second vet told them they had no record of this dog until our emergency visit. Our usual vet forwarded all records which showed all he'd ever he'd seen my dog for were his puppy vaccinations and the occasional health check which noted he'd had no health issues of any kind. The Insurance Company ended up reibursing me in three separate instalments but it took plenty of effort by me. I mentioned contacting the Ombudsman and that seemed to jolt them into action. Re: the yeasty ears. When my dogs go to the groomer I bath them myself the night before. I'm careful not to get water in their ears but I'm not prepared to risk the bather at the groomers being quite so careful. My groomer has a lass there who does all the bathing but no other grooming duties. My dogs both get yeasty ears. I now have a non prescription product sent over from USA that works as well, if not better than the ear drops my vet used to prescribe. It's not cheap but it much cheaper than constant vet consults plus the cost of the drops he prescribes. Unfortunately it's not available in Aus. I've been using this product for 2 years and it's never let us down. My dogs yeasty ears seem to be seasonal. ***please excuse any spelling/grammar errors I've just had 2 eye surgeries and can't see too well*** aha I edited on finding at least one error Edited February 24, 2012 by cavNrott Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mollipop Posted February 24, 2012 Share Posted February 24, 2012 Hi cavNrott. Are you able to supply more information about this product eg name and supplier. Do you constantly use it as a preventative measure or only if needed. After spending over $250 on my girl's ears last week, I would be very interested in trying something different. She is also a chronic sufferer of ear infections. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cavNrott Posted February 24, 2012 Share Posted February 24, 2012 (edited) I use it only when I smell yeast...and once you smell yeast you never forget the odour. I smell my dogs ears every couple of days and if I get a slight whiff of yeast, in go the drops. I wouldn't use this product as a preventative. Why put extra drugs in the body if there is no issue. I'm not sure since it's off label in Australia that I'm allowed to post the details on here. Don't want to cause any trouble for Troy. I'll PM you the info. edit: have sent you the PM. Edited February 24, 2012 by cavNrott Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SarahJ88 Posted February 24, 2012 Author Share Posted February 24, 2012 Thanks for all of your help. The vet did give us a solution with a little bit of alcohol that you squirt in once a week or so - she doesn't like it but if it can keep the ear infections at bay then we'll be doing it. Thanks FHRP for the info, I didn't think that a condition previously such as those incidents would rule it out for other insurers but I can see why it would be. Telida I feed her on advance large breed chicken, with chicken necks, plus some vegetables as well. I know it isn't as great as a barf diet (which I would love to feed her on) but due to finances unfortunately can't do that. She also gets fish oil & glucosamine with chondroitin in the mornings to help her bones (not that she likes taking it) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ellinnet Posted February 24, 2012 Share Posted February 24, 2012 Would Probiotics help with the recurring ear infections? If the yeast is throughout her system it may help to balance things out a little. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cavNrott Posted February 24, 2012 Share Posted February 24, 2012 Would Probiotics help with the recurring ear infections? If the yeast is throughout her system it may help to balance things out a little. My yeasty ears small dogs have always had a tablespoon of organic live culture yoghurt every night. It doesn't keep the yeast away. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mason_Gibbs Posted February 24, 2012 Share Posted February 24, 2012 See a veterinary detmatologist, dogs get ear infections from allergies. Mine had constant problems until we changed diet and got allergies under control. And i use malacetic ear cleanser once a week every week forever. Seems to help Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
InspectorRex Posted February 26, 2012 Share Posted February 26, 2012 PetPlan is Not underwritten by the Hollard Group and they are always very helpful Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Danois Posted February 26, 2012 Share Posted February 26, 2012 Your dog has a pre existing condition now and you'd have to disclose it to any new insurer or they would pick it up pretty quickly from your vet records. When you apply for insurance you are making a legal declaration and if you fail to disclose you will end up without insurance and being required to pay back everything if they discover it. I think it just belongs into the shit happens category sadly. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mumscats Posted February 27, 2012 Share Posted February 27, 2012 Your dog has a pre existing condition now and you'd have to disclose it to any new insurer or they would pick it up pretty quickly from your vet records. When you apply for insurance you are making a legal declaration and if you fail to disclose you will end up without insurance and being required to pay back everything if they discover it. I think it just belongs into the shit happens category sadly. Hi there, I am seriously thinking about pet insurance. I had to have my nearly 13 year old girl put to sleep last week as she had oral cancer. I had taken her to a specialist vet last week and he quoted me $1000 for a CT scan and a few hundred dollars here and there for other tests and an operation costing $3300. I have been reading these posts and I am now apprrehensive about pet insurance. What is the Medicare one like and there is Woolworths? If I go this way I would like a good one. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
soothie Posted February 27, 2012 Share Posted February 27, 2012 PetPlan is Not underwritten by the Hollard Group and they are always very helpful I hope you are correct about Petplan. I signed up for Petplan today. I've been researching on and off for 6 months now but I'm over it. :) Petplan is the only one offering 100% vet bills cover if the condition is approved and not pre-existing. Loads to read on the PDF download but the feedback I've read on this forum has been positive about this one when dealing with it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OSoSwift Posted February 27, 2012 Share Posted February 27, 2012 I am with Petplan and when I first signed up my puppy had had Kennel cough at 10 weeks and a gunky eye from going to the beach. They were not covered for the first 12 months, then when her renewal came up I ask for them to review the exclusions and they were dropped. So now all coughs and sore eyes are covered. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
minimax Posted February 27, 2012 Share Posted February 27, 2012 I have been reading these posts and I am now apprrehensive about pet insurance. What is the Medicare one like and there is Woolworths? If I go this way I would like a good one. In my research I found there were two groups - PetPlan and everyone else. Everyone else was exactly the same as they are underwritten by the same group. PetPlan seems to be the only one underwritten by Allianz, and not Holland and they seem to have better coverage for most things. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
soothie Posted February 27, 2012 Share Posted February 27, 2012 Hi there, I am seriously thinking about pet insurance. I had to have my nearly 13 year old girl put to sleep last week as she had oral cancer. I had taken her to a specialist vet last week and he quoted me $1000 for a CT scan and a few hundred dollars here and there for other tests and an operation costing $3300. I have been reading these posts and I am now apprrehensive about pet insurance. What is the Medicare one like and there is Woolworths? If I go this way I would like a good one. Hi Mumscats, Very sorry to hear about your girl. I understand how distressing it can be to be placed in this situation. I lost my 12 yo girl last year to cancer too I spent about $2500 on a small operation on her leg and some aftercare and then had to let her go as she didn't really recover from the operation. That prompted me to do some research about pet insurance and would have probably gone with Medibank if I wasn't more determined to try for the 100% cover which only petplan offers. I wish they had a sticky thread or forum here for pet insurance so everyone could over their experiences. Good Luck with your research. I have my youngest dog covered now but if there was a choice, I would have done this from a pup. cheers Soothie Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mumscats Posted February 27, 2012 Share Posted February 27, 2012 Hi there, I am seriously thinking about pet insurance. I had to have my nearly 13 year old girl put to sleep last week as she had oral cancer. I had taken her to a specialist vet last week and he quoted me $1000 for a CT scan and a few hundred dollars here and there for other tests and an operation costing $3300. I have been reading these posts and I am now apprrehensive about pet insurance. What is the Medicare one like and there is Woolworths? If I go this way I would like a good one. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SarahJ88 Posted February 27, 2012 Author Share Posted February 27, 2012 Hi there, I am seriously thinking about pet insurance. I had to have my nearly 13 year old girl put to sleep last week as she had oral cancer. I had taken her to a specialist vet last week and he quoted me $1000 for a CT scan and a few hundred dollars here and there for other tests and an operation costing $3300. I have been reading these posts and I am now apprrehensive about pet insurance. What is the Medicare one like and there is Woolworths? If I go this way I would like a good one. One thing to factor in Mumscats is that if you have any other dogs that are over the age of 8 years old alot of insurers will not cover a dog that old Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Heisspur love Posted March 12, 2012 Share Posted March 12, 2012 Hi there, I am seriously thinking about pet insurance. I had to have my nearly 13 year old girl put to sleep last week as she had oral cancer. I had taken her to a specialist vet last week and he quoted me $1000 for a CT scan and a few hundred dollars here and there for other tests and an operation costing $3300. I have been reading these posts and I am now apprrehensive about pet insurance. What is the Medicare one like and there is Woolworths? If I go this way I would like a good one. One thing to factor in Mumscats is that if you have any other dogs that are over the age of 8 years old alot of insurers will not cover a dog that old I'm a bit confused If you have continued insurance cover for your puppy/3yo/5yo/or from 7yo... Does his coverage stop at 8yo? Or do they not insure dogs only if you apply when he is older than 8 years old?? Thanks in advance :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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