Will Insurance Pay Out For Diagnostic Tests?

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LydiaMinx

LydiaMinx

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So Boris has the vets on Friday for unexplained weight loss - because of his symptoms (healthy appetite despite quite fast weight loss being the main), I believe it to be either Diabetes or Hyperthyroidism. I'm leaning toward Hyperthyroidism as he had a lump on his neck region, which was removed. It has been since the removal that the weight has begun to drop.

I can't seem to find extensive experience on Hyperthyroidism in pigs so I'm guessing it is primarily diagnosed via blood tests, which are probably pretty expensive.

He's insured by Exotic Direct, will they cover any diagnostics that the vet sees fit? I'm on the fence as the lump appeared (literally in the space of a few days) within the initial two weeks of cover, and if they believe these to be connected, they could try to use that as a way of not paying. And if they do decide to cover this (so hoping they do) do they pay directly, or do I pay first and they re-reimburse?

Sorry if these are really obvious questions, I've never had to claim on any insurance before so I'm clueless as to the claims procedures!

Thank you guys!
 
Sorry we don't know, but we are sure your vet will ... x
 
Toast had blood taken to check for kidney failure. This had to be done under GA. The GA cost around £44 and the blood test cost around £75 if this helps at all (I don't have insurance so I can only help with prices..)
 
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Mine are insured with Exotic Direct .Blood tests, X-rays and scans are definitely covered . I took Bess for a 2nd opinion and Exotic direct paid for both vets bills. I'm going to have to look through my paperwork as I remember they didn't pay out for some treatment Max had - I can't remember what it was - or why they didn't pay but it was a small amount .
 
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It will be in the small print of your leaflet that exotic sent you - but yes - they will pay out on practically everything ,but I think it doesn't kick in until 14 days after you took out the policy - so you did find this started on day 15 or 16 didn't you....- after taking my very elderly sow to the vets a few weeks ago for weight loss it appeared that one of her back teeth was a little sharp and just needed a slight file - I now always start with dental issues in a pig with weight loss as this is a common underlying cause even when they seem to be eating fine - can just be a little uncomfortable so they are just eating less although you wouldn't notice it - so this is also a good place for your vet to start - as is an x-ray, as one of my other elderly sows also had weight loss and an x-ray showed bad arthritis in her right hip,so she was moving about a lot less and therefore not going over to the nugget bowl so much - this was rectified with a low daily dose of metacam
Basically they pay out for all blood tests, x-rays - ultrasounds - meds,anything associated with the op - they only pay out 50% on anything dental related (so ask your vet to never mention the words "teeth" or "dental" in your pigs notes and if the problem is one of those things then you should get the full amount paid out less the £65 excess per condition).
The only things they don't pay out on are spaying for any reason (they used to if it was medically needed but don't anymore ) and they only pay out 50% of the cost of a CT scan.They have paid out several hundred pounds on chiropractor treatment for Nuggets - Physio and acupuncture for Bumble and just about everything else you can think of.
It will be up to your vets practice if exotic can pay them direct - at both of the vets practices that I use you have to pay up front if the bill is under £250 and then claim it back from exotic yourself - otherwise they would just be swamped with paperwork and claims for £30 here and there and it would mean employing more staff to cope with it - once exotic get the claim form from the vets (who can be slow to complete it their end) you will usually have the cheque sent out in the post within 10 days - but they do only send out 2nd class post to save on postage costs - hope this helps - Bumble has now bust through his insurance limit this week and has to wait until October before it renews - and I will have a bill of £450 tomorrow that I will have to pay myself - so always best to insure I say - good luck!
 
@PiggyOwner I bet it was critical care they didn't pay out for - as it's deemed to be a food and not a medicine.
 
Yes - fibreplex I had to pay out for myself as well I seem to remember - probably because its not a prescription only medicine
 
Beans&Toast said:
Toast had blood taken to check for kidney failure. This had to be done under GA. The GA cost around £44 and the blood test cost around £75 if this helps at all (I don't have insurance so I can only help with prices..)
Click to expand...

Thank you, that price helps give me a mental guideline so I'm not totally taken off guard! x

PiggyOwner said:
Mine are insured with Exotic Direct .Blood tests, X-rays and scans are definitely covered . I took Bess for a 2nd opinion and Exotic direct paid for both vets bills. I'm going to have to look through my paperwork as I remember they didn't pay out for some treatment Max had - I can't remember what it was - or why they didn't pay but it was a small amount .
Click to expand...

Thank you, this gives me some hope! I'm only concerned that they will try to link it to the mass and not pay a penny, hopefully this won't be the case x

TAN said:
It will be in the small print of your leaflet that exotic sent you - but yes - they will pay out on practically everything ,but I think it doesn't kick in until 14 days after you took out the policy - so you did find this started on day 15 or 16 didn't you....- after taking my very elderly sow to the vets a few weeks ago for weight loss it appeared that one of her back teeth was a little sharp and just needed a slight file - I now always start with dental issues in a pig with weight loss as this is a common underlying cause even when they seem to be eating fine - can just be a little uncomfortable so they are just eating less although you wouldn't notice it - so this is also a good place for your vet to start - as is an x-ray, as one of my other elderly sows also had weight loss and an x-ray showed bad arthritis in her right hip,so she was moving about a lot less and therefore not going over to the nugget bowl so much - this was rectified with a low daily dose of metacam
Basically they pay out for all blood tests, x-rays - ultrasounds - meds,anything associated with the op - they only pay out 50% on anything dental related (so ask your vet to never mention the words "teeth" or "dental" in your pigs notes and if the problem is one of those things then you should get the full amount paid out less the £65 excess per condition).
The only things they don't pay out on are spaying for any reason (they used to if it was medically needed but don't anymore ) and they only pay out 50% of the cost of a CT scan.They have paid out several hundred pounds on chiropractor treatment for Nuggets - Physio and acupuncture for Bumble and just about everything else you can think of.
It will be up to your vets practice if exotic can pay them direct - at both of the vets practices that I use you have to pay up front if the bill is under £250 and then claim it back from exotic yourself - otherwise they would just be swamped with paperwork and claims for £30 here and there and it would mean employing more staff to cope with it - once exotic get the claim form from the vets (who can be slow to complete it their end) you will usually have the cheque sent out in the post within 10 days - but they do only send out 2nd class post to save on postage costs - hope this helps - Bumble has now bust through his insurance limit this week and has to wait until October before it renews - and I will have a bill of £450 tomorrow that I will have to pay myself - so always best to insure I say - good luck!
Click to expand...

I'm fairly certain I rushed Boris to the vet within the first 14 days....with hindsight I didn't need to rush quite so much but a sudden lump panicked me beyond belief :( I'll see what the vet has on record though,maybe I'm wrong! I'm hoping they pay direct, if not I'll manage! Thank you for the reply, hopefully it will all go smoothly. I hope Bumble is feeling better soon! x


I'm hugely concerned that they'll find some tenuous connection to his mass and not pay for this issue (whatever it is), I only earn £600 a month and my bills are half of that gone...I'd never forgive myself if I couldn't pay! My mum has instilled an eternal distrust of insurers in me, hence my anxiety over it all!
 
I Suggest asking your vet to put down on the claim form "unexplained weight loss" - then that shouldn't link it to the previous illness.
 
My Penfold had unexplained weightloss within the first 14 days, he had a dental. Then one month later the unexplained weight loss re-appeared. This time more diagnostic where done and it turned out he had kidney and bladder stones. Exotic paid out as it wasn't a condition we where aware of.
 
TAN said:
I Suggest asking your vet to put down on the claim form "unexplained weight loss" - then that shouldn't link it to the previous illness.
Click to expand...

Will ask her to do this, thank you for suggesting this!

flintstones said:
My Penfold had unexplained weightloss within the first 14 days, he had a dental. Then one month later the unexplained weight loss re-appeared. This time more diagnostic where done and it turned out he had kidney and bladder stones. Exotic paid out as it wasn't a condition we where aware of.
Click to expand...

Oh that gives me hope! Thank you!
 
Ok so Boris is going back for extensive blood tests and X-Rays on Monday, possibly under sedation if need be. I'm going to contact the insurance company now to get the ball rolling as early as possible, as his vet said he may also be referred to a specialist.

Diabetes was ruled out then and there, his blood test came back negative for it.
 
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