Leadon Vale Veterinary Centre strongly recommends to all pet owners to get pet insurance, as unexpected accidents and illnesses do happen to all pets throughout their lives and veterinary care can present an unplanned burden to your household finances.
We at Leadon Vale Veterinary Centre always do our utmost to keep our fees reasonable, while providing the highest possible veterinary care. Sometimes the veterinary bills can be high due to use of expensive modern technology. However our vets will always present you with various options available for your pets' treatment and the final decision is always yours. That's where pet insurance comes in handy. It means that you can choose the best available pet care and treatments, without having to worry about your finances. However, please be aware that there is usually an excess of between £60 and £100. Moreover, pet insurance policies do not cover routine or preventative health care such as vaccination, parasite control and neutering.
When choosing a pet insurance policy watch out for:
- A lifetime cover policy where cover for veterinary fees is provided up to a set amount which is renewed each policy year
- A policy where there is no time limit on how long you can claim for each illness/injury provided you renew the policy
- Whether the excess or premium will increase if you make a claim
- Whether the company will continue to insure your pet into old age or to cover ongoing conditions
- Whether the policy covers veterinary treatments such as hydrotherapy or physiotherapy
Making a Claim
Insurance claim forms should be presented for completion at the time of settling the bill with us. It is not our policy to process claims directly with your insurers. (We have Pet Plan claim forms available at our surgeries and it is our experience that claims are generally settled within a couple of weeks).
The claim form should be completed with your name, policy and pet details. Your vet will complete the section regarding diagnosis and treatment and provide a copy of your pet’s medical records and invoices for you to send to your insurers. This service is free of charge and usually completed within 2-3 working days. Should your pet have an ongoing condition we are happy to complete continuation claim forms as you present them. Your vet will be happy to discuss this further with you.
