What happens if my pet has medical insurance?

  • There are many pet insurance providers and the cover that they offer varies considerably; here are a few pointers to help you if you have insurance for your pet.
  • Please remember: it is your responsibility to check with your insurance company that your pet is covered for the treatment provided. For reasons of client data confidentiality, we are not allowed to do this on your behalf.
  • Insurance cover varies widely - please ensure that you understand all the details of your policy. If you are in any doubt about any aspects please contact your insurers for clarification (see the list of phone numbers for the major insurers below).
  • Not all insurance companies provide the same level of cover and some companies only provide cover for a limited time period (usually 12 months). Please note therefore that you will be responsible for any shortfall in the insurance payment.
  • Settlement of an insurance claim is often delayed if your own vet has not submitted their claim for your pet's illness. Please ensure that this is submitted as soon as possible. It is also helpful for us to be aware of the amount that has already been spent so that we can advise you of any potential shortfall in your insurance cover.

 

Contacting your Pet Insurers

Animal Friends - 0844 557 0300
Argos - 0845 602 6764
Churchill - 0800 917 7863
Direct Line - 0845 246 8705
E & L - 0844 980 9400
Marks & Spencer - 0800 980 8750
More Than - 0800 107 1893
Sainsburys - 0800 434 6359
Tesco - 0845 300 2200
Pet Plan - 0845 074 4406
Pet Protect - 0870 243 0099

Will DWR claim my pet's fees directly from my insurance company?

We normally expect owners to settle the fees for their pet's treatment directly with us; however, if you have pet insurance we are sometimes able to arrange direct payment of insurance claims for owners subject to the following Terms and Conditions:

In order for us to be able to arrange direct payment of accounts by your insurance company we ask you to provide the following information:

  • A completed claim form
  • A valid certificate of insurance detailing:
  • the level of cover
  • any excess that you are liable for
  • Credit or debit card details (for any shortfall)

We regret that without the above items we cannot offer direct payment settlements.

Please ask to make arrangements for direct claims at the time of the initial consultation. It may not be possible to arrange this once investigations or treatment have begun

N.B. Unfortunately, we are not able to offer direct payment arrangements for clients insured with E & L or NFU insurance companies.

What happens if my insurance company does not settle the claim?

  • In the event that your insurance company declines to settle your claim, or any part of it, for any reason you remain liable for the costs of treatment.

What happens if my pet does not have medical insurance?

  • We ask you to settle your account with us in full on collection of your pet or at the end of a consultation-only appointment.
  • Cash, debit and most major credit cards are accepted; unfortunately, we cannot accept payment by cheque or American Express card.

 

Please see our terms and conditions.