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 Swiffer PIcker Upper
Posts: 4015
Location: Four Corners Colorado | I am looking for no hassle mortality and major medical equine insurance. Who do you use and have you ever had issues with claims. I am specifically looking for reviews from people who have had claims. I don't want to pay large monthly premiums just to have them dump me if I have to file a claim. I've heard way to many horror stories. |
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  Neat Freak
Posts: 11216
  
Location: Wonderful Wyoming | It's all about who they use as their claims adjusters. I liked LCI for their office ladies. But out of 5 claims made, 5 different horses. I got royally screwed on 2. Those horses were not cut and dry death cases, but horses needed put down. One was called pre-existing when vet could have had no idea, it was just speculation. Other was a horse they knew had a knee injury as a 5 yr old. Finally needed put down to ease his pain at 14. The adjusters seemed to be shocked that a knee injury would/could turn to arthritis. Guess I had no idea a knee injury would NOT turn to arthritis. So again after paying my premiums for 9 yrs I was denied.
The ones paid were a young stud that rolled and hit his head killing himself instantly. Vet confirmed, claim was paid. Another was a mare that went on walk-about. I figured she had fell in a sink hole and had died. Insurance was prepared to pay within 30 days if I gave them her reg papers. She showed up 2 days later. 3rd was a cut on my gelding's foot. They covered the vet cost over my deductible...but that leg was no longer covered by insurance. Not saying I won't use them, but as with any insurance I think they make their money by getting out of paying our claims.
I'm trying out a new insurance on my hunter/jumper. So far I am blown away by his customer service. |
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Industrial Srength Barrel Racer
Posts: 7268
| I'm starting to think it's a big, fat rip off. I had insurance on 2 of my horses for YEARS and thankfully never had a claim. I had to drop insurance once they got past a certain age (I think 15) because it quadrupled in price. If I would have just put away all that premium money I paid. I would have been FAR ahead - BUT, my horses weren't $40,000 horses either. I think it's just a gamble and it depends on what you can afford to lose. (Sorry, I didn't answer your question, I'm off my soapbox now)!  |
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Regular
Posts: 85
| I use Justin Insurance, they underwrite with Great American and I have always had great service and hassle-free claims. I had a surgery on a horse last year and they contacted me frequently and left his claim open until I was ready to close it. They also have options when it comes to medical endorsements. |
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 Member
Posts: 8
Location: Washington | Hi :) I am an agent and claims are really the reason I have a job. Our service can be great, but how a claim is handled is what matters.
There are two big things about Equine Mortality that are different from your normal insurance policies (Home, Auto etc). First, Equine Mortality is not meant to cover a replacement horse. It is meant to cover the monetary investment made in the horse. Which typically is purchase price plus any additional training. I see a lot of upset when I can't insure a horse for 20K when they paid 5K a year ago to purchase the horse. The value of what the horse could sell for, it much different than what I can insure it for. Exceptions, of course, will always exist.
Secondly, attention to your policy and the loss conditions are extremely important. There is a section in each policy that will out line what to do when a loss occurs and what losses will be paid. This will vary depending on what type of mortality policy you purchase (i.e. full v. limited). There may also be some costs incurred that will be the responsibility of the insured and not the carrier- for example, if a necropsy needs to be performed to determine cause of death, that may not be covered by the carrier and the policy may state that the insured has to pay for that.
I just encourage everyone to be frank with their agents and discuss the loss conditions with them so you are aware of what you are purchasing!
also, if you want a quote I can do that for you as well :) feel free to email me at [email protected]
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 Expert
Posts: 1463
Location: oklahoma | I would not use any insurance company that carries with Great American. I did not get my money. My vet agreed that I should and wrote many statements for me trying to help me. A few years before that I almost did not get my money for PRP treatment that was done. I had to work real hard to get it. they did deny it at first but finally after a long battle, I did get my money for that. |
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 Best of the Badlands
Location: You never know where I will show up...... | My mom has Wilkins. She had a horse get struck dead by lightning. The vet came and did the report (it was on a Sunday) and she had her claim check within a couple of weeks, no questions asked.
I have mine through Plains Horizon. They have been great. I had a mare colic and they paid for the colic surgery. I had the money within a couple of weeks for that. About a month post surgery, we have no idea why, but she started to founder. It was bad. I ended up having to have her euthanized. Again, had the vet reports and everything in order to back it all up, we buried her and a month later I was paid for her. It was a sad deal all the way around, I loved that mare. But having my investment protected helped the financial end of the situation, a lot. |
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Married to a Louie Lover
Posts: 3303
| cathyjowitters - 2016-11-29 11:24 AM
There are two big things about Equine Mortality that are different from your normal insurance policies (Home, Auto etc). First, Equine Mortality is not meant to cover a replacement horse. It is meant to cover the monetary investment made in the horse. Which typically is purchase price plus any additional training. I see a lot of upset when I can't insure a horse for 20K when they paid 5K a year ago to purchase the horse. The value of what the horse could sell for, it much different than what I can insure it for. Exceptions, of course, will always exist.
This is why we don't carry insurance on ours.
We bought them all as prospects and done the training ourselves. If we were to just stick the premium payments in a bank account over the years we'd have the money to cover the medical costs or replace them with another prospect (which is what we'd do if we lost hem, buy another $4000 prospect, not a $40,000 replacement).
We have liability on them under our homeowners, more to cover the worst case of them getting out on the highway nearby or something.
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Swiffer PIcker Upper
Posts: 4015
Location: Four Corners Colorado | Thank you all for the input I really appreciate it. |
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Porta Potty Pants
Posts: 2600
| My guy turns 16 .. was notified he is aging out. I used LCI with Preatorian. After reading the 'denied' claim ... I'm feeling like I wasted my money. Have never made a claim in the 4 years I owned him. |
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Tried and True
Posts: 21185
Location: Where I am happiest | rockinas - 2016-11-30 10:29 AM My mom has Wilkins. She had a horse get struck dead by lightning. The vet came and did the report (it was on a Sunday) and she had her claim check within a couple of weeks, no questions asked.
I have mine through Plains Horizon. They have been great. I had a mare colic and they paid for the colic surgery. I had the money within a couple of weeks for that. About a month post surgery, we have no idea why, but she started to founder. It was bad. I ended up having to have her euthanized. Again, had the vet reports and everything in order to back it all up, we buried her and a month later I was paid for her. It was a sad deal all the way around, I loved that mare. But having my investment protected helped the financial end of the situation, a lot.
We have Wilkins also and they have been great. Had 1 claim a couple months ago on a bad colic and had the check in about 2 weeks. |
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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 972
Location: Texas! | I have Wilkins and they covered my geldings Kissing spine surgery and diagnostics 100% after deductible and of course didn't cover injections. |
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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 999
Location: Sunny So Cal | Stacey Ciniquini is great!! He will go to bat for you and super knowledgeable! I have used him for many years. Usually most insurance companies drop you once your horse gets to a certain age but because my mare hadn't had issues and I had used them for years they were willling to extend the coverage on her. I know I couldn't go anywhere else and get coverage because of how old she is. He definitely tries to help you out any way he can. 949-289-4722 |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 788
| Cowgirl Kat - 2016-12-12 3:01 PM
Stacey Ciniquini is great!! He will go to bat for you and super knowledgeable! I have used him for many years. Usually most insurance companies drop you once your horse gets to a certain age but because my mare hadn't had issues and I had used them for years they were willling to extend the coverage on her. I know I couldn't go anywhere else and get coverage because of how old she is. He definitely tries to help you out any way he can. 949-289-4722
Who does she work for? Or is that the name of the company? |
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 The One
Posts: 7998
Location: South Georgia | I have used two; one I will recommend and one I will caution against.
Johnne Dobbs Equine Insurance is one I highly recommend. They were excellent with all my claims and were easy to talk to and had good rates.
Horse Insurance Specialists were nearly harassing with payment remeinders (after I had already paid, etc) and they were slow to pay claims. I would NOT recommend them.
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 Expert
Posts: 2489
Location: somewhere up north | Albracht Insurance http://albrachtinsurance.com/
We have used them for many years. Have had a handful of claims for major medical on for sure 3 different horses. Never had an issue getting refunded. Also a couple years ago we lost a gelding to a broken leg on the ice and that was sent out within a month after the event. Great service! They also carry farm and ranch and event insurance. |
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 Maine-iac
Posts: 3334
Location: Got Lobsta? | I have Hartford Insurance through Horse Insurance Specialist. All my claims were paid. Just had a $7000 claim and I received a check 4 days after I sent my bills, I was shocked! HOWEVER any time I've filed a claim, the condition that was paid out is automatically excluded the following year. One horse had a "maybe" hoof crack that could be a problem, we notified them as a heads up. Well nothing but a good shoeing job was done and nothing submitted for a claim. Since then the right hind foot is excluded from any coverage. My vet even wrote a letter stating no medical attention was needed, and still after 5 years that foot is not covered. |
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Neat Freak
Posts: 11216
Location: Wonderful Wyoming | Stacey Cinquini is who I used-Updating info on my claims for Audie who we had suspected wobblers. The first vet bill ($300 ish) with xrays and diagnostics I had to pay my deductible from that which left about $50 over and the sent that check right away. Then the CSU myelogram and several other diagnostics ran around $2700. I had to pay 30% co pay and within 2 weeks of mailing that vet bill to my adjuster, I received the check for just over $2000. I figure I have roughly $950 out of pocket cost which considering everything was very reasonable. With my particular case, I was sure it was wobblers and had I not had insurance, I am sure we would have euthenized him right away. With insurance came the ability to continue checking into the issue, we found it was literally just muscle strain/damage from who knows what. The dental procedure or even maybe the trailer ride home. Either way I was able to look into it more and have a happy ending. I can't/won't insure everything on the place but Audie had a real value that made it worth it.
My insurance adjuster was great to work with via email and on the phone. I felt like my agent had my back the entire time as well.
Edited by wyoming barrel racer 2017-09-21 5:52 PM
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 ...Dot Dot Dot...
Posts: 2064
Location: SW New Mexico | Lph88311 - 2016-11-30 8:57 AM
I use Justin Insurance, they underwrite with Great American and I have always had great service and hassle-free claims. I had a surgery on a horse last year and they contacted me frequently and left his claim open until I was ready to close it. They also have options when it comes to medical endorsements.
Glad to hear good things about Justin Insurance...
That's who I chose to insure Brother Dave.  |
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Expert
Posts: 1956
Location: Ky | jettster - 2017-09-22 8:32 AM Lph88311 - 2016-11-30 8:57 AM I use Justin Insurance, they underwrite with Great American and I have always had great service and hassle-free claims. I had a surgery on a horse last year and they contacted me frequently and left his claim open until I was ready to close it. They also have options when it comes to medical endorsements. Glad to hear good things about Justin Insurance... That's who I chose to insure Brother Dave.
Justin is just the marketer. The insurance company they use is Great American.
But the agent can go a long way in getting claims paid. Especially if they do a large volume of business with a particular company. |
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