Looking for Advice on Pet Insurance!
I initially enrolled in Insurance A’s Benefit Schedule plan because it covered wellness care and my dog’s pre-existing condition, despite its limited overall coverage. However, after dealing with numerous denied or poorly handled claims from Insurance A, I decided to add Insurance B in hopes of obtaining better and more comprehensive coverage.
Unfortunately, Insurance B has also categorized some of my visits as “wellness” or labeled conditions as “pre-existing.” Despite this, because Insurance B offers a higher level of coverage and larger payout limits, I need to keep it for potential catastrophic situations—like if my dog eats something harmful, is involved in an accident, or faces another major medical emergency, similar to what we experienced in 2024.
As Insurance B is my primary provider and Insurance A is secondary, I filed a claim with Insurance B for around $5,000 in late 2024. What ensued was a frustrating ordeal of back-and-forth communication, endless requests for documentation, and multiple denials citing a lack of “all available records.” They mentioned that certain pre-existing conditions were “expiring,” but it felt more like they were trying to impose additional exclusions.
Stressed and anticipating a denial, I submitted the same claim to Insurance A in January, just before my plan renewed. The response was incredibly different—Insurance A reimbursed me approximately $1,000 within three days, no questions asked. While it didn’t cover the entire amount due to their payout limits, it was a relief to receive something.
Fast forward to late February, and Insurance B finally processed my claim, albeit reluctantly. Once both reimbursements were completed, I discovered that I had been overpaid by about $600 in total. I promptly contacted Insurance A to notify them, and I’m now working on returning the excess payment.
Typically, I submit claims to just one insurance provider to avoid double claiming, but given my ongoing veterinary expenses and my expectation that Insurance B would deny my claim, I felt it was necessary to submit to both.
My Concerns:
– Will Insurance A inform Insurance B about my dual coverage?
– Is there a risk that Insurance B might cancel my policy if they find out I’m keeping Insurance A strictly for wellness and pre-existing condition coverage?
– Is there any reason Insurance A would reach out to Insurance B?
I’d greatly appreciate any insights or experiences from those knowledgeable about insurance or pet insurance! Thank you!
It sounds like you’ve been through quite a complex situation with your pet insurance! Here are some thoughts on your concerns:
Will Insurance A notify Insurance B about my dual coverage?
Generally, insurance companies do not communicate with each other about individual policyholders due to privacy regulations. However, it’s not impossible that Insurance A could reach out to Insurance B if they had reason to do so—like in cases of potential fraud or industry audits. But in most everyday situations, they are likely to remain unaware of your other policy.
Could Insurance B cancel my policy if they find out I kept Insurance A solely for wellness and pre-existing condition coverage?
Cancellation usually happens if there’s evidence of fraud, non-disclosure, or if they find that you deliberately omitted significant information about your coverage. As long as you’ve been honest about your claims and haven’t attempted to double-dip (which you clearly have been careful to avoid), it is unlikely that they would cancel your policy just because you have another insurance plan for specific coverages.
Is there any reason Insurance A would reach out to Insurance B?
Normally, there wouldn’t be a reason for them to contact each other unless there was a specific need to validate information about claim payments. In a dual coverage scenario, it’s usually the responsibility of the policyholder to ensure they report the correct information and coordinate benefits appropriately.
Given that you’ve been transparent in your communications, the key takeaway is to keep detailed records and continue to follow the guidelines for submitting claims. Consider reviewing the fine print of both insurance policies as well, to ensure that you understand the nuances of what’s covered and how overlapping policies might be handled. Additionally, you might want to reach out to both insurance companies directly to clarify any specific concerns you have regarding your situation. Good luck!