Are you Covered?
If you already have your horse protected by insurance or are thinking about insurance, there are several things to consider and questions you should ask to make sure you are buying the most comprehensive policy. In essence, all horse mortality and medical/surgical insurance policies are not the same.
The basic policy provides Mortality & Theft coverage on your horse, usually starting with your purchase price. Training costs, performance, and pedigrees should also be considered when placing a limit on insurance.
Most policies include as part of the basic policy, “free” coverage for Emergency Colic Surgery. However, the limit offered varies. Some companies might include an annual limit of $3,000 to $5,000. The insurance program offered by Smith-Embry Insurance is up to a $6,000 annual limit of “free” colic surgery coverage.
The main difference with equine insurance falls under the Major Medical/Surgical which can be purchased to reimburse the policyholder for veterinary expenses incurred for treatment required for an injury, accident, illness or disease. Various annual limits are offered. The Major Medical/Surgical endorsement will require a per claim deductible.
One of the most important coverage differences as it pertains to Major Medical, are requirements of Co-Pays and/or Sub-Limits which are part of a claim settlement. Some companies require a 20% Co-Pay which is applied to the covered veterinary expenses after the deductible. This can greatly reduce any claim reimbursement. Sub-Limits are usually related to diagnostics such as radiographs, ultrasounds or an MRI. Many policies will only pay up to a certain limit for lameness treatment recommended by your veterinarian. These sub-limits can greatly reduce the treatment you would want for your horse or result in much higher out of pocket expenses for you. The policy offered by Smith-Embry has NO Co-Pay and NO Sub-Limits.
Another consideration is how long you will continue to be reimbursed for medical treatment required for your horse. Some policies might only provide coverage for 90-120 days from the date of the occurrence. Smith-Embry offers reimbursement for up to 12-months or 6-months for non-surgical lameness claims or until the policy limit of coverage has been reached.
If you are looking to insure your horse, ask a few questions. Make sure you are purchasing the best policy. Don’t wait until you have a claim to find out.
For more information or to get a quote call Smith-Embry at (502) 493-9911 or visit insurehorses.com
