let's see what you make of that, you dirty little bastards...how hard do I need to squeeze your balls?
In the ongoing and drama filled saga of my battle with a pet insurance company, here is the fun filled email that I have just sent them (for those not in NZ, "Fair Go" is a high rating television show that confronts merchants of the universal "rip off" and gets them to fix the issue):
As discussed in previous emails and during today's telephone conversation I believe that, even although you have sought a veterinarian review of Lucy's case, that your decision is incorrect.
As I have repeatedly stated throughout this process I am not claiming for the dental work that has been undertaken. I am well aware of the fact that dental is not covered.
What I am claiming for are the costs resulting from the bleed, where we nearly lost Lucy. This resulted in hospitalisation, medication, 2 bags of plasma and our veterinarian staying at the clinic overnight for three nights (it was at the point where another dog had been prepped for a transfusion and we had been advised to be ready to go to the clinic and say our goodbyes - this sort of bleed does not happen from dental extraction).
As I also mentioned in previous emails, there are a few points that need to be clarified and I believe it can be successfully shown that this event is not related to dental work:
1. Lucy has had dental work before, including an extraction, and no bleeding was evident. This would suggest that trauma as a result of dental work was not the cause of the bleed.
2. The fact that Lucy, as pointed out in the report, is on Carprieve and that there is some anecdotal evidence of this causing bleeding, as per your report. Carprieve is an arthritis medication and as such I believe that arthritis and it's treatment is covered by your policies. I believe that it could be argued that the bleed was related to the arthritis and the treatment of it, and therefore should be covered.
3. The antidote for rat bait was administered as a "last ditch" attempt to stop the bleeding, rather than for suspected poisoning. For you to suggest or even imply that we may have poisoned our dog is laughable, not to mention insulting. Rat poison works by making the victim haemorrhage - therefore, in an attempt to stem Lucy's bleeding, the antidote was given as a "last ditch" attempt to save her.
4. The phrase in your "independent" report "without knowing the definitive reason for a possible bleeding disorder" is a tenuous link at best to an excuse for not paying, as are the phrases "no definitive diagnosis" and "might have been". This more than strongly suggests that there is no definitive, certain way to link the bleed and resulting care to the dental work, which once again, and as stated every time I have contacted Southern Cross, I am not claiming for, but rather for the medication, plasma and hospitalisation. In fact, the copy of the invoice that I have sent with the claim is for the plasma, hospitalisation, medication and care of Lucy during this event and not for dental work at all.
5) Also attached is a lab report from Massey University that clearly shows deficiencies in the blood and not related at all to any dental work or surgery.
I look forward to hearing from yourself or Anthony in due course with a decision. If this is not resolved to my satisfaction and with definitive, incontrovertible proof that this bleed was caused by and clearly related to the dental work I will not hesitate to take the matter further - I am quite prepared to continue through to the Ombudsman and, as another option, Fair Go.
I am a confirmed and certifiable nutbar with a penchant for skulls, bones, blood, guts, fire and anything slightly peculiar and mostly bizarre. I also...
Some so called people just keep asking for it, don't they. They are always right. Until they are not. Give much love to Lucy and, to keep things in balance, deal with the insurance company with similar passion.
@vignouse If I can't befuddle them with words I have to rely on my devilish good looks... @domenicododaro That works for me :) @swillinbillyflynn Thank you sir, updates to follow when they finish quaking @gamelee Thank you and yes...that's a good idea @maggiemae They bloody well better or I'll have a jolly good sulk @gazdi I do like a good verbal assault on the pompous ;) And Lucy says thanks. @hermann Thank you kindly - when we get an answer an update will be forthcoming!
What a perfectly worded email. Good luck with that - insurance companies are such a delight - not! Fair Go usually gets results even if it is just the 'fear' of going to Fair Go. Glad Lucy is ok though. Send the photo.
It's the same the world over. Good luck. I am sure you will win your claim, especially if it goes to the ombudsman. Poor Lucy, is she better now? Insurance companies make you sick, they look for any little excuse not to pay up. You sock it to them. You have quite a few images in your portfolio which you could send to scare them into paying you!
@jclaireyp Not half as evil as I can be ;) @shepherdmanswife Lucy is fine now and I'm having quite fun with this collection of clowns ;) @kiwinanna Thank you - hopefully it won't get that far but I certainly won't be the one to back down!
Bastards!!!!! Hair-splitting, miserable, legalistic bastards. A pox be upon them and all their houses. Alternatively, may they suffocate in their own red-tape and warped minds. Give Lucy a big hug from me.
All power to your elbow Graeme, if these b......insurance companies can wriggle out of paying they will do, keen enough to take our money but tight as they can be when there is any likelyhood they may have to part with any money! You read all the time in the paper & hear on the news that if you actually go down the route of newspapers, tv etc they cave in.......be persistent! Good job Lucy is oblivious to all this!
Insurance companies by nature are the DEVIL! I've fought with them from employer side, and patient side- you flipping must be vigilant with the on going issue and not let them gain the upper hand. Most people do not bother with the fight, so don't give them a flipping inch!!!! You continue to fight for Lucy and your sanity.
@hrs Indeed...but they're all on holiday now so here's waiting as well ;) @northy That'll be a few weeks away but blimey, this is fun! @radiogirl With a sock full of ball bearings. @jgpittenger Yes, all in a row as well. @ingrid2101 Yes, and yet without it...but they doesn't make them any less of a bastard @joysabin I'm having a ball and I think that will be their downfall...they have no idea how much fun I'm having! @pistache My Christmas spirit is quite fine...theirs could do with some work... @happypat Lucy is fine and I'm having far too much fun with this! @golftragic Done (she says thanks) and yes, may the fleas of a thousand camels infest their armpits. @bill_fe There may well be a hint of a smile...I am having quite some fun ;)
I have had dogs all my life Graeme,never had insurance on any. I have been lucky in only having taken three of my dogs to the vet but it did cost a lot, if I had been paying insurance over all the years I had dogs it would have cost a furtune, our Paddy ( Fox Terrier ) as Bladder Cancer and is on Medecation that's expensive, but we will give him the best no matter what it cost, Good Luck Graeme.
@tonygig I've never done the maths as I know I'd be wasting money - our two are prone to injuring themselves but even so I'm reasonably certain that some lucky shareholder has been living the high life with my help! Lucy has Discoid Lupus as well but we keep her running and do the best we can. @susale Thanks very much :) @salza It's no fun...but dealing with these clowns is...
@domenicododaro That works for me :)
@swillinbillyflynn Thank you sir, updates to follow when they finish quaking
@gamelee Thank you and yes...that's a good idea
@maggiemae They bloody well better or I'll have a jolly good sulk
@gazdi I do like a good verbal assault on the pompous ;) And Lucy says thanks.
@hermann Thank you kindly - when we get an answer an update will be forthcoming!
@shepherdmanswife Lucy is fine now and I'm having quite fun with this collection of clowns ;)
@kiwinanna Thank you - hopefully it won't get that far but I certainly won't be the one to back down!
@northy That'll be a few weeks away but blimey, this is fun!
@radiogirl With a sock full of ball bearings.
@jgpittenger Yes, all in a row as well.
@ingrid2101 Yes, and yet without it...but they doesn't make them any less of a bastard
@joysabin I'm having a ball and I think that will be their downfall...they have no idea how much fun I'm having!
@pistache My Christmas spirit is quite fine...theirs could do with some work...
@happypat Lucy is fine and I'm having far too much fun with this!
@golftragic Done (she says thanks) and yes, may the fleas of a thousand camels infest their armpits.
@bill_fe There may well be a hint of a smile...I am having quite some fun ;)
@susale Thanks very much :)
@salza It's no fun...but dealing with these clowns is...