1
out of 5
POSTED: | BY: Alex Miles
Two claims - two complete disasters
We have six pets insured by Figo and two have recently become ill. It seems some program or unqualified employee is scanning vet bills for terms like "wellness" in blood panels and auto-denying entire claims based on that.
No matter the reason for the visit.
A decent vet will order whichever blood panel has the required tests in it - in order to keep costs down. I could always ask the vet to order each test one at a time so that they have impressive sciency names like "hematocrit" and "blood urea nitrogen" or "calcium". The bill would be $1000 instead of $100 though. Seriously Figo, you'd prefer that?
"Its no problem" says the lady on the phone "you can appeal"?
Yeah actually, it IS a problem. I shouldn't have to. Figo - would it have killed you to read the reason for the visit. We were pretty clear about it on the claim. Would it have killed you to phone up the vet and check if you didn't believe us?
Take the second claim. We have a new cat. When I found it on the street six months ago it was covered in fleas and scabs from scratching at the fleas. I gave it flea treatment then took it to the vet for antibiotics and a check-up, paid for this all ourselves and the cat was well again. A couple months later I added her to our policy. A couple months after that and, still flealess - she suddenly started licking patches of fur off and acquired a heart murmur.
Hmm.. Could be kidneys, could be dermatitis could be any number of neuropathies. It is heartbreaking to watch the poor little creature scratch and lick herself raw till she bleeds and we don't know why. The vet doesn't know why. The hospital doesn't know why - so she was booked in for more tests this week.
Then Figo wades in. Claim denied. Code 4. Pre-existing condition.
We cancelled the tests. She either gets better on her own soon or she gets put to sleep.
Figo outsmarted the best doctors in Georgia (and I'm no slouch at this medical stuff myself) and beat everyone to the diagnosis. I am so impressed with Figo right now. I'll be even more impressed when they name this pre-existing condition.
Know what's most impressive of all? They call the plan we're on 'Ultimate'.