Your policy number, the name of the insured, the horse's name, your vet's name and contact details, and what's actually wrong with the horse. The clearer you can be on the issue, the faster the team can route the call.
Making a claim
98% of Bascule claims result in payment under the terms of the policy. Here's how the claims process works.
Bascule's philosophy
Fair dealing in equine claims.
Where the customer has been honest and reasonable, and the loss is a real loss within the spirit of the coverage they purchased, we pay.
What we won't do
We do not look for reasons to deny.
A claim is judged by the spirit of the coverage, not the small-print loopholes around it.
- No technical breaches used to walk back a legitimate loss.
- No fishing-expedition investigations in search of a reason to refuse.
- No retrospective standards applied to conduct that was reasonable at the time.
What we do protect against
We do protect Bascule — but with a clear line.
Honest customers are not subsidising bad-faith conduct. Three things stay firmly out of scope.
- Fraud and non-disclosure of material facts.
- Negligent management contrary to veterinary advice.
- Forward-going risk exposure on horses whose health has materially changed.
How to make a claim
Four steps, in order.
Pick your line of coverage. Each path is four steps; the first step is the most important — everything else falls into place once the right people know what's happening.
- Step 0101
Contact your veterinarian.
Get your vet to the horse as quickly as possible. Bascule will work directly with them — your vet's records and assessment are the foundation of any claim.
If the situation involves potential humane destruction, do not proceed without Bascule's consent. We need to be involved in that decision. - Step 0202
Report it to us.
The fastest way to start a claim is online through the Bascule claims portal — available 24/7, no hold time. Have the details below ready and you can file in a few minutes.
Prefer to talk to someone? Call +1-877-474-5006 and press 1 for emergency claims. Available 24/7 — including evenings, weekends and holidays. After-hours, the line will route to R.J. Ketch Adjusting(our after-hours partner) if you select the emergency option, or take a message we'll respond to next business day for non-emergencies.
Have ready before you call- Your contact phone number
- Your policy number
- Name of the insured
- Name of the horse
- Your vet's name & contact
- What's wrong with the horse
- Step 0303
Arrange a necropsy, if needed.
In a mortality claim, a post mortem or necropsy is almost always required. Do not have the animal removed before that's been arranged. Bascule will coordinate with the vet and the lab.
In cases of theft, shooting, or vehicular involvement, also call the police and file a report.
- Step 0404
Submit the paperwork.
Bascule's claims team will tell you exactly what's needed. For mortality, that typically includes vet records, the necropsy report, and proof of ownership (a canceled check, wire transfer, or bill of sale). For medical claims, it's vet bills with itemised treatment notes.
- Step 0101
Protect your property & document the damage.
Your safety comes first. If anyone is injured, or the loss involves fire, theft, or vandalism, call 911 immediately.
Once it's safe to do so, take reasonable steps to prevent further damage by securing the property — this may include shutting off utilities, moving livestock to a safe location, or protecting damaged buildings from additional weather exposure.
Before beginning any clean-up or temporary repairs, thoroughly document the damage. Clear photos and video taken immediately after the loss can help expedite the claims process.
Be sure to capture- Wide-angle photos of all damaged buildings & structures
- Close-up photos of damaged property & personal belongings
- Serial numbers or identifying info for damaged or stolen equipment
- Livestock counts, condition, and any injuries or losses
- Weather conditions & the approximate time the loss occurred
- Names & contact information for any witnesses
Please keep damaged property whenever possible until your adjuster has had an opportunity to review the loss, or advises otherwise. - Step 0202
Report a claim immediately.
Please report your claim to IPG as soon as possible after a loss occurs, while the details are still fresh. Claims can be reported 24 hours a day, 7 days a week using any of the following methods.
Report your claim to IPG- Telephone: 501-228-0900
- Online: Submit a claim
- Email: NewAssignments@ipgclaims.com
- Mail: International Programs Group (IPG), P.O. Box 45058, Bryant, AR 72214
- Step 0303
Information needed to file a claim.
To help us process your claim as quickly as possible, please have the following information available.
Have ready when you report- Policy number
- Date and location of the loss
- Detailed description of what happened
- Contact information for the insured or person reporting the claim
- Contact information for any other parties involved
- Supporting documentation — estimates, invoices, photos, police reports, or other relevant documents
What happens next? Once your claim is received, it will be assigned to a licensed claims adjuster. After reviewing the information provided, the adjuster will contact you to discuss the claim, answer any questions, and explain the next steps in the claims process.
- Step 0101
Get medical care first.
For any serious injury, call 911 or get the worker to an emergency room without delay. For non-emergency injuries, send them to an authorized treating physician; check the posted notice in your workplace.
Never delay medical care to file paperwork first. The injured worker is the priority — paperwork follows. - Step 0202
Report the injury directly to the carrier.
Report the claim directly to the carrier within 24 hoursof the incident — most states require notice this quickly to avoid penalties. Bascule can't report on the insured's behalf: the injured worker has to supply their Social Security number, date of birth and injury details, and the carrier will direct them to the appropriate treatment provider and advise any state-specific treatment requirements. Reference your Bascule WC policy number when reporting.
Have ready before reporting- Injured worker's full name, DOB & SSN
- Date, time & location of injury
- Description of how it happened
- Body part(s) injured
- Witness names
- Treating physician / facility
- Step 0303
File the state First Report of Injury.
The carrier will prepare the state-required Employer's First Report of Injury (form name and deadline vary by state). Review it for accuracy, sign promptly, and post the required injured-worker notice in your workplace if you haven't already.
In OSHA-recordable incidents, also update your OSHA 300 log.
- Step 0404
Return-to-work & ongoing care.
Stay in regular contact with the worker and the carrier's claims adjuster. A documented light-duty / return-to-work plan— when medically appropriate — improves outcomes and contains claim cost. The carrier's nurse case manager will help coordinate treatment, lost-time benefits and any approved settlement.
Do and don't
Pulled straight from the Bascule claims binder.
A short, scannable checklist of the things that protect a claim — and the things that can compromise it. Keep this somewhere you can find at 2am.
✓Do
- Report the loss immediately on +1-877-474-5006 (press 1).
- Get your vet to the horse as quickly as possible.
- Arrange a post mortem or necropsy if there's been a fatality.
- Call the police if there's been theft, shooting, or vehicle involvement.
✕Don't
- Have the animal euthanized without Bascule's consent.
- Have the animal removed before a necropsy is completed.
- Skip the police report when one is needed (theft, shooting, vehicle).
- Wait for office hours — emergencies are answered 24/7.
$5,000 limit. No deductible, no co-pay. Available to horses 31 days through 23 years old. Covers surgery under general anesthesia, plus aftercare (limited to 50% of surgery cost or 15 days from surgery, whichever comes first).
Not offered to horses with a colic exclusion on the policy.
Coverage is subject to all policy terms and conditions, and no coverage is afforded until veterinary documentation has been reviewed.
The most common reasons: shockwave above the $1,200-per-incident sublimit; regenerative therapy above $3,000 per incident; gastric ulcer treatment without an endoscopic diagnosis; pre-existing conditions; routine or preventive charges; elective surgery; experimental or homeopathic treatments; joint injections (synovial fluid stimulators, corticosteroids, hyaluronic acid).
Your agent has the full common-exclusions list.
Got a claim?
Start your claim online, or call the emergency line.
The fastest way to file is through our online claims portal — available 24/7. For a true emergency you can always call and press 1 to reach the team direct.