Dog insurance - I've messed up Big Time

olibrofiz · 28 January 2009 at 4:17PM

.....I think, in fact I'm sure.

When we got our rehome in August I acted on advice on the boards and got a life time cover with £7000 per year, renewed each year. Great. Thought I had the same with my other dogs policy ... and now I need it ... and realise it's £6000 per condition. She's been at the vets since yesterday evening and it's £1000 so far.

I told the vet the limit amount and stressed it was per condition and that I wanted the best for the doggie but to bear in mind that I wanted to keep costs down as if she pulls through, fingers crossed, she'll need continuing treatment.

So, do vets run up the bill if the animals insured? And I'm wondering if the insurance co will cancel the policy when it's due for renewal in April (can't see anything on the policy) It's with Virgin. Anyone any experience with their pet plans? I have this horrible feeling I've made a huge mistake.

Feefee_4 · 28 January 2009 at 4:31PM

Hi,

Hope your doggie is ok. Mine is ill at the moment back at the vets tonight. The most i've ever claimed in one go was £2000 & had no problems still with the same company there was no problem at renewal infact it did not even go up the year after. I'm sure it will be ok, the vets should not bump the cost up because you have insurance but do everything they can to get your dog better. They have to fill the form in & justify the cost anyway.

Hope you doggie is better soon.

Feefee

UKTigerlily · 28 January 2009 at 4:39PM

olibrofiz wrote: »

.....I think, in fact I'm sure.

When we got our rehome in August I acted on advice on the boards and got a life time cover with £7000 per year, renewed each year. Great. Thought I had the same with my other dogs policy ... and now I need it ... and realise it's £6000 per condition. She's been at the vets since yesterday evening and it's £1000 so far.

I told the vet the limit amount and stressed it was per condition and that I wanted the best for the doggie but to bear in mind that I wanted to keep costs down as if she pulls through, fingers crossed, she'll need continuing treatment.

So, do vets run up the bill if the animals insured? And I'm wondering if the insurance co will cancel the policy when it's due for renewal in April (can't see anything on the policy) It's with Virgin. Anyone any experience with their pet plans? I have this horrible feeling I've made a huge mistake.

The Insurance company won't cancel the policy unless you stop paying the premiums, it *may* go up on renewal but not necessarily because you claim, they tend to like to do that anyway :rolleyes:

I think with the Vet being aware of the limit they'll do all they can to help, i've read here (By an actual Vet) that I think there's often more than one way to do things & often cheaper ways to achieve the same or similar results. I know some Vets might go all out with treatments but I think that's generally if it's Pet Plan & they claim direct but i'm not sure. I'm sure £6,000 will be enough, what has the Dog done? I do hope she will be ok! Is the Vet able to provide an estimate for treatment?

olibrofiz · 28 January 2009 at 4:56PM

Thanks. Hope you're right, daren't ring Virgin just now cos I'm waiting for the vet to call.

Doggie was diagnosed with autoimmune hemolytic anemia last night and with that there's a 50/50 chance of surviving. They're xraying and doing an ultrasound to see if there's an underlying cause, like a tumour. Sooo upset right now.

This is a moneysaving chat too - paying a bit extra for a premium with life cover and other benefits is so worth it. I'm just a bit distressed that I didn;t.

foreign_correspondent · 28 January 2009 at 4:58PM

good luck to you and your dog x

UKTigerlily · 28 January 2009 at 5:07PM

olibrofiz wrote: »

Thanks. Hope you're right, daren't ring Virgin just now cos I'm waiting for the vet to call.

Doggie was diagnosed with autoimmune hemolytic anemia last night and with that there's a 50/50 chance of surviving. They're xraying and doing an ultrasound to see if there's an underlying cause, like a tumour. Sooo upset right now.

This is a moneysaving chat too - paying a bit extra for a premium with life cover and other benefits is so worth it. I'm just a bit distressed that I didn;t.

I'm so sorry, please keep us updated. Don't be too hard on yourself, the point is you DID take out Insurance & it's a minefield TBH, £6,000 is alot, hopefully enough. It's hard I know, my Dog isn't too wonderful right now but should be fine, I hope yours is too x

lowis · 28 January 2009 at 5:34PM

i found that my vet worked witin my annual limits when my cat had cancer - the treatment was very expensive and he was aware that i did not have much money beyond that offered by the insurance policy.

so sorry to hear about your doggie x

simontheiceman · 28 January 2009 at 10:10PM

olibrofiz wrote: »

Thanks. Hope you're right, daren't ring Virgin just now cos I'm waiting for the vet to call.

Doggie was diagnosed with autoimmune hemolytic anemia last night and with that there's a 50/50 chance of surviving. They're xraying and doing an ultrasound to see if there's an underlying cause, like a tumour. Sooo upset right now.

This is a moneysaving chat too - paying a bit extra for a premium with life cover and other benefits is so worth it. I'm just a bit distressed that I didn;t.

The good news is that AIHA is very manageable and the costs do decline quickly, so unless lots of unnecessary blood tests are being done you would hope that the long term is more sane.

I have no experience of Virgin pet insurance but it would depend on the underwriter e.g. Allianz underwrite PetPlan. The underwriter will often give a clue as to the way the insurer will do business.

UKTigerlily · 28 January 2009 at 10:15PM

Think the underwriters are UK Insurance LTD, not heard of them but hopefully it'll be fine, any news yet?

hethmar · 29 January 2009 at 12:10AM

So sorry to hear about your dog. Im sure the vet will do his best to keep within the costs. Just lets pray she does pull through.

I think these insurers need a rocket. The number of people who are caught by this, thinking they are covered for life when its just per condition. Its so wrong. Virgin cant cancel your policy if you pay the premium.

cocoluvsmummy · 29 January 2009 at 2:42PM

you need to keep your policy going as it will cover you for any other condition that your dog may have to claim for not related to this claim and by cancelling it it will leave you wide open to those things.

I made the same stupid mistake as you when i took my policy out, we are now over the cliam limit and luckily the costs are now reducing as we have to pay ourselves (we have saved a lot by shopping around for medication and buying dressings off the internet instead of via the vets and dressing the wound ourselves instead of attending the vets surgery) When the policy has renewed this year an extra £1000 has been addeded ontot he limit as well so we have a little bit to play with, but are not using that atm incase of another more expensive operation being needed in a few years.
We still claim for another condition as it is a seperate condtion and the insurer has payed out with no problem over that as it is "per condition".

good luck with the treatment and knowing that cost may be an issue makes you keep on top of what is being done and the vets are usually happy to explain whats necessary and whats not necessary but maybe done in an ideal situation

Dog insurance - I've messed up Big Time

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