Pet Insurance Cost Cutting System/MoneySavingExpert.com Discussion

red_bertie

Having dumped M & S, spent 3 days on the 'phone and because my 5 are all oldies and any treatment they can get will probably be palliative and not curative, I went with Healthypets. The cost is far,far cheaper and you can pick from 3 levels of cover. Despite cautions mentioned on this thread, I found them efficient and I did get a policy document through very quickly. Hopefully I won't need to test their claim admin. I would certainly recommend them if anyone is in a similar position with old pets.

RB

debbiefletcher

I have been puzzling over all this for days. For my Samoyed, premiums with Petplan for their middle option which does continue to treat illnesses after a 12 month period (many don't) providing the policy is still live, is £33 a month, £400 a year, Tesco is a little cheaper, many were much more expensive, Argos was over £500. Apparently Pet plan is the only one to cover dental treatment.

vickyanne_2

Beware Animal Friends Insurance, as well as being underwritten by E&L they impose a vet fees contribution of 35% of the claim AS WELL AS the £49 excess once dogs get to 8 yrs old, by which time it's pretty much too late to get new cover.
I've just taken out (and cancelled) a policy with them when I read this in the policy document.
My other 2 dogs are with Pet Pals - not the cheapest but I can't fault their service, have claimed many times, often for ongoing conditions and trips to emergency out of hours 'Vets Now' (who charge an arm and a leg!) and always been paid out within a week with no quibbles. My dogs are 9 & 12 and obviously premums have increased over the years, but gradually, not the big rises some insurers are imposing.
Was just looking to see if I could save some money on insuring no.3 but looks like I'll stick with them. They give 10% discount on all policies for 3 or more pets.

debbiefletcher

I can't believe how premiums have gone up. 18 months ago I was charged just over £200 with Sainsburys for my Samoyed, she was 17 years old. Now our new pet of 7 years is over £400. i think I may just get basic insurance to be covered against public liability and then put away an amount each month for any extra expenses.

Thank you all for you advice.

Jenny1984

I have got a quote off of HSBC and on paper they look quite good. Offering 7,500 vets fees per year, exsess £75. Where as Halifax is a little lower at £6000 vets fees with an excess £50. I have looked on the net for customer reviews for HSBC and haven't been able to find any, so was wondering if anybody had had any dealings with them good or bad?

thanks

pboae

I don't know anyone with HSBC, it looks pretty good on paper and is underwritten by Norwich Union, who are generally OK. I'd be interested to know how long they've been offering pet insurance.

klane

Anyone got any advice? I'm going round in circles getting quotes and trying to decide who is best for our cat (approx 7-8yr old moggie - exact age unknown as she was a rescue cat). She has dental issues from her upbringing in her "previous
life" and I know these aren't covered by insurance from several hundred pounds of experience so far..

She was insured with Direct Line for around £12 a month, but despite no claims my renewal is now £14-15. I was considering Halifax, which is about £12 a month (Quidco also have a £20 cashback offer on them), based on their pet insurance extra policy (£152 /year).

Any advice grately received. I think Argos worked out as one of the cheapest, but I'd rather pay slightly more and make sure she was covered well - but without throwing money away pointlessly... I am trying to be an MSE, after all!

Jenny1984

pboae wrote: »

I don't know anyone with HSBC, it looks pretty good on paper and is underwritten by Norwich Union, who are generally OK. I'd be interested to know how long they've been offering pet insurance.

HSBC said they have only been providing insurance since september last year, and the reason that i couldn't find any customer reviews on them is because HSBC don't do the pet insurance side a company called Pet Partners do she said that have been going a lot longer than September last year. therefore would get reviews on them instead. Im not sure but i think they maybe from the states, Does anybody have any onfo?

thanks jen

beachbeth

aytch wrote: »

I am truly angry at M&S............. After reading a few times with mouth open......

Me too! I have been with M&S for 2 years and have put quite a few claims in as it happens (so I haven't got quite as much cause for complaint as you!) The first year was £11 with no excess and the second year £13 with no excess. My Pug (in my avatar) has had to have 2 eye operations and 2 leg operations for inherited conditions which in total cost about £5,000. We haven't had to fork out a penny so Ive been well pleased and have recommended M&S to other people.

However, I have had my renewal letter today (my current plan ends 22nd May) and the premium is rising to £17.99 with £70 excess. Trouble is she needs eye ointment for life which costs £40 every 6 weeks. So now my insurance won't cover this as the excess is £70. She has just had a follow-up appointment costing £112 which the insurance should hopefully pay for. However, the eye specialists want to see her again in December at the same cost and this time I will have to pay £70 towards it.

I don't know whether to stick around, change insurance, or just pay money into a savings account.

pboae

beachbeth, my dog has arthritis and is getting multiple treatments under one excess payment as it is all for the same 'condition', including his monthly medications, monthly check ups and 3 monthly injections. I'd have thought your eye specialist appointment would come under the same 'condition' as her ointment, so surely it would be covered by the excess payment you have already made. Do they have a different criteria for seeing specialists? If not, it would definitely be worth arguing it out with them.