Pet Insurance Cost Cutting System/MoneySavingExpert.com Discussion

MissMuppet

Just thought I would mention, I have pet insurance for my cat through Tesco... have done since I got him 3 years ago! The monthly payment now is £6.70 and I couldn't find anything better with the same cover. I claimed last year and got the money back within a month which I didn't think was too bad, it was only a small claim though.

Bromley86

Slight correction to Hethmar. The Platinum policy by Argos is, surprisingly, a proper lifetime policy that renews. It's a shame that there's not a sticky list of these types of policy because it's easy to make that mistake. The other thing is that it's administered and underwitten by the same companies as those that do the Halifax policy and, from experience, I can say they're great.

The Tesco policy is a lifetime, limited per condition, non-renewing policy with £4k per condition.

EDIT: I was wrong - the Platinum cover is like the MoreThan cover i.e. for life, but limited per condition.

hethmar

Just to make it clear - NO ARGOS POLICY IS "FOR LIFE" COVER

But I do think this companies should make it absolutely clear what the cover is - so many people must think they are safe and covered when they arent. Its very wrong.

MSSH

Could you give the name of the drug that was used in HK, please?

MSSH

Bossyboots wrote: »

Hi Red_Elle.

My dog is a Yorkshire Terrier. We had two litter brothers but sadly lost one 18 months ago. When the vet told me four years ago that they could live until age 20, I did not believe him. I never dreamed we would have all these precious years. I don't know what the secret is, he is the last of his litter.

One of the problems these dogs have is their back legs going. However, our vet worked in Hong Kong for a while and there is a drug on the market which is used here to treat a throat cartlidge problem but in HK to treat arithritic failing legs. It worked like a miracle on our other little dog but at that time it was not actually licensed in the UK for that use. We are going to pop along to the vet to discuss our other little one having the same treatment as he is now beginning to have the same problem. These injections initially need to be given weekly and are then spread out and the insurance will pay for those.

Could you give me the name of the HK drug,please, as my dog has the same prognosis.
Thank you, MSSH

planetf1

Question about AXA pet insurance....

The main section for VETS bills appears to be //per period of insurance//

However when looking at the detailed policy I noticed

Veterinary Fees (per Period of Insurance)
– Complementary Treatment (per Condition)
– Behavioural Problems (per Condition)
– Clinical Diet (per Condition)
– Overseas Veterinary Fees (per Condition)
– Cremation

Now, given that the (per Condition) designation is a sub-bullet, I assume this is just clarifying how the total fees per period can be used.

I'll ask them on the phone, but if anyone else has experience please let me know. Everywhere else the policy seems very focussed on per period so hopefully I'm ok ;-)

olivier_wery

Hi there, I have two young cats (tabbies, Gianni and Donna). Donna had an accident at the weekend and got a broken leg. I have had my insurance with AFI (www.animalfriends.co.uk), which was recommended by the RSPCA, where i got the kittens from. It used to be underwritten by E&L, who seems to have a pretty bad reputation. My cat was in such a bad state after her fall that the vet sent her to the Royal Animal Hospital in Potters Bar. There, they also told me to brace myself, as E&L seems to be a pain to deal with.
In the meantime AFI changed underwriter and went to Red Sand. That sparked a series of angry letters to all customers from E&L claiming that AFI was trying to fob us! Hence angry replies from AFI claiming now that E&L has been giving grief to customer....
So... now I am very worried as the change of underwriter takes place on the first of august, the accident happened last saturday on the 20th of July. The surgery will cost around 2.5k gbp, which I am only covered for 2k... and the hospital told me that they cannot claim directly from E&L so will have to cash out first and wait for the money back. Hospital was also fairly dismissive of the quality of E&L....
Can someone share their thoughts on how to handel E&L, and personal experience with Animal Friendly Insurance? thanks.

pboae

Have a read through this thread about the changes at AFI
http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=1014861

I can't think of anything positive to say about E&L so I won't say anything at all. Your best bet is to contact AFI and ask them where you stand.

Long term the change of underwriters has to be a good thing, because the new underwriters can only be an improvement.

planetf1

planetf1 wrote: »

Question about AXA pet insurance....

The main section for VETS bills appears to be //per period of insurance//

However when looking at the detailed policy I noticed

I went with Axa anyway, as the main cover is per year -- however some of the ancilliary benefits do indeed seem per condition when reading the policy in detail.

So just a little caveat, but still worth IMO.

mjvale

MSE_Archna wrote: »

This thread relates to the article Pet Insurance Cost Cutting System.

Click reply to discuss.

My advice is NEVER automatically renew. I am with MORETHAN. Got renewal quote. Went to their site through a cashback site. Quote was £20 cheaper for exactly same policy than renewal quote and also £10 cashback -- so £30 cheaper. Clearly customer loyalty costs the customer a packet! DO NOT GER RIPPED OFF