Pet Insurance Cost Cutting System/MoneySavingExpert.com Discussion

Savvy_Sue

I shall merge this into our existing Cost Cutting thread.

Bromley86

minimoneysaver wrote: »

I am looking at getting a Jack Russell puppy and wondered if you could please point me in the right direction of the best dog insurance?
Many thanks in advance.

PetPlan, but you'll likely pay more than the others.

hethmar

If you read the thread back the last few pages you can see we have discussed the best companies. As Bromley says Petplan is the oldest established company but will cost more than the others.

Llyllyll

I have 2 Siamese who are now both 9 years and 4 months old. Over the last couple of months one has developed an enlarged heart as is being treated for it.

The current policy is Direct Line's essential cover one which covers up to £4000 fees per condition (not per year as well). If I don't renew this policy I think that I can still make future related claims against this policy for up to a year from the date that I first claimed. Has anyone here been in a similar situation and if so, is my understanding correct?

I'm thinking of not renewing the policy with DL as it's just shot up from £18.50 pm (for both cats) to £26.89.

I accept that the premiums may go up for an older pet but for that I would like a policy that includes cover for fees per condition and per year.

A cursory check at MoneySupermarket shows that 'E&L Moneysupermarket Exclusive Gold Older' might be better (and cheaper) but I'd welcome any other suggestions - I'm off to check PetPlan now...

Thanks,
Llyllyll


Edit - Just got a quote from M&S for their premium cover. It's £11 per cat and includes cover for fees per condition and per year. If I take out 2 separate policies I will also get £18 per policy via Quidco.

hethmar

Dont touch E and L!!!

Go for the M and S but the problem is you wont be covered for the condition you have already claimed for. And Im sure you wont be able to claim on your previous policy.

thomas18

After weeks and weeks of deliberating over what policy to get for my 4 month old lab, I've decided to go with Axa, at £19/month with £50 excess.

I was very tempted to go with petguard which was cheaper, but was put off purely by them being fairly new, and a bit of an unknown quantity. My number one choice petplan was unaffordable.

My advice for anyone about to take a policy out, is to be very careful, and take time out to read the T&Cs very carefully.

I am sure many people have been caught out thinking that their policy is 'per life' covered and have found out to their cost that it is in fact 'per conditioned' cover due to the misleading wording of these policies.

As stated earlier the main insurers who do seem to offer genuine life cover are :

Axa, Petplan, Petguard, Halifax, HSBC, and NFU.

You can use the defaqto comparison tool to help compare policies.

http://www.defaqto.com/consumer/insurance/pet/compare-dog.aspx

Dont forget Quidco offer cashback on some of those insurers mentioned.

chocolatepennyfarthing

shoud petpals be inc in genuine life cover list?

hethmar

Yes, they appear to be lifetime cover but I cant understand why Ive never heard of them before when they say they have been insuring pets for 21 years? Theres also Pet Protect but they are also expensive.

Bromley86

Llyllyll wrote: »

If I don't renew this policy I think that I can still make future related claims against this policy for up to a year from the date that I first claimed. Has anyone here been in a similar situation and if so, is my understanding correct?

Not sure if you're asking what I think you're asking, but basically if you are not paying the company every month (or if you haven't paid them the entire premium up front in a single lump sum), then you are not covered and they will not pay any claims.

So wait until you've used up that £4k before moving if you're expecting ongoing treatment as no other insurer will cover the pre-existing condition.

Of course, there should be nothing to stop you moving the other cat. If they're on a joint policy, check with DL first.

Finally, I think that DL will require you to pay for the remainder of the full year when you move. Probably not an issue for you as you appear to be near renewal time anyway.

EDIT: Just looked at the policy and I see what you were asking now. It is limited to 12 months from the date of the first treatment (not claim).

Llyllyll

Bromley86 wrote: »

Not sure if you're asking what I think you're asking, but basically if you are not paying the company every month (or if you haven't paid them the entire premium up front in a single lump sum), then you are not covered and they will not pay any claims.

So wait until you've used up that £4k before moving if you're expecting ongoing treatment as no other insurer will cover the pre-existing condition.

Of course, there should be nothing to stop you moving the other cat. If they're on a joint policy, check with DL first.

Finally, I think that DL will require you to pay for the remainder of the full year when you move. Probably not an issue for you as you appear to be near renewal time anyway.

EDIT: Just looked at the policy and I see what you were asking now. It is limited to 12 months from the date of the first treatment (not claim).

The policy with DL is paid for by DD over 12 months. All payments have been made up to date (the final payment was made at the beginning of this month) so the policy premium has been paid in full.

Am I correct in saying then that follow up claims (obviously only relating to the current claim for the enlarged heart) should still be covered from the date of 1st treatment (June 08) by the DL policy, even if I don't renew with them from beginning of September?

I will avoid E & L then, thanks for the info. I've had a good quote from M&S (£11.80 per cat - premium policy) and they are are also on Quidco. Didn't think of Axa so will try them now.

Thanks for all the advice.