Pet Insurance Cost Cutting System/MoneySavingExpert.com Discussion

missbargain

The latest "Which" magazine has the latest report on Pet Insurance.

They break it up by "Cats" and "Dogs", and also by the level of cover : "Top" and "Middle".

TOP LEVEL COVER FOR DOGS:

The best rated insurers are: AXA direct; Cardif Pinnacle; Halifax Extra; Harvington Services Internet Pets; Marx and Spencers; Petplan; Pet Protect; Saga super

MID LEVEL COVER FOR DOGS:

Argos Platinum; Direct Line Advanced; Esure Pet Plus; Healthy Pets Gold; Homebase Platinum; Liverpool Victoria Premier; More Than; Petwise Gold....

FOR CATS TOP LEVEL:

Exactly the same as for dogs

FOR CATS MID LEVEL:

First several insurers on the list are also the same as for dogs

NOTE: These are NOT the CHEAPEST covers, but those that Which magazine considers the best covers around for the money paid. They have apparently analysed 42 covers to come up with the list.

Of course, all of these categories are further broken down by different criteria, but the list is too long to copy down. But this list may give the starting point for someone.

Spider86

DannyGee wrote: »

Hi Chris,
Which insurer did you go with in the end as I have the same cross breed.
I would be quiet happy paying an excess - it's just the potential of a real big bill that worries me.
Thanks
Dan

I got my insurance from MoreThan. for £7.19/month. the original website quote was about £8, then they phoned me the next day so i just haggled with them a bit saying i had found a cheaper quote elsewere.

hethmar

Chris, More Than isnt a "for life" policy Im afraid.

Spider86

hethmar wrote: »

Chris, More Than isnt a "for life" policy Im afraid.

According to their website their insurance "will also cover you over the course of the treatment – there is no 12 month limit which may be the case with cheap pet insurance."
(http://www.morethan.com/Pages/Products/Pet/WhatWeCover.aspx)

Is this not lifetime cover?? as long as you stay with more than they will cover the costs of treatment and they also take "older pets".

lowis

Up to £7,000 vets fees cover for each and every new accident and illness. What’s more, your pet is covered for as long as they need the treatment, as long as they remain insured with MORE TH>N

if it is true 'for life' cover then the amount for vet fees will renew each year and your premiums will not be adjusted if you make any claims.

the above only gives you £7000 IN TOTAL for the duration of your insurance, it does not renew annually so is not true 'for life' cover - if your pet developed a condition that needed ongoing treatment, cancer for example, More Than would only pay out until the £7000 had run out, after that you would need to cover the costs yourself - this is not 'for life' cover. i recently claimed £12,000 over an 18 month period with petplan, for treating my cat who had cancer. If I had been insured with More Than I would have had to put her to sleep - or borrowed heavily on credit cards.

Spider86

Ahhhh i see. I presumed "for life" cover was such that it didn't just cover for 12 months.
I guess MoreThan is kind of half and half, because they do cover for the life of the pet, but only up to the maximum for each injury/illness which is £7000.

I'll look more into true lifetime cover policies next year when it comes time to renew.

hethmar

No, its very very confusing and I do think its time they all made their conditions clearer.

What they mean is if your pet had an illness they would still pay after 12 months but only up til the pot was used up and then you are on your own. This sort of confusion has caused a lot of sadness for pet owners who find that they are dumped and unable to continue to pay out for long costly lifetime conditions.

Hope you can change your policy soon before your pet sees a vet for anything as those conditons would be excluded with your new insurer.

Kimberley

I've just extended my kittens free 6 weeks insurance with petplan and it will cost me £14.28 per month for their very best lifetime cover. Who said Petplan was expensive? Thats pretty darn good

hardpressed

Does anyone know Pet Plan is on any cash back sites? I can't see any.

hethmar

I think quidco.com has them. Yes £25 cash back on there.