Pet Insurance Cost Cutting System/MoneySavingExpert.com Discussion

Bromley86

prudryden wrote: »

Halifax quoted me £271.85 last year when they were with AXA. Now they are underwritten by Agria (a Swedish company) - What an amazing jump in premiums - more than double!

Can someone confirm this change of Underwriter? I just looked at the Policy Summary on Halifax's website and it still says "The Insurer of this Policy is AXA Insurance UK plc."

EDIT: Just did a test quote (which actually came up as less than we're paying atm) and it said "Your Policy is underwritten by Agria International Forsakring AB". Not sure how I feel about that - probably fine as long as they keep paying up .

hethmar

MoreThan is NOT for life cover.

hethmar

MoreThan is NOT for life cover.

Oh Bromley, just saw your note - hmm,wonder if we are in for a big hike.

Bromley86

Well, the official blurb attached to some other insurances that have switched to Agria (Argos/Homebase) go on about how having an underwriter that specialises in the pet market will help keep premiums down.

Personally, I don't see how. Unless they mean that the risk will be more accurately determined and premiums for the riskier dogs will increase, keeping them lower for others.

It was reassuring to see that my test quote came out lower, but I did pretend she was in perfect health for it. I simply don't believe the guy I spoke to at BDML at last renewal who said that it would be unethical of them to increase the premium just because I'd claimed.

Still, they could double my current premium and it'd still be the same as PetPlan's original quote, so anything else is a bonus.

hethmar

LOL, it was unethical for M and S to change the whole policy though wasnt it!

carlybarley

Hi,
Here is some really good info about pet insurance, new research into what different insurers offer.

Carly x
http://www.noclaimsdiscount.co.uk/news/art_display.php?show=200810181

maggie999

I'm new to animal isurance. When we got our puppy last July I looked around for a while and got dead confused. i ended up taking out insurance with morethan. I now see that although I have cover for £700 for each condition it isn't actually for life.

I'm thinking about changing over to petplan....the middle one which gives me £400 each condition but is for life.

Am I right in thinking this would be £400 for each condition every year? i'm so tired of reading everything wrong!

Also if I ended my morethan policy would I get anything back? can I choose when it ends so that i don't go without cover until the new policy kicks in?

hethmar

Just read the policy details on their site - the £4k would be the maximum per year, whatever the number of illnesses or conditions.

Re morethan, I dont know if you would get any of the premium back, best to ring them and ask - tell them you didnt realise their policy wasnt a for life one so you are going to have to change.

One thing though - have you made any claims or even visited the vet for any illness/condition since you had the morethan policy? If so, that condition or anything relating to it would be exluded from a new insurers cover.

Have a look at a few other insurers, like AXA, Halifax and NFU.

maggie999

Had a look at halifax and AXA. Halifax are £30 cheaper a year, excess is £10 more and cover £1000 less a year.

What would people reccomend as the better company to go with?

Happy_Shrimper

Seems a bit of a game this pet insurance lark.
Looks like you can find a good policy today, but this time next year, the underwriter has changed and the policy is no longer as good as it was and probably costing more per month!
I've been getting quotes and HSBC seem good to me at the moment. From looking back through this thread, HSBC are underwritten by Axa?
Nothing to stop HSBC changing underwriter so is it best to go direct with Axa? Anyone had any experience of HSBC? DO the premiums increase each year to a unacceptable level?

Edit: It appears HSBC is underwritten by Norwich Union, not Axa.