Pet Insurance Cost Cutting System/MoneySavingExpert.com Discussion

wallofbeans

Leopardlady wrote: »

Hi Can i add another insurer? The RSPCA use AXA, does anyone have anything to say about it?

I have an M&S policy and am thinking of changing as the cost has risen and everyone seems to give better costs, but only RSPCA have come close on the policy. Any feedback would be very welcome. Thanks

is rspca cheaper than AXA? if they are underwritten by axa, how can they be cheaper? im still confused by everyone leaving m&s, they seem like a great deal for a great policy.. the best i could find anyway! the only worry is if the prices go up a lot more!

Leopardlady

No M&S are no longer underwritten by AXA, but RSPCA are. I think i will go for it, the cover is slightly more comprehensive than M&S, so lets see. Thanks

hethmar

RSPCA is surprisingly NOT a for life policy. (I did write to them some time ago about this, as people would assume they were getting a good deal with their name on it - they never replied)



Vet bills - If your pet develops a new medical condition, RSPCA pet insurance can provide up to £6,500 per condition with Gold cover, or £3,000 per condition with Silver cover.

Thats in total for a condition, not ongoing - once the benefit amount is used up for that condition its excluded.

Jesthar

Hi all Just about to acquire my first ever cat, a lovely black 3 1/2 year old female called Charlie - her current owners (good friends of mine), are moving and the new landlords don't allow pets, unfortunately.

I have several friends who have cats, and have 'cat-sat' before, so the learning curve for practical matters isn't too much of a worry, but I have to confess pet insurance is confusing me a lot! I live fairly near quite a busy road, and one of my friends cats broke both her front legs last year falling from a height (full recovery made, thank goodness!), which would have been curtains for her had she not been insured, so I definitely want her insured, I just need some help picking my way through the various options!

I'm not after anything flashy, just something that gives a sensible amount of cover, will hopefully not suffer major premium hikes (hopefully including for age), and wouldn't leave me responsible for paying for major parts of any significant treatments required or ongoing conditions (should any develop - she's fit as a fiddle, and will hopefully stay that way!).

Anyone got some advice for this new cat-mummy-to-be? She arrives tomorrow (obviously she'll be indoors only for several weeks ), so I'd like to get this sorted sooner rather than later.

~Jes

hethmar

Best for you to read backwards through the thread. Sadly, the blurb on many sites mislead people into thinking they have full for life cover when they actually only pay out to the max shown as benefits.

marshallka

marshallka wrote: »

Thanks again refit, my dog has got corneal ulcers on both eyes and we had cancelled our insurance a couple of years ago as things were bad and money just too tight like lots on here and never really took any notice of it as we had never used it on either dog. It was only after the visit on bank holiday that we realised we needed it. (near on £200 just for two visits and a third to go which will be the biggy if its not better and maybe ongoing too!!). I know his condition now is not covered and he has to still go on monday again as they say that the large ulcer should have cleared by then and if not then they want to sedate and do more thorough tests. We are struggling now and god knows how we will pay this. I just want him right. Hes not unhappy but is squinting in the light so I have darkened the rooms and got the blinds done and only walked him at dusk last night. (on the lead!!). I just feel so sorry for him:sad:.

Update, he has been operated on on monday with his eyes and had both of them done and much happier and not squinting so much. Another £60 and we go again monday next which should be another £27 again and then maybe another op and another one visit so maybe all in all his eyes will cost us near on £400 but we got there early so at least his sight is OK;). We now have the insurance but of course this would not have been covered. They have said it was definately trauma from grass seeds and not disease so does that mean if his eyes get disease they will cover us now would anyone think???

hethmar

So pleased his eyes are ok.

You need to ask marshall - if you are upfront that it was a trauma, not an ongoing condition, they may let it pass? Worth having a go

lowis

Jesthar wrote: »

Hi all Just about to acquire my first ever cat, a lovely black 3 1/2 year old female called Charlie - her current owners (good friends of mine), are moving and the new landlords don't allow pets, unfortunately.

I have several friends who have cats, and have 'cat-sat' before, so the learning curve for practical matters isn't too much of a worry, but I have to confess pet insurance is confusing me a lot! I live fairly near quite a busy road, and one of my friends cats broke both her front legs last year falling from a height (full recovery made, thank goodness!), which would have been curtains for her had she not been insured, so I definitely want her insured, I just need some help picking my way through the various options!

I'm not after anything flashy, just something that gives a sensible amount of cover, will hopefully not suffer major premium hikes (hopefully including for age), and wouldn't leave me responsible for paying for major parts of any significant treatments required or ongoing conditions (should any develop - she's fit as a fiddle, and will hopefully stay that way!).

Anyone got some advice for this new cat-mummy-to-be? She arrives tomorrow (obviously she'll be indoors only for several weeks ), so I'd like to get this sorted sooner rather than later.

~Jes

if possible get a true 'for life' policy, the best are offered by AXA, Petplan, M&S, NFU and Halifax (and maybe HSBC?). true 'for life' policies cover ongoing conditions, year-on-year, with no time limits on when you can claim, and the amount you can claim for vets fees renews every year when you renew your policy.

wallofbeans

im still totally confused!
we were going to go for AXA but the wording is making it really confusing... is it for life cover?

axa says i get up to £7000 per period of insurance - does that mean per year per condition?

it also says we have a max of £250 per condition for complimentary treatment and behavioural problems BUT the M&S policy says it has £1000 on complimentary treatments and £250 on referral to a behaviourist which is slightly better but also gives the impression that these dont have a per condition limit like the AXA policy so make them even better!

Can it be right that even though the M&S policy is cheaper than the AXA (by a fiver a month) it's still better cover? Or have I got it all wrong somehow?

lowis

AXA is £7000 per year (period of insurance), to cover all conditions, not per condition. this £7000 renews each year, this means you can claim up to a maximum of £7000 each year. this is a true for life policy.

the other stuff you mention is completely up to your own decision as to what you deem best for you...AXA will not be changing their underwriters anytime soon as they are their own underwriter, they are a stand alone insurance firm. M&S could chop and change (and have done so) at any given time and change their policy accordingly.