Pet Insurance Cost Cutting System/MoneySavingExpert.com Discussion

petep

Thanks thesim, I use that site occasionally but had missed it out for this - duh!

Animal Friends International don't get the worst reviews on there, but it's interesting to see that the only companies with anything more than 3 stars have only one or two reviews so aren't really representative.

AFI are on the same level as the rest of the best which isn't what I would consider a glowing refewrence, so it seems that nobody is up front and reasonable when it comes to pet insurance.

Interestingly, PetPlan were right down the list as well yet they charge 50% more than any other company.

E&L are a company that it's clearly worth avoiding (and checking that they are not the underwriter) as they have a low score and by far the most complaint reviews.

I wonder if the insurers really are playing the game differently to the other forms of insurance or whether we've all just got better at playing the game with them on our house and car insurance.

Currently, the quotes for our puppy are more expensive than for my own health insurance - and I'm covered for pre-existing conditions and a far higher on-death payment.

Happy hunting everyone.

petep

Well I can't say I've found anything that makes it all clear, but this website doginsurancecompare .co .uk is worth a visit. Although they don't make specific recommendations, companies only get onto their list after reserach into their customer services track records have been looked into. There are one or two notable absences which prove this point to some degree.

From my own research I can say without much controversy that E&L are the one company that you need to steer clear of (and check that they are not the underwriters). How they are allowed to continue to trade is a mystery to me. On one comparison/forum site I found they had over 330 ratings - almost universally negative - compared to the next worst at only +/-50.

A well informed source told me they use Petplan, despite the very high premiums, as they are generally very good. You'll find detractors but more often than not complaints arrise when they discover what they are not covered for, which is usually in the small print all the time. READ THE SMALL PRINT - IT'S IMPORTANT!

I also found that Argos are currently well thought of and have good cover for very competitive premiums.

The bottom line seems to be: you get what you pay for - most of the time.

lexie55_2

Reiki_Angel wrote: »

Well i've just received my insurance renewal for my 5 year old Rottweiler and its increased from £300+ to £606 per year :mad: apparently its because of my dogs age...for goodness sake she's 5 not 15. I was absolutely gobsmacked when i opened it..i've tried looking around for other insurers but she's had two cruciate ligament ops on her back legs a couple of years ago and hence if i change insurers anything that could be related to that surgery won't be covered...i'm in a catch 22 situation.
Note to Insurers ....why don't they start a NCB scheme like car insurance?????

I am paying Kennel Club £49.95 monthly for my 4 year old Rottweiler. She has just had two cruciate ligament ops (approx £6000), excess is £60 plus 10%. The premiums have risen every year since she was born, so I hope after this claim that the premium does not rise as much as your one.

Dinah93

Last week our cat was diagnosed with decreased kidney function, we just had an annual policy not a covered for life policy in place as at 2 1/2 we didn't expect any issues to be honest - our own daft mistake. We now need to find new insurance, does anyone know if any insurers will cover her decreased kidney function or will they all exclude kidneys/urinary tract issues from any cover? She is not on medication and seems perfectly healthy, she's just on a special diet.

Thank you

Mutter_2

Dinah93 wrote: »

Last week our cat was diagnosed with decreased kidney function, we just had an annual policy not a covered for life policy in place as at 2 1/2 we didn't expect any issues to be honest - our own daft mistake. We now need to find new insurance, does anyone know if any insurers will cover her decreased kidney function or will they all exclude kidneys/urinary tract issues from any cover? She is not on medication and seems perfectly healthy, she's just on a special diet.

Thank you

No they don't, would be commercial suicide.

cathodetube

Cruciate ligament ops seem to be very common with Rottweilers. I know someone with a Rottweiler Cross who also had to have the same operation. Is it possible they have to be done more than once and if so that would be why the price for insuring them is high?

lexie55_2

I have had rottweilers for many years now and this is the first one to have this operation. I have found that premiums tend to rise when they reach 6 years.

cathodetube

Had a look at Healthy Pets and their excess is £120 plus 25%. The quote was more than AXA.

Fawny_2

Hi,

Just had our renewal through from NFU for our 1 year old Springer & after reading on here about premiuns going up, I was shocked to see that our has gone down:D I was really suprised as I was getting ready to start looking for somewhere else, but looks like we will stick with them now.

Quinny_2

Looks M&S will be getting the heave ho from us for Stella.

She had a major op at 9 months old in 2008, and we expected the premiums to go up in 2009, which they did, but this year they've gone up around 50% from £11 to £17. Not a lot in the grand scheme of things, but an increase nevertheless.

So now looking at alternatives if anyone knows of any.

She's a crossbreed, and apart from her op for pyometra, is completely healthy.