Pet Insurance Cost Cutting System/MoneySavingExpert.com Discussion

meerkat2007

catlou wrote: »

PS. aurora5772 & meerkat2007

You do mean Pet insurance direct with AXA don't you?
Not a policy that is underwritten by them for someone else?

Yes, it's directly from AXA. I knew it would go up, and I could have worked around the 50% hike in the excess, if necessary, but not the 89% hike in the premium itself. Where do they think people can find that sort of money? The monthly payments went from around £39 and £41 to around £75 and £78.

ETA: my dogs are both 14 years old, but still very sprightly for their age. When the slightly older one had his annual vet check earlier this year, the vet said he could see him getting to 20, maybe more. I've had maybe 3 claims in total in the 3 or 4 years I had the policies, for vets' bills that were no more than about £200, and that may be an exaggeration. I've now opened a separate bank account, and the premium money will be going into that.

cathodetube

meerkat2007 wrote: »

As I said in my post - 89%.

I was interested in the amount as in 89% of what original amount?
I see you said in your other post the exact amount, which does seem high. Did you ask AXA if that is their policy for dogs of that age? I don't think there is any kind of exact science when it comes to pet insurance. It really hasn't been around for very long and I believe the underwriters are making it up as they go along. I would do the same as you have done.

Mephista

Hi all

Me again! Looking at what people are saying about the excess, I must admit that just about everywhere I looked was quoting a minimum of £75 excess with many of them looking for more and encouraging voluntary excess also.

As for premium, paying an average of around £26-£30 seemed to be the minimum going rate for a Weimeraner of 6 1/2 years with the maximum I looked at being around £55 a month which was with Kennel Club. As I said, I would have loved to go back to them but as much as I dearly love my "little" baby, I can't even afford that on myself a month much less my doggie. So I made a decision in my head that the maximum I was prepared to pay was the £30 but I wanted to try and get the insurers who seemed to be offering me the most cover for that amount - particularly now that I probably need to be thinking of staying with an insurer permanently because of her age.

I have thought and asked many times about sticking the money into a bank account instead but what concerned me was the length of time I would need to build the right money up if - god forbid - something should happen. Our vets seem to cost a minimum of a couple of hundred quid anytime something needs done and even her booster jabs every year cost around £60. If I had a puppy, I think I would consider this option very seriously but because of Roxy's age now, I think I'm best sticking with the insurance. Maybe that's the way we should all think about it? Depending on the dogs age and needs?

Even better, we should form a coallition and create our own pet insurance company which offers exactly the best of what we feel dogs need at a reasonable price we ourselves would be prepared to pay:p. Now hows that for an ideal world??:rotfl:

meerkat2007

I've had a quick look at Greenbee, and at first glance, it looks promising. I'll be looking into it properly tonight.

Mephista

meerkat2007 wrote: »

I've had a quick look at Greenbee, and at first glance, it looks promising. I'll be looking into it properly tonight.

Hi Meerkat2007, let me know what you think. I have received all of my paperwork and so far am very happy with what they've sent and what seems to be included. Pricing is probably different for everyone and some have found it more expensive but for me it was the cheapest that offered the most. Look forward to seeing how you get on:)

cathodetube

It could be that Greenbee rope you in with a lower price for first time users. Time will tell.

Mephista

cathodetube wrote: »

It could be that Greenbee rope you in with a lower price for first time users. Time will tell.

Good point but then don't they all!! Will let you know this time next year when its decision time again ...

meerkat2007

cathodetube wrote: »

It could be that Greenbee rope you in with a lower price for first time users. Time will tell.

That's a very good point and although it bothers me, if I can even just get a year from them at a reasonable price for reasonable cover, it's another year. As you say, time will tell!

ETA: I've just looked again, and Greenbee/John Lewis is an authorised representative of AXA! I think I can see another price hike in year 2, if I do take out this insurance.

meerkat2007

I've taken out the Greenbee insurance. The monthly premium is just under £32 per dog, which is less than I was paying for the cover that's about to run out, never mind the extortionate renewals!

It will cover the dogs in the event of either of them starting with a long-term condition, which neither of them has at the moment, and which is why I wanted the cover. Moreover, it will also allow me to put some money on one side to cover the usual vet's fees that won't be covered by the insurance.

aurora5772

Catlou - yes, that's right, this is direct with AXA

Cathodetube - no dogs, just the two cats (Dog Breeders insure cats too).
I mentioned introductory discount because it is the only thing that would make sense with the huge amounts involved. When she queried it, she was told that the increase reflects the market as a whole, not whether she has claimed - she hasn't. If that is truly the case, then cats must have had an unbelievably bad year!!!! It would also mean that everyone with cat insurance is going to have the same sorts of problems. She spoke to a manager, who said the amounts were right. He pointed out that her cats are both eleven now, but as my mum said, that's not exactly an unforseeable change as they were ten last year!!! He also couldn't explain why last year's premiums were so low - his implication that they were unexpectedly low. She has lodged an official complaint with AXA, mainly to get an investigation and proper explanation, because what she's been told so far doesn't make sense.