Pet Insurance Cost Cutting System/MoneySavingExpert.com Discussion

paddypaws101

http://www.catinsurancecompare.co.uk/

I found this linked from another pet forum I use....it is unbiased and very informative.

realshannon

I have used nearly all of them in our dog lifetime! but am now with Animal Friends. I liked them because they have a good range of policies and its lifetime cover, although, like most, the excesses change as they get older. They will allow you to downgrade your policy to a different scheme without losing any of the benefits. The money goes straight into your bank account and, better still, they support animal charities.

thriftytracey

Thank you for the responses.

I can't remember where I heard that FeLV was rare so - did a quick bit of research and 85% of adult cats produce antibodies after becoming infected and 15% are permanently infected and once infected the prognosis is poor. Clearly, this is still a significant percentage and I realise I should get the cats vaccinated, particularly as one of our cats had cancer when he was 18 months (he has been fit and healthy ever since and he is now 6).

The exact wording of the dental treatment condition is "you must arrange and pay for your pet to have a yearly dental examination" - I need to seek clarification from the vet on this.

I have since called PetPlan (call centre in India) and spoken to a customer services representative who spoke very good English who confirmed that once the cat reaches 10 years 25% of the claim in addition to the excess must be paid. The % amount is not listed in the terms and conditions which only makes reference that a "percentage amount" must be paid. I wonder if I should get the 25% amount contribution confirmed in writing .....

PetPlan is a better policy than Animal Friends so after going through the T & C's one more time (12 pages!) I expect I will change to them ensuring that I start cover 2 weeks before my existing cover ends.

Sooz00 - sorry to hear about your cat's cancer. I did not know that there was a risk associated with the vaccination. I shall speak to my vet before proceeding with vaccinating Roly especially as he has had cancer. I hope your cat recovers - we never thought ours would as it was a very aggressive form of cancer however nearly 5 years later he is fit and healthy and touchwood has never been ill. He had the tumour removed (in his intestine) and six months of chemotherapy. This is where I learned the hard lesson on purchasing insurance based on cost as our limit was reached and we had to pay £1000 towards the cost of his treatment. Of course now he will never be covered if it re-occurs but I don't want to think about that.

I am sure when I first had a cat 20 years ago pet insurance was never this complicated.

Tropez

Apologies if somebody has mentioned this already. I did quickly scan through the thread to check but didn't spot anything.

If you're looking to take out pet insurance online, then going through a cashback website such as Topcashback.co.uk or myshoppingrewards.co.uk (I'm sure there's more listed somewhere on the main site here at MSE) can net you £20 or more cashback which in some cases equals a month or two's premium basically for free.

It obviously helps if you know who you're going through first but virtually all of the major insurance providers are listed on these sites.

Mephista

As some of you have probably read from me elsewhere, my darling baby Weim has had several insurances and I have now settled on Greenbee (underwritten by AXA) who offer all and more than AXA did for less money per month - around £25. It's also a lifetime insurance which I was really keen to get involved in as Roxy is now 61/2 years old and I have to start thinking ahead.

I have previously had Kennel Club insurance for a number of years which was absolutely out of this world in terms of cover and paying up but in the end - incredibly far too expensive. Then followed Sainsbury's who I must say paid up with no issues for a minor op to remove a cyst on her back and just before Greenbee, I had moved to M&S. Again I had no complaints, she has needed several claims from them and they have paid up promptly and with no issue. In fact the only reason why I moved is firstly the jump in the policy price just couldn't be justified and I feel my baby deserves the best level of insurance I can afford for her and secondly - it was not a lifetime insurance.

My advice to anyone - after reading a lot of these threads - is do the best you can to suit your own and your dog's needs. THINK about it very carefully before you make a decision - at the end of the day it could mean your pet's life if you can't afford to pay ... no matter what choice you make. I had to make sure that my decision on insurance was one I could live with and I can.

AlfieBlue

Just a wee thank you - so much appreciated - all your replies to my thread - all your advice. Thank you so much for taking time out to help me out.

I am going to sit down over the weekend and go thru all your suggestions - will google all the companies and see what's best for our wee boy.

On a lighter note, had a lovely walk today with alf - met up with other like minded doggy walkers - we are picking blackberries!! So plentiful at the mo in the forest. Pigglets are out - its acorn season and they are getting their fill!! Ponies and foals are doing well, cattle roaming - it's absolutely wonderful early in the morn. Alf n I love it.

Thank you all for your help - so much appreciated. xx

realshannon

and if you go with Animal Friends, they did used to have a cashback if you were a member of the Co-operative, I got about £25

hethmar

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/108056

AlfieBlue

hethmar wrote: »

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/108056

Thank you hethmar. The thread makes very interesting reading and Im only on page 1! Will be reading the rest over the weekend and googling all the advice posted by so many of the generous forum members.

Thank you so much for responding and thanks to all - very much appreciated. xx

hethmar

Probably easier to work backwards on that thread alfie. But just to mention some of the insurers mentioned on this thread are not "for life" policies. The pot is limited to the amount shown and when thats used up, you are on your own. You need a policy where the pot is refilled every year.