Pet Insurance Cost Cutting System/MoneySavingExpert.com Discussion

joe_t

cathodetune, yes i told the lady on the phone my existing policy was with tesco she said that loads of people end and restart a new policy.
but she couldnt actually tell me that legally i would be covered under the old policy even though i will have paid them.
this situation must happen to every person starting a totally new policy and leaving the old one.
just to add tesco have also changed there underwriter from last years.
joe

cathodetube

joe t, she couldn't tell you that you would be covered and she couldn't tell you wouldn't either? I guess you just have to go with it and hope nothing happens. Most policies cover accidents during that period, but not something outside of that. You should confirm that with them?

joe_t

cathodetube, yes thats about the long and short of it.
personally i think its a bit naughty as im paying for one 2 week period twice and neither will say you are covered for certain.
joe........

cathodetube

But you are saving a a lot of money by switching.

joe_t

cathodetube, that really is beside the point, ive paid for one years cover you would think that you would get that.
when you join there insurance you do so for one year, if you then leave thats up to you, you lose 14 days at the begining and it seems you could lose 14 days at the end, that cant be right.
if i had moved from tesco to joe blogs insurance the same would apply.
joe..............

cathodetube

But they haven't told you aren't covered, so I guess you can take it that you are.

joe_t

cathodetube,
yes cath thats how i will look at it, i dont see how legally they could get out of it.
its just they never make it simple do they.
joe........

Pinkdebster

Hi everyone

So I've spent the WHOLE of today reading this entire thread and getting some insurance quotes.............my head is spinning right about now!!

This is the story so far..........Dexter is a black labrador who we got this time last year - he is 14 months old. At that time, I was working (in a very well paid job) and, upon a friend's recommendation, I took out the all-singing, all-dancing top notch insurance with Pet Plan. The premiums were very high in comparison to others but I believed they were the best choice at that time and money wasn't really an issue.

Fast forward a year and it's a different story. In July I had to have major open surgery and I'm not in a position to work for the forseeable future as I still need at least another operation. I lost my job.......blah blah..........I'm sure you know how it goes! So I've needed to look at cost savings right across the board since that time, cutting back where I could and so on. I've continued with Dexter's insurance, although the monthly outlay was difficult to find. Today I had the renewal and it's increased it even more, to the point where I seriously cannot pay this amount each month.

However.........I still want him insured and, to this end, I want it to be a good, reliable insurance. I appreciate that even when I change the premium will increase next year and that's fine........I just need the cost to be more acceptable than Pet Plan. I've had very good quotes from both Axa and Argos (they are pretty much on par) so I'm thinking of one of these (when I finally pick one!)

I just have a couple of questions...............firstly, the only thing we claimed for was an ear infection that Dex had which needed a couple of visits.......stupid really as after I'd paid the excess I think I only got about £2.66 back (I never even banked the cheque!). Does an ear infection count as a pre-existing condition? The Vet seemed to think he got it from swimming???

The second question is..........the renewal is due on the 23 February - do I give Pet Plan notice now that I intend NOT to renew and let that insurance run out on the 23rd and then start the new one (once decided) on the same day? If I say go to Axa and ask them to start the insurance on the 23rd, do I then have to wait 14 days AFTER that for the insurance to start? If this is the case, could I not start the new insurance fourteen days before, whilst he is still covered by Pet Plan? I hope that makes sense..........it does in my head but then I've been at this all day!!

Any advice would be GREATLY appreciated and I thank you in advance

Debbie

Mephista

Would it be worth considering telling them that you have an number of other quotes which are better and see if they can match them or give you a loyalty discount? When you tell insurers you are going to leave (and say it with conviction), most of them will do something with the costs to try and make you stay - except for Kennelclub who just kind of said to me "oh well what a shame .... bye"! That was the nutshell version but I think, in your case, it would be worth a try?

paul2louise

If you are not covered by first 14 days, and you are starting a new policy can you overlap the period, ie start the new policy before the other expires, that way if anyting happens in the first weeks of new policy you are still coverd by old one.

can you do this