Pet Insurance Cost Cutting System/MoneySavingExpert.com Discussion

cathodetube

Who are the underwriters for Argos?

lucy1038

As a veterinary surgeon who deals with all the pet insurance claims in my practice I have learnt a lot about insurance over the years.

1. beware policys that seem very cheap to begin with (often on a special offer). Most of these policies ramp up the premiums if you ever claim and as your pet gets older. Often when your pet hits age 8 the premium doubles! The only company that stay consistent(it only rises in line with inflation) over the lifetime of your pet, regardless of claims, is Petplan.
2. I would strongly advise against 12 month policies, also called rolling policies. Should your pet develop a long term illness, eg arthritis or diabetes they will only pay until the end of the policy year and then you will never be covered for that condition again. Even though you will be shelling out on longterm medication!
3. Think carefully about the level of cover you choose per year. There is often very little difference in monthly premium between a 6000 per year and 12000 per year policy. In the event of an emergency or accident bills can be unbelivably high (especially if your pet needs to see a specialist) and 4000 may not go a long way. For example if your pet is involved in an road traffic accident and has broken bones you could be looking at approx 6000 for repair!
4. Try to never change insurance company over the life of your pet, especially if you have ever claimed for a condition (eg urinary infection). The condition will be determined to be pre-existing so no new policy will cover it.

Pet insurance is I believe crucial. Even if your budget cannot stretch to a lifelong policy or high coverage levels something is better than nothing! It is heartbreaking to be unable to treat a pet in the way you want due to financial constraints.

I myself insure my dog with Petplan, they are the only company I have never had problems with when doing claims, they pay out quickly and without quibble and I feel offer the best value of all the companies, even if their premiums seem higher initially.

cathodetube

Lucy 1083,


Two plugs for Petplan? Why would you need to insure your dog if you are a vet?

thesim

I would hazzard a guess and say although Lucy1038 is a vet they do not own the surgery they work in and cannot perform any work on their own pet as it would be against rules? Although they may get lower rates.

Nathe

Animal Friends Insurance has very low prices and well worth the money! Great staff to, all animal mad, also a bonus that they donate large profits to animal welfare charitys worldwide. Had my dogs insured with them for a while now, great value and service.

cathodetube

thesim wrote: »

I would hazzard a guess and say although Lucy1038 is a vet they do not own the surgery they work in and cannot perform any work on their own pet as it would be against rules? Although they may get lower rates.

Wonder if Lucy 1038 is going to reply.........think vets might get a commission from PetPlan?

thesim

cathodetube wrote: »

Wonder if Lucy 1038 is going to reply.........think vets might get a commission from PetPlan?

We are of similar minds!

Bromley86

Don't be ridiculous. When I last checked into it, if money was no object then we'd all be with PetPlan. It is, so I'm with Halifax for one and AXA for the other, but Lucy's points are still valid. You'd be insane not to get a quote from PetPlan along with the other usual suspects, although I'd be surprised if they're less than 50% more expensive.

cathodetube

Bromley86 wrote: »

Don't be ridiculous. When I last checked into it, if money was no object then we'd all be with PetPlan. It is, so I'm with Halifax for one and AXA for the other, but Lucy's points are still valid. You'd be insane not to get a quote from PetPlan along with the other usual suspects, although I'd be surprised if they're less than 50% more expensive.

Who is being ridiculous? Strange for a first time poster to register (and then not reply) merely to big up PetPlan. Vets get commission for selling certain dog foods in their surgery, so why not insurance?

Bromley86

Okay, so which parts of Lucy's post do you disagree with? And what are the odds of one of her clients reading this thread and booking a PetPlan policy with her for this (alleged) commission? Or does she work ceaselessly on behalf of vets everywhere?