Pet Insurance Cost Cutting System/MoneySavingExpert.com Discussion

lilymay1

TomsMom wrote: »

When you reinsure as a new customer, does the incontinence issue get excluded as a "pre-existing condition" as it would if you went with a new insurance company? Or do they continue covering it and paying for the medication because you've stayed with them albeit as a "new customer"?

I have had to claim on my dog's insurance (not Argos) this year as she had a lump investigated and removed (turned out to be benign). I realise that if I change to another company next year in search of a better premium then odds are that any future lumps wont be covered by a different company but will be if I stay with my present insurers as I have a lifetime cover policy.

I questioned this when I renewed as there was a clause on the website which specifically asked me to state that I was a new customer. I phoned and asked and she said I could go down as a new customer. I did ask her to double check because it was important but she was adament.

They don't pay for her medication because it's actually too cheap for us to claim for (about £30 for a bottle that lasts 2-3 months. However, at £120 a year it's an expense I can afford. My vet gave us 12 months worth within the original claim anyway so it's not a major issue. If she needed more treatment for the same issue (ie, surgery or the like) we would be covered as a 'new customer' thankfully.

As I said, very very good insurers so far. The 'platinum' cover would only have been about £10 a month for us thought I didn't go for it as I just don't need 90% of the 'benefits'. We didn't pay for her so no loss if she passes away (god forbid) , she won't ever need to kennels if we both go into hospital and the life cover for her illness is too cheap to claim for anyway!

Heb_7:4

Thought it's worth posting here, but I feel really let down by M&S. I have a two year three month old pug. Been with M&S since I got him as a puppy. I don't mind paying for little stuff, really what I want is cover for if things went really wrong and it would cost thousands. With that in mind I took their Premium cover, I think at around £38 a month.

Now as a puppy he did have a few little things happen, bit of a dodgy tummy, cut a pad on his paw, etc. So I thought that was why the Premium went up to around £50 a month in year two. Just got my renewal in, and they are asking for £70 a month. He has not had anything wrong with him since July 2011.

I went on a price comparison website and was surprised, when I entered my details, to see the same deal with M&S for £36 a month. Called them up, and was basically told this is common to get you in. Cheap prices for year one. The insurance person said I could leave and get a new policy, but if I did I had to know any previous issues wouldn't be covered. He doesn't have any. Bloke tried to say that arthritis wouldn't be covered in the future. Why, because he sliced a pad on his paw as a puppy? Also told me if I left I wouldn't be covered for 14 days, and what if he broke a leg?

Really !!!!ed me off. They offered to drop it to £62 but that is still extortionate for a healthy dog. I'm not going with M&S again, as I know they'll just hike the premiums once I'm locked in and in fear (if he does get something) of not having any existing condition covered. Does anyone have experience of a company that doesn't just jack their prices up each year regardless?

cathodetube

Sounds like they have got even worse than when I was there. I let them after they raised the premiums for my healthy 6 year old dog to almost £60 a month. She had something similar to your dog, a cut leg, from broken glass in the park. They also raised the excess a lot, which started out at zero, when they first entered the pet insurance business. Where do you live? I am in London, and I think premiums are usually higher there. I heard that they were also starting to charge the customer a percentage of each claim as well as the excess.

If I were you I would put in a complaint to the Insurance Ombudsman, although not sure if it would do any good. Also contact someone like Watchdog and You and Yours, Radio 4.

Heb_7:4

I'm in Bromley (was actually in Inner London when I got him, so if anything would expect Premiums to fall!)

Think I'll just go with PetPlan.

cathodetube

Think Bromley would still classify as London. It's not far from me. I can't imagine a pet insurance dropping premiums if they don't have to. Usually the best companies to try are the ones that do their own underwriting, like NFU and LV. Have you got quotes from them?

Heb_7:4

LV looks very good. £26 a month for their premium cover compared to £35 for Petplans superior Classic. Petplan would give me £7000 per year compared to only £5000 for LV, but that looks good.

Do they actually pay out though? That's my biggest concern with insurance. I'd rather pay nothing at all then get a policy that turns out to worth !!!!!! all because you have to fight tooth and nail just to get your money!

cathodetube

I don't know the answer to that question. I guess you would have to read the terms and conditions or hope that someone else has the answer. Did you get a quote from NFU? One problem is that you have a pug, which is a high risk breed for other problems. Pet insurance is still a fairly new field - it's only about 12 years old. I think a lot of the insurance companies are making it up as they go along.

BargainGalore

Emmie7777 :spam: 3 posts promoting there same site

Bromley86

lilymay1 wrote: »

If she needed more treatment for the same issue (ie, surgery or the like) we would be covered as a 'new customer' thankfully.

I do not believe that this is correct. You have signed up as a new customer. As soon as you did that, all pre-existing conditions were excluded. The loose sphincter is a condition which existed before the start of this new policy:

I questioned this when I renewed as there was a clause on the website which specifically asked me to state that I was a new customer. I phoned and asked and she said I could go down as a new customer.

If anyone else is thinking of doing this, I would suggest that you get in writing that any conditions previously claimed for will still be covered as long as you remain with the same company even if you take out a new policy.

Bromley86

Does anyone have experience of a company that doesn't just jack their prices up each year regardless?

They all do, but that looks excessive. In our case (AXA, no claims):

£184 3m
£203 15m
£223 27m