Pet Insurance Cost Cutting System/MoneySavingExpert.com Discussion

gregspalding

Hi,

We have 2 6 year old male moggies, both neutured, both chipped with no pre existing conditions. Since we have had them, we have claimed for 1 viral illness with Stitch, and 2 abscesses with Biscuit.
Our renewal for this year from More Than has come in at just over £600!! At over £50 a month, it's getting beyond our budget now.
Is it with changing? I've seen quotes with the same sort of cover for a lot less, with similar excess costs.
Has anyone else switched, and got a better deal, or is it worth me haggling with MT than to try and get the cost down?
Thanks

TomsMom

gregspalding wrote: »

Hi,

We have 2 6 year old male moggies, both neutured, both chipped with no pre existing conditions. Since we have had them, we have claimed for 1 viral illness with Stitch, and 2 abscesses with Biscuit.
Our renewal for this year from More Than has come in at just over £600!! At over £50 a month, it's getting beyond our budget now.
Is it with changing? I've seen quotes with the same sort of cover for a lot less, with similar excess costs.
Has anyone else switched, and got a better deal, or is it worth me haggling with MT than to try and get the cost down?
Thanks

Are the underwriters of your More Than policy RSA (Royal & Sun Alliance), Policy number probably starts with RSAP if it does. If so then RSA seem to be making huge increases in renewal premiums this year, particularly if a claim has been made. I'm with John Lewis but the policy is underwritten by RSA and following a £302 claim for my dog for investigation and removal of a benign lump my increase was 120%. Many conversations with both JL and RSA have confirmed that the claim has played a part in the level of increase because "now you've made a claim you're more likely to in future therefore you are a higher risk". That came direct from RSA, they set the premiums not JL or whichever company is underwritten by them.

If you consider moving then speak to the company and find out if the claims you've made in the past will mean those conditions are treated as pre-existing, or whether, after a certain length of time, any exclusions can be removed. It could very well be that the abcesses would be regarded as a pre-existing condition, not sure about the viral illness. These insurance companies have a wonderful way of linking an illness to something in the past! Also be aware that I was told that "anything on your vet's records that showed clinical symptoms, whether claimed for or not, will be regarded as a pre-existing condition".

UKTigerlily

Just wondering what others would do, I know my cat needs to be insured but don't want to go crazy. She is almost 15 1/2, i've had her for 13yrs & not once needed to claim. She does go out but nowhere near to any roads & isn't a fighter with other cats. My main concerns are kidney disease, diabetes & thyroid but how much would it cost per month (roughly) to treat these, do I just pay myself (could afford a few hundred) or shall I insure her? I'm tempted by the Pet Plan one but it's only 3k per condition for max 12 months & i'm not sure of how much really to get.

sarahlcpearce

Any help greatful!
I took out insurance with animal friends for my terrier cross when he was a puppy (he's now 2 years 4 months) at the start of the summer he started limping, a trip to the vets confirmed my fears. He had snapped his cruciate ligament and had to go for specialist treatment in Newcastle to rebuild it. I paid the £100 excess and the operation was done. I received a phone call from the vet saying the insurance had only paid out £267 of the £2000 operation, leaving me to make up the£1800. I've arranged a standing order with he vet, I'm on such a low wage, it's going o take me the next 10 years but I'd do anything for my dog. I want to know if anyone has any advice for me? Can I get help in paying it back?
Worried!! Xxx

Whalie

15 years ago I adopted a 'brain damaged' cat from the RSPCA. No insurer was interested! Instead I set up a savings account and paid a monthly sum into that. That covered all vets bills including an op when he developed over active thyroid.

That cat died recently and I have adopted a new cat 8 years old. The RSPCA have given me 1 months free insurance with Pet Plan but hearing of others experiance I think I will continue paying into a savings account instead!

randm

The policies mention lifetime cover, but surely each year I should be checking the policies and seeing if another one is cheaper, as with car insurance etc.i am a bit confused with this. Also why is there no way of getting rid of things I don't want such as death payout to buy another animal, and quarantine stuff. Help please!

cathodetube

UKTigerlily wrote: »

Just wondering what others would do, I know my cat needs to be insured but don't want to go crazy. She is almost 15 1/2, i've had her for 13yrs & not once needed to claim. She does go out but nowhere near to any roads & isn't a fighter with other cats. My main concerns are kidney disease, diabetes & thyroid but how much would it cost per month (roughly) to treat these, do I just pay myself (could afford a few hundred) or shall I insure her? I'm tempted by the Pet Plan one but it's only 3k per condition for max 12 months & i'm not sure of how much really to get.

Your cat doesn't 'need' to be insured. People managed before insurance came in. It is my belief that one reason vet charges can be high is because of the arrival of insurance. Also, they can do more things for animals than they could before. I cancelled my cat's insurance as the premium kept going up and he never needed more than the odd bite from other cats treated. Are you coming up to a renewal period and you are looking at quotes from other companies? To insure a cat almost 16 years old would probably have quite a high premium, depending on where you live. London premiums are usually higher. I would speak to your vet about your worries, and see if they can give you some idea about costs for illnesses you mention. And don't forget, you will have to pay an excess before any claim, and quite possibly a portion of the treatment. Did you get a quote from PetPlan, if so what was it?

If I get another cat, I am not going to insure it.

TomsMom

randm wrote: »

The policies mention lifetime cover, but surely each year I should be checking the policies and seeing if another one is cheaper, as with car insurance etc.i am a bit confused with this. Also why is there no way of getting rid of things I don't want such as death payout to buy another animal, and quarantine stuff. Help please!

Yes, you can do comparisons each year and take any one that offers you what your require at a price you're happy with BUT if you have anything on your vet's records showing clinical signs or symptoms this will most likely be regarded as a pre-existing condition and will be excluded by a new insurer if you change providers (you would have to check with the provider). I was given this information by one of the insurance companies I contacted when my dog's insurance premium had gone up by 120% this year. Because I had made a claim for investigation and removal of a lump then "lumps" would be automatically be excluded as a pre-existing condition if I changed providers so if I wanted potential future lumps covered then I was stuck with continuing with my current provider on my lifetime policy.

hmc

sarahlcpearce wrote: »

Any help greatful!
I took out insurance with animal friends for my terrier cross when he was a puppy (he's now 2 years 4 months) at the start of the summer he started limping, a trip to the vets confirmed my fears. He had snapped his cruciate ligament and had to go for specialist treatment in Newcastle to rebuild it. I paid the £100 excess and the operation was done. I received a phone call from the vet saying the insurance had only paid out £267 of the £2000 operation, leaving me to make up the£1800. I've arranged a standing order with he vet, I'm on such a low wage, it's going o take me the next 10 years but I'd do anything for my dog. I want to know if anyone has any advice for me? Can I get help in paying it back?
Worried!! Xxx

Oh god poor you, animal friends are rubbish I'm afraid a lot of vets won't deal with them at all
Can only suggest you don't settle for this, for a start you need to find out why they've only paid that and then threaten them with legal action as if your on a low wage you will get legal aid

annie_cardiff

sarahlcpearce wrote: »

Any help greatful!
I took out insurance with animal friends for my terrier cross when he was a puppy (he's now 2 years 4 months) at the start of the summer he started limping, a trip to the vets confirmed my fears. He had snapped his cruciate ligament and had to go for specialist treatment in Newcastle to rebuild it. I paid the £100 excess and the operation was done. I received a phone call from the vet saying the insurance had only paid out £267 of the £2000 operation, leaving me to make up the£1800. I've arranged a standing order with he vet, I'm on such a low wage, it's going o take me the next 10 years but I'd do anything for my dog. I want to know if anyone has any advice for me? Can I get help in paying it back?
Worried!! Xxx

Hi, I too have been cross eyed checking out pet insurance quotes, I was about to take out a policy with purelypets but on checking out the small print I realised that cruciate ligament was only covered up to a max of £500 which is not nearly enough cover for this if it should happen. Did your policy have the sme limitation ????:(