Pet Insurance Cost Cutting System/MoneySavingExpert.com Discussion

orlao

I think your best hope is that it's a different problem in the same leg!!! But you said that the previous claim was last year, sometimes they continue a claim for 12 months so this might not be a "new" claim just an add on to last years? Might be worth a try!

Hope your horse gets better soon.

JennyW_2

this is very normal with horse insurance and out of all animal insurance I find the horse ones are the most tricky to deal with (probably due to the expensive treatments involved with horses). I've only claimed once and it was only for the 12 months, once that's up then that's it. If they are linking this injury to even something remotely similar to the same injury/problem as last year then you wont have any luck, however you may be able to claim if your vet can prove that the two are not related?

My friend who has a horse has claimed for 3 separate injuries on 3 of her horses legs - these 3 legs are now not insured any more! So the horse only has 1 leg left which is claimable - laughable isn't it?

I have something similar going on but with my dog. Insurance company were linking our current claim against what they said was "something similar" that was recorded on his records last year (and something that I didn't even claim for). Anyway, it was a completely different ailment and we were able to get our vet to write a letter stating that they were not connected. The insurance company have accepted the vets letter are we are able to continue claiming

SDH

Thanks for all your replies, bit of eye-opener!

Well its Good news - well for my wallet anyway!

The vets have nerve blocked his foot and he still came out lame. So its def not the same thing as last year, so insurance should now pay for it.

Vet is continuing up his leg with more nerve block tests and x-rays. Just hope she can diagnosis the problem and fix him!

Bromley86

I looked at Healthy Pets when I did my comparison. Their policies are not lifetime ones (in the sense of M&S, PetPlan, Halifax, NFU etc.). Good price for their policy (£120 p.a. in my case), but that's only £30 p.a. less than Halifax.

Am I covered for on going conditions?
YES - Healthy Pets will cover you for on going conditions up to the maximum benefit of your policy subject to you renewing your policy with us.

(i.e. the limit doesn't reset every year).

MOLLYBRUSH

Half price cover with Tesco for a limited period - for new customers for first year, according to post on HDUK.

britaindownthepan

I tell you now, I thought M&S were good! they are NOT!

I have had my kitty insured with them for 3 years, now she has an ongoing condition which only amounts to £80 per year in claims. THEY have just put up my insurance from £11.54 a month (because she is 17 years old) to £20.00 a month! a difference of £8.54 PER MONTH!

THEY DO require an excess of £50.00 OR 15% of any claim whichever is the greatest! How the bloody hell can they justify a rise of that much each month for a cat??!!!

I could get her on BUPA for less!

THEY ARE FINE, UNTIL YOU HAVE A CLAIM, THEN YOUR STUCK WITH THEM BECAUSE ANYOTHER INSURANCE COMPANY WONT COVER THE EXISTING OR CLAIMED FOR CONDITION! DONT DO IT, GET WITH PETPLAN, WHO ARE THE BEST AND DONT RIP YOU OFF.:mad:

britaindownthepan

My advice to you, stay with PetPlan. M&S ripped me off and i had no choice but to stay with them.:mad:

nona85

I've been with M&S for my 2 and a half year old dog, and my premium has now gone up by 18 quid in just one year. I'm now looking elsewhere...I'm going to write them a very angry letter when I do cancel my policy. I think this is totally outrageous, we've gone with M&S believing them to be really good value for money, and we're now being totally shafted.When I phoned up the call centre, the bloke I spoke to said that although he couldn't tell me exactly why I got the increase, he said it might be down to my dogs breed (chihuahua), and based on how many others from that breed have had claims that year. What a load of rubbish! I made one claim last year for a respiratory disorder my dog developed, they did pay the full amount fast but I've since acquired another young pup and do not feel safe insuring her with them if they're going to keep raising the premium. I'd rather save the money up myself in an e-account!I'm not happy at all, and I really feel for those who've had a far bigger increase than me. If anyone finds a good insurer, please let us know! It's hard to know who's alright and who isn't.

nona85

...just got a quote with Petplan but they want nearly three times the amount I pay with M&S for the same cover....

pboae

I've asked on the suggestions board on this site if Martin could look into Pet Insurance again as the current article is out of date, and the behaviour of M&S is really bothering me. :-\

nona85, are you aware that if you change insurer any further respiratory problems will be excluded with the new insurer? Even with the recent hikes M&S are still competitive for many people, though for me I would be better off with PetPlan, but I can't change now due to past claims.

I'm already expecting M&S to drop my 'no excess' option, but I'm worried I will get another big price hike for this year too. :-(