Pet Insurance Cost Cutting System/MoneySavingExpert.com Discussion

noonesperfect

Both my dogs are 11 y.o. and have been covered by Petplan for since they were 2 or 3.

I'm not sure if I should be claiming for their medications as they both have to have tablets every day (50p a day for one dog) and the GSD X has to have blood test twice a year as well as tablets or so to check she's on the right level. (her tablets aren't so steep thankfully)

It's costing me just over £250 per year per dog now and I've really only claimed once (for all the tests the GSDX needed initially).

Bromley86

Kimberley wrote: »

The only way a pet would be run over is if your garden wasn't secure enough and it got out or you walk the dog off the lead or maybe if the front door was opened and the dog got out, none of those things will happen with me. If the dog was very poorly and i had no insurance then yes i'd have to PTS. Maybe once my debts are paid off i could afford insurance, but many people can't.

Bromley86, you live in Bromley? I'm near there

I did but we moved out to the country a year ago.

Fair enough on the run-over thing, although that was just an example. I could just have easily used hip dysplasia. Our puppy is having her first hydrotherapy session tomorrow and at £40 a pop with 10-30 sessions it's not cheap . Then there's hip operations and arthritis to possibly look forward to.

Not having a go at you - as you say your financial position is such that you either have an uninsured pet or no pet at all. Having had a serious problem turn up with our first puppy, I'm pretty pro-insurance .

Nomad25

For some more up to date info go to the Forum's Pet Insurance Money Saving thread sorry, can't do links yet] Loads of helpful stuff on there.

pboae

Georgina wrote: »

Our policy is up for renewal - we were with M&S.

Tilly came from a rescue, aged about six months. She's a long-legged Jack Russell, but could be a Parsons Jack Russell, or even a fox terrier cross. We don't have a pedigree, or any idea of her parentage. So, my question is, for insurance purposes, do we classify her as a pedigree, or as a crossbreed? Obviously being classed as a crossbreed means a cheaper policy, but we don't want to invalidate the policy before we start.

MoreThan comes up quite well for us - anyone been insured with them? I'm just going to study their policy in detail before I commit.

What does your vet say she is? If she is registered with your vet as a JRT cross, then she is a cross, if they have down as a JRT, go with that.

pboae

Kimberley wrote: »

The only way a pet would be run over is if your garden wasn't secure enough and it got out or you walk the dog off the lead or maybe if the front door was opened and the dog got out, none of those things will happen with me. If the dog was very poorly and i had no insurance then yes i'd have to PTS. Maybe once my debts are paid off i could afford insurance, but many people can't.

Bromley86, you live in Bromley? I'm near there

I know someone who was run over in a hit and run accident. She survived, but her dog didn't. The car mounted the pavement. It doesn't matter how careful you are as an owner, you can never protect yourself completely from the stupid or careless actions of others.

elsien

noonesperfect wrote: »

Both my dogs are 11 y.o. and have been covered by Petplan for since they were 2 or 3.

I'm not sure if I should be claiming for their medications as they both have to have tablets every day (50p a day for one dog) and the GSD X has to have blood test twice a year as well as tablets or so to check she's on the right level. (her tablets aren't so steep thankfully)

It's costing me just over £250 per year per dog now and I've really only claimed once (for all the tests the GSDX needed initially).

I've always claimed for all the repeat medications, and they've always paid up, but I think that's one of the reasons my excess is so high. Up until now though, it's been worth it - the last couple of years, they've paid out more than I've paid in premiums.

WeirdoMagnet

pboae wrote: »

What does your vet say she is? If she is registered with your vet as a JRT cross, then she is a cross, if they have down as a JRT, go with that.

Just moved to a different area, so just changed vets. We always call her a Parsons Jack Russell, that's what the rescue said she was, but we're not entirely sure. I don't think she has a square enough head to be a Parsons. What do you think?

Whoops, that was a bit big! Hang on, I'll resize it! That's better! Maybe too small now!

pboae

Hmm she looks like a poorly bred Parson's to me, but I am *not* an expert on JRT. She's got the cutest face whatever her parentage :heartsmil

If the insurance company have any reason to query her breed the first thing they will do is ask your vet, so you need to ensure that the details on the insurance match your registration at the vets.

WeirdoMagnet

pboae wrote: »

Hmm she looks like a poorly bred Parson's to me, but I am *not* an expert on JRT. She's got the cutest face whatever her parentage :heartsmil

If the insurance company have any reason to query her breed the first thing they will do is ask your vet, so you need to ensure that the details on the insurance match your registration at the vets.

I think you're right pboae - she also has a very pronounced undershot jaw, which doesn't cause any problems (at the moment), but does make it look like she is smiling all the time!

I think we'll stick with 'Parsons Jack Russell' description - that's what we registered her with at the vets, and if anyone did investigate it would look a bit odd changing it to 'JRT cross' just before we get a new insurance policy.

I'll know next time - note to self: next rescue to be called a crossbreed!

ebaybaby

My yorkie had pyometra and the vets bills came in at about £600 and something......I got back £290.
Even my vet said it was a disgrace.