PetPlan "Unlimited Vet Fees" Cover Stopped!

Vancat

If you thought you had “Unlimited Vet fees” cover, please check your renewal schedules!
I’ve always used and highly recommended PetPlan. Over the past 20 years I’ve had 8 dogs, 3 cats and even a horse insured with them. Always found them excellent when dealing with claims, and paid the higher prices knowing they will cover everything. My current dogs, aged 6 & 7, were insured from 8 weeks old, and I chose their Supreme Dog policies, giving Unlimited Vets Bills cover, for Life.
On checking my renewals for both dogs, from Dec 08 and Jan 09, I’ve just noticed that as well as the usual £2-3 a month increase each in premium, (it was £24 a dog in 2006; now it’s £33 a month, including a multi pet discount).....the Unlimited Vets Fees cover has been reduced to £12000 pa. This is still with “Lifetime Cover”.
I called PetPlan to query this; I’d not actually read the schedule....I assumed (wrongly) that nothing would change.....but the “Hello, hope you and Dog are well....” letter which always comes with the schedule, (which I also ignored) did say that “due to a review” they had made “some changes to the policy”. In other words, work it out for yourself!
I feel pretty annoyed that after all these years of paying for a Rolls Royce product, they’ve now decided to downgrade it without any agreement, but still uplifting the premiums!
I have previously had a dog with cancer; I realise just how far £12k of vets fees per year would go, but even so.....there’s a lot of difference between “Unlimited” and £12k!
PetPlan said they have made this change because very few people ever claimed over £12k, so now that’s the highest cover they offer.
I’m won’t change insurer....even though I’m now paying 2 x £33 and 1 x £16 pm for the dogs/cat, due to ages/existing conditions.
Let’s hope I never need to see how far £12k in vets fees stretch in the future!
VC

dacouch

The £12000 is per condition per year and not in total for everything each year I believe

Vancat

Just reread the schedule; it doesn't state per condition, just "Veterinary Fees Per year Maximum". Also tried to read through the policy booklet...still nothing about whether it's per condition per year, or per year.

VC

dacouch

I think you will find it is, give them a ring and ask

Vancat

Will do! I hope that's the case, and thanks for your help.
VC

dacouch

I think you will find it is, Pet Plan are great so I would expect them to do it that way and thats how the policy I read earlier looked to be

Vancat

Unfortunately it seems my first thoughts were correct. PP confirmed that the 12k is per year, not per condition.:mad:
And this is from their site:
http://www.petplan.co.uk/therightcover/dog.asp
(Looks like only the Pet Value plan is per condition)
VC

dacouch

I thought you said you had supreme cover not the Budget policy?

dacouch

I've just managed to find the policy wording for the Supreme Policy and its not very clear which way they settle. It could be worth just calling them to clarify.

https://www.petplan.co.uk/assets/pdf/terms_conditionsCFL.pdf

Vancat

I have Supreme, Cover for Life.
But their info states that only the Budget policy pays per condition.
The other two policies pay a total Per Year, not Per Condition.
I called them this morning. They confirmed it's Per Year on the Cover for Life policies, which includes the Supreme.
Yet another example of a trusted product moving the goalposts and letting loyal customers down with their greed.
I've had their policies since Patsy Bloom set them up, for the benefit of animals and their owners!
VC

UKTigerlily

Vancat wrote: »

If you thought you had “Unlimited Vet fees” cover, please check your renewal schedules!
I’ve always used and highly recommended PetPlan. Over the past 20 years I’ve had 8 dogs, 3 cats and even a horse insured with them. Always found them excellent when dealing with claims, and paid the higher prices knowing they will cover everything. My current dogs, aged 6 & 7, were insured from 8 weeks old, and I chose their Supreme Dog policies, giving Unlimited Vets Bills cover, for Life.
On checking my renewals for both dogs, from Dec 08 and Jan 09, I’ve just noticed that as well as the usual £2-3 a month increase each in premium, (it was £24 a dog in 2006; now it’s £33 a month, including a multi pet discount).....the Unlimited Vets Fees cover has been reduced to £12000 pa. This is still with “Lifetime Cover”.
I called PetPlan to query this; I’d not actually read the schedule....I assumed (wrongly) that nothing would change.....but the “Hello, hope you and Dog are well....” letter which always comes with the schedule, (which I also ignored) did say that “due to a review” they had made “some changes to the policy”. In other words, work it out for yourself!
I feel pretty annoyed that after all these years of paying for a Rolls Royce product, they’ve now decided to downgrade it without any agreement, but still uplifting the premiums!
I have previously had a dog with cancer; I realise just how far £12k of vets fees per year would go, but even so.....there’s a lot of difference between “Unlimited” and £12k!
PetPlan said they have made this change because very few people ever claimed over £12k, so now that’s the highest cover they offer.
I’m won’t change insurer....even though I’m now paying 2 x £33 and 1 x £16 pm for the dogs/cat, due to ages/existing conditions.
Let’s hope I never need to see how far £12k in vets fees stretch in the future!
VC

Wrong, by continuing the policy you agree to the terms, it's not like they've changed it mid year but at renewal. You have a choice whether to go with them or others, they are still the best on the market with the best cover & limit, I have the £12,000 level & am very satisfied with this. I'm sure they've only changed it because they've had no other choice.