Pet Insurance

Nicky7_2

Hi, Just wondered if anyone knows of any pet insurance, where they just cover Vet fees. I just don't want all the other stuff they offer you, like travel, advertising etc. It is for a cat. Thanks for any replys

lowis

i don't sorry, but you could try calling one of the big insurers and asking them if they could tailor a qoute for you...try AXA, Petplan, NFU.

Crisp_£_note

Hi

Have you tried AFI (Animal Friends Insurance)? They have an online chat help facility where you could ask if there is someone available (usualy is during weekday office hours) alternatively you could give them a call of course.
Thanks.

lazza_w

The additional charge that you pay for having the other cover is negiligable so is probably of no importance whe you're choosing an insurance policy. The insurance company is extremely unlikley to have to pay out on them so they're largely just included as frills to make the insurance policy look better than it is. Most animals don't get lost and when they do they're normally recovered without spending £500 on advertising so you get this cover almost free of charge because it probably only costs £5.00 per animal insured in their lifetime.

The only real exception to this is 3rd party insurance for dogs (if it bites someone or runs into a road and causes an accident) when you are legally liable for any damage caused.

Ignore the frills and concentrate on what level of cover a policy gives for accident and illness. Is it cover for life or is there a limt per condition (set amount of money or time from the onset of a condition).

elmccw

Speaking for personal & very current experience. Look for a policy that gives whole life cover, as in it is not restricted to say £2,500 per year and then the policy excludes that condition entirely.

Also NEVER cover with Tesco's.

Your dog may need cover for let us say £8,000 for one condition so go for a policy that covers you for about £10,000. Higher the excess to reduce the price.


I wish I had of done that 4 months ago.

mum2one

We were with petplan, and I couldnt fault the service, we had to have our Spaniel pts, he was nearly 14.

During his life time we made a couple of claims with pet-plan, 5 yrs ago he chipped a bone in his spine, private animal hospital, part mri scan, fees etc, £2,500 bill, we only pd £60 excess, with some policies they would of said we've paid once, if it happens again - tough luck you pay the bill, with Pet Plan had we of needed to make a claim of again for the same injury they would of paid.

I fully appriciate its a chance you take, but look at the small print. x

elmccw

Totally agree with mum2one, petplan may be more expensive however they do provide comprehensive cover.

Wish I hadn't gone for the cheaper option.

zzzLazyDaisy

I echo the other posters - make sure you get whole of life cover and not so much per condition.

My son's dog was insured with petplan, only a few weeks after they got him he tried to leap a fence and tore both his cruciates (sp). He ended up having two ops on one knee because the first didn't take, and one op on the other, and will be on medication for the rest of his life. The monthly medication cost almost as much as the monthly premiums and thats without taking into account the cost of the ops. Because he is insured with petplan they will continue to cover him for the rest of his life.

My cat is insured with AXA. Also a whole of life policy. I've never had to make a claim, but the premiums are worth it for the peace of mind.

snowman2_2

Pet Insurance rule number 1 - You get what you pay for.
People who get bargain basement policies tend to get what's coming to them - very little. Always carefully read the small print and bear in mind, customer service is relevant. You are 3 times more likely to make a claim on pet insurance than on your household insurance

lowis

Petplan have always been great - had various animal with them over the past 14 years....and made some massive claims running into the thousands!

I started a policy with AXA last year for an elderly adopted cat and they have been very good so far - plus, unlike most of the other insurers they do not charge a % excess of vets fees once your cat is deemed elderley (usually 10 years). Petplan charge 20%...which can work out pricey if you make a claim for a couple of grand.

mum2one

Big thank you - Lowis - look into Axa, goty a quote off Petplan, and going for their premium policy they allow you 12k a yr for vets fees, were getting a Spaniel puppy next month, we choose him last week and dd has called him Bailey.. will have a look at Axa, esp as they dont charge the excess, with Whisky as he was 13, we pd £43.00 pm but the excess was £90 and 20% of the cost. x