Pet Insurance Nightmare

loobylou11

Can anyone help me? I have Sainsbury's Pet Insurance for my dog who is coming up to one year old. I took out the policy the day we bought her home from the breeder thinking just in case something happened early on. Anyway, when my puppy was 6 months old she was diagnosed with Addisons Disease which requires life long treatment. When I took out Sainsbury's policy I thought it read life long cover but they only cover £7,500 per condition life long. I am in a position now where I am reaching the £7,000 mark with vet bills and cannot afford to pay for treatment after that.

Is there an insurance policy I can change to that covers existing conditions?

vij

Insurance by definition is to cover an "unexpected and unplanned" event. I dont know of any policies which will cover an existing condition that has not been "dormant" for 1-3 years depending on insurer. Some wont cover pre exisiting even when they have been dormant for that time.

http://www.addisondogs.com/addisons/

It might be worth seeing if you are able to get help through the blue cross or PDSA, or event to look at buying your prescriptions then purchasing medication online or through your local pharmacy.

Im really sorry to hear your dog has developed this and wish you all the very best for the future.

loobylou11

vij wrote: »

Insurance by definition is to cover an "unexpected and unplanned" event. I dont know of any policies which will cover an existing condition that has not been "dormant" for 1-3 years depending on insurer. Some wont cover pre exisiting even when they have been dormant for that time.

It might be worth seeing if you are able to get help through the blue cross or PDSA, or event to look at buying your prescriptions then purchasing medication online or through your local pharmacy.

Im really sorry to hear your dog has developed this and wish you all the very best for the future.

Thank you for your reply. I didn't think there would be any alternative, but thought it was worth asking the question.

loobylou11

Thank you for your reply. I didn't think there would be any hope but thought it was worth asking in case someone knew an answer.

niki_s_uk

Hiya Looby

I really can relate to your problem, I have insurance through More Than and they only cover up to £7k per condition also.

My dog has bad hip dysplasia and I worry what will happen when we reach the maximum amount - we do have a bit to go until then but it is still a worry.

I wouldn't want to have my dog put to sleep because of her illness and at present she is only 2 years old - diagnosed at 11 months.

I know it isn't the best solution and isn't right but if it came to it there is only one thing I can do to ensure my pet's life - and that is to register her as or give her to someone who is in receipt of benefits, who can access the pdsa.

Why the PDSA doesn't hold it's own surgeries for paying customers and plough the money back into the charity i'll never know - it would be a very good way for them to generate cash without ripping off people, because lets face it, vets bills are always over inflated.

I hope you find a solution - if you do, please let me know because I'll be in your shoes one day.

JEB33

Sorry to hear about your dog, my dog is now 13 and has had Addisons for over 7 years, unfortunately she was not insured when she contracted it and I could not find any insurers who would go near her.
Just a tip though as I know how expensive it can be.. you can get the Addisons medication(florinef/fludrocortisone) from a local pharmacist (ie Boots) with a prescription from your vets, and it costs so much less, I was paying £20-30 pm for meds from vets, I now get a 6 month supply from Boots for approx £60 for the lot, some vets charge you to write a prescription so make sure you get 6 months at a time rather than 1 month.
If you make sure you give your dog regular medication and have her electrolytes checked every 6 months theres no reason she shouldn't live a long happy life and shouldn't cost too much!!!!

Good luck

(any other non-prescription veterinary meds can be bought from websites such as petmeds.co.uk, again much cheaper than from the vets)