Question re PetPlan excess

BigTezza

Hi

I have a question about the application of the Excess amount on PetPlan cat insurance and I'm hoping someone can enlighten me.

Earlier in the year my parents' cat developed ear trouble and needs ongoing treatment every few months. When my parents paid for the first clutch of bills PetPlan took out their excess as expected. No problem there.

The cat has needed treatment again recently for the same condition and when they paid for the latest batch of visits PetPlan took ANOTHER excess out. The reason they've given is that the policy was recently renewed and despite it being an ongoing treatment it constituted a new claim under the terms of their policy so my parents had to lose another £90.

They are both in their 70's so the loss of another £90 represents a fair chunk of money. This may be the way of the world but surely this is wrong on various levels? Firstly, it's not a great way to 'reward' people who pay on time and stay loyal. Secondly how can they do this when it's an ongoing condition?!? A nice little earner for the insurance company at the expense of people who can't afford to lose another excess if the cat needs further treatment just after they have renewed the policy. Even the nurse at the Vet surgery said it was "all wrong".

Has anyone else had experience of this and can it be challenged? I do some work for the local cat shelter and lots of cats are dumped because the owners can't afford to keep them and this kind of practice by a supposedly reputable insurance firm surely doesn't help - it makes my blood boil :mad:

Thanks in advance.

lowis

yes, unfortunately each new year constitutes a new period of insurance, so you would pay the excess again for an ongoing condition the first time you claim in each new period of insurance.

ps - just wait until the pet reaches 'old age', they will then become liable to pay 20% vets fees along with the £90 excess!

BigTezza

I think they pay that already as the cat is quite old. To my mind the people who are more likely to have old cats are the older population and this trap door is cruel. Given the profits these companies make it's also unnecessary.

I know it will probably fall on deaf ears but I feel a red hot letter to their MD coming on................

Fire_Fox

They don't care about loyalty: your parents can't go anywhere else as the condition you are insured for with PetPlan will be excluded under any new policy with another insurer.

BigTezza

Just for future reference - is this the same tactic used by all pet insurers? PetPlan make a big thing about covering your pet for life but how strange that they don't mention that you'll get stung for another excess for ongoing treatment after each annual policy renewal.....can't imagine why. I've got my own cat covered with PetPlan so it would be nice to know.

snowman2_2

PetPlan charge a new excess each year but they also reset the sum insured for each year ie you get another £7000 or whatever to spend. Directline charge one excess but you get a fixed sum to spend for the duration of your pets illness. Some insurers charge an excess for only provide cover for a year. Pet Plan has about the highest sum insured but you do pay an annual excess.

You wont get anywhere by complaining as it is clearly in the terms and conditions and has been for several years.

BigTezza

Thanks for that. I have always been wary of the 'others' who will only cover for a year or whatever but are much cheaper. I've been with PetPlan for many years and always considered them the best. However, I still feel that charging another excess per insurance period for an ongoing problem is wrong. I might just ask their MD what justification they have for that rule as it just seems like a licence to steal.

Fire_Fox

BigTezza wrote: »

Thanks for that. I have always been wary of the 'others' who will only cover for a year or whatever but are much cheaper. I've been with PetPlan for many years and always considered them the best. However, I still feel that charging another excess per insurance period for an ongoing problem is wrong. I might just ask their MD what justification they have for that rule as it just seems like a licence to steal.

The justification is the insurance period, as you only commit to using that company for one year at a time and they amend your premiums each time. The alternative is to have the insurance period as, say, five years and only pay the excess once in that time but then you'd have to commit to using that company for five years!

PetPlan are a decent company but AXA are apparently just as good and often cheaper. To be honest I am not convinced it is much cheaper to go with one of the others - my cat is £7.50 a month with AXA and one of the other posters is paying £6 with Argos - both young adult rescue cats.