Cat insurance with no condition limit or % excess?

mogwai

I'm looking to get insurance for my cats, but from what I've read, its important to get it right first time, as if they develop a condition, it won't be covered by a future insurer

Can anyone recommend an insurer that has
1. No limit for a condition ie. will continue to pay for ongoing conditions every year
2. Does not require you to pay excess plus a % of the claim for cats over 9, as my cats are just turning 6.

On these basis, I've excluded Sainsburys and Tescos under 1. and Animal friends and M&S because of 2.

Just wanted to check in here before I spend all day looking at every single insurer for these things as its pretty time consuming!

zzzLazyDaisy

I am with AXA. It is lifetime cover and there is no % to pay above the excess (excess is £50)

My friend has Petplan. Similar provisions.

You can get cheaper, but you do get what you pay for with pet insurance.

lowis

AXA do not make you liable for a percentage excess, not even if the cat gets elderley. Petplan do once the cat reaches what they deem old age. Both AXA and Pet Plan (not the bduget/value policy) offer ongoing treatment, up to annual limits of £7000 a year I think (Pet PLan's most expesnsive policy might be £12k a year, not sure).

I have had pets with both and AXA edge ahead for me only due to the the fact they do not add a percetage excess on. Both companies offer great policies and service - I do find iit easier to speak to AXA though, they answer their phones very quickly.

mogwai

wow thanks for this feedback - looking further i had narrowed it down to nfu, axa or petplan. my older cats are 6 so i figure the excess plus % thing is pretty important. Some companies charge 35% of the claim plus excess, which is ridiculous..

Am going to look at these 2, though axa is looking to be the one...are there any other pitfalls with pet insurance that we need to be aware of? These seem to be the big 2 that people should look out for??

hethmar

NFU are good too but you have to speak to them and work through the policy rather than just taking it over the net.

The only other pitfalls for you is if your cats have ever been to a vet for a problem, even if you got no treatment, apart from routine stuff like innoculations, then those conditions will be excluded from any policy.

mogwai

Thanks all, I have checked out the insurers that did for life cover and asked about older cats - I went with AXA in the end as they are very reasonable, offer fantastic cover, and don't charge a % of the claim once the cat is over 7 or so..

Here is what I got from the other insurers:

Petplan
Covered for life £4000 each year
Excess £85
Older than 8 or 10yrs (?), excess (£85) + 20%.

Saga
Super cover £5000 each year
Excess £75
Older claim than 8 years - (excess)£85 + 20%, 9yrs+ £95 + 20%

AXA
Excess £75
£7000 year
No extra cost once cat over 8 years

Pinnacle
Excess depends
Older than 10 years - excess + 50% claim!!

Halifax
Extra cover £6000 year
Excess - £75
Older than 7 years - excess (£75) +15% claim

The AXA cover is costing between £8.90 and £10.60pm for my cats