Anyone with Vetsmedicover Insurance?

Runningbackwards_2

Thanks for your feedback - unfortunately due to a combination of 3 sick people and 1 sick dog in the house this week I haven't managed to call NFU yet, but I will be doing so tomorrow (just looked at the time - I mean today, Monday!). They have always been excellent to deal with, and I really do not want to leave them, but unless they can reduce the figure.... I understand that costs go up etc. and part of the rise seems to be that the figures for the loyalty bonus have been reduced, as a mutual society they give you a reduction when you re-insure, but it is such a huge leap, and money is very tight.

Hopefully they will be able to reduce the figure - maybe as you say some of their information is incorrect, I must scrutinise the renewal - I assumed that they would have everything correct as she has been insured with them for 3 years... Guess one should never assume anything Though she is a pedigree and cost a silly amount :eek:

I will let you know what they say.

uolypool

I have my Rottweiler insured with this company, have never had any problems with them.Staff are friendly, well at least the ones I have spoken to were;).However I have yet to make a claim with them.Time will tell I'm sure;)

Runningbackwards_2

Well, we have phoned the current insurers who say that the increase is correct, and they will not reduce it, so now seriously have to look at the alternatives - Vetsmedicover looks so good........

Has anyone on here ever been through making a claim with them?

If not that company what advice would you give about who else to go with - I want her to have life long cover without a doubt. She has no ongoing health problems, and the only claim we have ever made was to treat a tail injury.

Any advice and input would be much appreciated - insurance is such a minefield!

Thanks

Runningbackwards_2

hethmar wrote: »

NFU are definitely one of the better insurers. Im surprised they have increased the premium that much!

I know - I was surprised also, never experienced this with them before, just hope when renewal time comes for the others we are not in for so much of a shock :eek:

They are a really good company, and I have recommended them many times to friends and family, and still will, but I can no longer say that their premiums are competitive having looked around based on her renewal quote (unless comparing to Petplan) and if money were not so tight I would keep her with them, even though a 50% increase seems way out of order, but looking ahead to possible increases on this scale for the other dogs then I need to save money where I can, and as she has no ongoing health problems, and is so young, I can shop around for her cover, just need to find a decent company with good cover

walwin

Runningbackwards wrote: »

Well, we have phoned the current insurers who say that the increase is correct, and they will not reduce it, so now seriously have to look at the alternatives - Vetsmedicover looks so good........

Has anyone on here ever been through making a claim with them?

If not that company what advice would you give about who else to go with - I want her to have life long cover without a doubt. She has no ongoing health problems, and the only claim we have ever made was to treat a tail injury.

Any advice and input would be much appreciated - insurance is such a minefield!

Thanks

I suggest you get a quote from AXA http://www.axa.co.uk/insurance/pet

Several people on here are with them and I've read really good reports when they've had to claim

Runningbackwards_2

walwin wrote: »

I suggest you get a quote from AXA http://www.axa.co.uk/insurance/pet

Several people on here are with them and I've read really good reports when they've had to claim

Thanks for the advice Walwin - Just did an online quote with AXA - came back at less than we paid last year So I will call them to go through some questions I have. Only thing that worries me is that the cover level seems to be £7000 for the year, not per condition per year - and although this is probably more than adequate in most cases I am still drawn to a higher level "in case" - we have had one dreadful year with one of the dogs when a very complex ongoing illness racked up a huge vets bill involving specialists etc . so would not mind paying more for a higher level of cover

hethmar

Hi, Im with AXA for one of my boys - Im stuck with M and S for the other one as he has an ongoing condition. AXA is £7k per year as you say - very few insurers do per condition per year cover - I believe NFU is one of the few that did, albeit at a lower pay out per condition. At least with AXA the pot is filled up again every year - be very wary of insurers who appear to give life time cover (usually they use the term "unlimited time to claim" or somesuch and people believe that means unlimited pay out, which unfortunately it doesnt)

Have a look at the pet insurance sticky thread

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/...08056&page=147

Runningbackwards_2

hethmar wrote: »

Hi, Im with AXA for one of my boys - Im stuck with M and S for the other one as he has an ongoing condition. AXA is £7k per year as you say - very few insurers do per condition per year cover - I believe NFU is one of the few that did, albeit at a lower pay out per condition. At least with AXA the pot is filled up again every year - be very wary of insurers who appear to give life time cover (usually they use the term "unlimited time to claim" or somesuch and people believe that means unlimited pay out, which unfortunately it doesnt)

Have a look at the pet insurance sticky thread

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/...08056&page=147

Hi Hethmar, thanks for the advice - I am very conscious of the pitfalls of thinking I will be getting lifetime cover and finding the pot does not renew annually, so heaven help us if an expensive ongoing condition develops But nice to get feedback from people actually with companies I am considering - have you ever had to claim with AXA? Were they reasonable to deal with?

Thanks for your feedback

Runningbackwards_2

Just a quick update - decided to go with AXA in the end after much more research - looks like good lifetime cover for a sensible premium. Still find the vetsmedicover company appealing (though I am put off by having to get authorization before treatment unless it is an emergency - like we would take an animal to the vet for no good reason? guess they at least can make you aware then if something would not be covered if it was a pre-existing condition you had declared, but I just have visions of being hours on the phone at the vet trying to get through!) - may look at them come renewal time next year, by then there should be more actual feedback on the company, though if AXA doesn't go silly when renewal time comes around I may stay "loyal" as they do seem to get good feedback.

Thanks to Hethmar for suggesting I look at them :T

uolypool

uolypool wrote: »

I have my Rottweiler insured with this company, have never had any problems with them.Staff are friendly, well at least the ones I have spoken to were;).However I have yet to make a claim with them.Time will tell I'm sure;)

UPDATE just wanted to let people know , I recently had to make a claim from vetsmedicover for my Rottie.Less than 10 days after treatment was finished the vets and I both recieved letters to say that the claim had been paid out in full minus the excess which I had already paid.Throughout the whole thing I found them very good and efficient and I even got a phone call from them asking how the op went and if woofer was recovering ok.This call could have been just them just checking up before paying out but either way I thought it was very nice of them.They also told me how much of this years money was left , am happy with them.