pet insurance for a rescue dog

virgin_moneysaver

started looking into this & I have 2 questions?

some insurance companies want a specific date of birth which I cannot give, & don't want to just guess incase it invalidates the policy

they also ask about the breed, whether hes a pure breed, a cross breed or a mongrel - he's definately not the latter but without papers I cannot confirm which he is

any suggestions?

Soubrette

Did the original rescue not provide these details?

If not then take the dog to a vet and get the vet to assess him, get the vet to write down what he feels approx age and probably breed is and then enclose a copy of that letter with your insurance application. There will probably be a charge for this.

Sally_A

I was in a similar predicament, but used the RSPCA's scheme (possibly via Direct Line), so everything I declared was the info I was given by the rescue centre. Insurance is in utmost good faith after all, so I could only tell them the info I was given, and because previous history is "Top Secret", it was probably a little vague. However, when Ben had loads of fatty lumps removed and analysed about 2 years after ownership, I had no problems with the insurance payments (approx £800 paid out).

Best get a company you can speak to rather than do it on line, this problem must crop up frequently.

rising_from_the_ashes

I had a similar problem when I rehomed my lab - they would cover him but as I couldn't give an accurate age (I took him to the vet who estimated between 5 & 7) and had no medical history the quotes I got were extortionate.

£45/month with a £150 excess - and that was 5 years ago.

I put money away each month and I've been very lucky in that he's had the odd ear infection/tummy upset etc which have cost under £100 (so less than the excess would've been).

He's now an old man and has arthritis - I get a prescription from the vet & buy the medication online (which costs £26 instead of £68 from the vet) so it's still cheaper than the insurance would've been but..... I'd still rather have it.

As Sourbrette suggested, your vet may be able to give an age, confirm breed - wishing you better luck that I had with the insurance co's.

Soubrette

rising_from_the_ashes wrote: »

Sourbrette

Sourbrette:mad:

Well maybe a little bit

rising_from_the_ashes

A wee typo, sorry:(

hethmar

I just estimated the dogs age when I got my insurance - didnt seem a problem - ask the vet how old he thinks the dog is and use that as your birthday

Re pedigree or mongrel - they mean pure breed- parents are both same breed (more likely to have probs) or a cross breed. Yours is a Red Setter, so put him down as pedigree. In fact most insurers ask his breed rather than just the question pedigree or crossbreed? Its to work out the likelihood of breed related probs, not his value. You will have to put down the price you paid aswell.

Kittendreich

I've had no problems with our insurance for our rescue (only claimed once, but paid up no problem and not a huge premium). We knew nothing about him other than a rough age (although no way of knowing if that is true). I just put a question mark against anything I was guessing and put in a note to explain that we didn't have a proper history for him. He was about 2.5 when we got him which the vet thought was about right (no extra charge - just during his basic checkup when we got him, but they might charge for a letter). As long as you are honest in your application and state where you are guessing then they can chose to insure you or not, but not take your money and then not pay out when needed.

virgin_moneysaver

OK then - spent some time & have narrowed it down to either Aviva or LV. The main difference is that LV is cover for 12mths from diagnosis £5000, or Aviva are quoting unlimited treatment period, either £1500 or £3500. I'm tempted to go with the basic Aviva policy but worry that £1500 is too little - I know its all a guessing game.

rising_from_the_ashes

I'd lean towards the Aviva one just in case (my old cat had kidney problems that went on for many years so I'm personally not keen on 12 month limited policies) but £1500 does seem a bit low - is there a huge difference in cost for the £3,500 one?

virgin_moneysaver

rising_from_the_ashes wrote: »

I'd lean towards the Aviva one just in case (my old cat had kidney problems that went on for many years so I'm personally not keen on 12 month limited policies) but £1500 does seem a bit low - is there a huge difference in cost for the £3,500 one?

£60 a year extra - which is about the cost of a visit to the vets - never having had pet insurance before, my dog I lost last year was about 8 when we had her so the premiums quoted were prohibitive

Been thinking about it overnight & the £1500 wont go far if something major happens, & god willing, he should be with us for at least 10 years, so i think the higher policy would be better - many thanx