Pet Insurance guide discussion area

Oddjob

I need to insure a rescue Boxer I have just got. Can anyone tell me their experience of insurance companies, especially with Boxers. I'm not so much looking for the cheapest premium now, but more interested in knowing which companies have put the premiums up a lot in following years. I got stung a few years ago by Sains who doubled my dogs premium when he reached 9 and put the excess up to £200 per condition and 20% of all vets bills. The problem is, Boxers are on the list of Special breeds with most insurance companies and so the premiums always seem to be at least a third to half as much again as other breeds.
Would be really interested to know which companies others recommend.
I'm not interested in self insuring, its too risky unless you have a credit card with a good amount spare, which I haven't. If I had, then probably I would go for that option and just take out third party insurance.

Johnny_Dangerously

If I were to insure my pets again it would be with petplan. By far the most reliable and easy to deal with. In my opinion, the least likely to unreasonably hike prices, but by no means guaranteed. My boxers insurarance was increased by 20% after 1 year by them, my excess increased by £10 and my max claimable reduced from uncapped to 12K. That sent me down the self-insure route so I am in control at all times. Saying that, I believe those changes were part of a much larger pricing shift on their entire book rather than related to my dog specifically.

Still, I always say, just because something hasn't happened, doesn't mean it wont. Petplan still have the right to increase premiums and change t's & c's at will. What they have shown though is that they appear to be the least likely to, and are in it for the long haul.

rising_from_the_ashes

Johnny_Dangerously wrote: »

Still, I always say, just because something hasn't happened, doesn't mean it wont. Petplan still have the right to increase premiums and change t's & c's at will. What they have shown though is that they appear to be the least likely to, and are in it for the long haul.

PetPlan are probably the most unlikely to give huge premium hikes after a claim

Unfortunately all insurers will have a clause that they can change T&Cs at renewal time (even Petplan!)

They will also all charge a % of costs for older pets - as high as 35%

For Petplan it's 20% - I believe this is for over 8s for dogs & 10s for cats but you'd need to double check as there are some 'special breeds' that it's lower for - I don't know if Boxers are on that or not

lovemydog

Ive been reading up on the harmful effect of annual vaccinations, and don't want to give them, the American system recommends three years and some forums suggest 5 yearly is sufficient. PLEASE has anyone found an insurance that doesn't insist on them. My last 3 dogs died young of horrible conditions and I want my new puppy to be as healthy as physically possible.

Johnny_Dangerously

imo, don't get too caught up in the panic about vaccinations. Most vaccines are every other year here already based on very sound recommendations.

I see it very much like the issues with MMR jabs. People go so fixated upon the small number of cases with issues that they lost the plot and they we started seeing measles outbreaks.

TomsMom

lovemydog wrote: »

Ive been reading up on the harmful effect of annual vaccinations, and don't want to give them, the American system recommends three years and some forums suggest 5 yearly is sufficient. PLEASE has anyone found an insurance that doesn't insist on them. My last 3 dogs died young of horrible conditions and I want my new puppy to be as healthy as physically possible.

Assuming that vets in Guernsey use the same vaccine manufacturers as here in the UK, then most (definitely Nobivac and Canigen) have a 3 year protocol.

Normal puppy vaccs, then the first annual booster which includes all the original puppy vaccs.

Following that only Lepto is given annually if it is a problem in your area, sometimes Pi, but the others are every 3 years.

The Ts and Cs of most insurance policies usually have something along the lines of "following the recommendation of your vet regarding vaccination". So if the vet uses one of the manufacturers who follow the 3 year protocol then that is sufficient to meet the Ts and Cs of the policy.

As you are in Guernsey it may be different so you will need to check what vaccine manufacturer your vet uses and what the manufacturer's protocol is. You'd also need to read your policy Ts and Cs carefully

PhiltheBear

The 'rule' generally is that: If your pet contracts a disease that can be vaccinated against the insurer will only pay out if you have vaccinated.

There are issues over vet recommendations, the main one being that it's the vaccine manufacturer that has to guarantee the immunity period, not the vet. Therefore, your question to the vet shouldn't be "What do you recommend?" but "What period does the vaccine manufacturer says this vaccine covers?" - and get the answer put on to your vet's records. In most cases it's 3 years - but some diseases require annual vaccination - like leptospirosis.

There's a good buyer's guide for pet insurance on https://www.petinsurancecompare.co.uk which deals with a lot of the ins and outs of pet insurance.

mapcr77

Any recommendations for an affordable policy for a 10+ year old cat?
Mine has gone up so much I'm considering not bothering with the insurance and save the money instead!

Thanks!

sheramber

What is affordable/

Premiums are based on your pet's age and potential health problems and your post code which indicates how much vets in your area charge for treatment.

Remeber cover for any illness or condition that you have consulted your vet about, whether he issued treatment or not , will be excluded by a new company.

mapcr77

he is healthy but renewal is over 300! I claimed for something a while ago, but nothing for nearly 2 years.