Pet Insurance guide discussion area

tashaw2908

Can someone tell me the difference between pet insurance and pet plans that vets offer. Both look the same bar the excess?

KxMx

Insurance covers vet bills apart from routine things like injections, worming and flea drops.

My previous Vets plan covers those things, 2 free check ups annually, small discounts off consults and treatment plus fixed price dental.

It can be beneficial to have both, or just insurance and pay for the routine out of pocket.

md_dr

Hi all,
Hoping to get some advice. I have a 6 year old Maltese who’s had a pre existing condition. I’ve been with John Lewis since she was 1 year old with their lifetime essential cover. At various points before renewal, I’d call and discuss possibly increasing the cover but opted not to. My cover has gone from 200/year to now £1780!! Not only that, I called them today to request an increase on cover to their next tier at £7500 as the dog is getting older and now they’re saying it’s not possible as we’ve claimed before (am due for renewal in a few days). Though I’ve been getting different stories from different customer service agents. Anyways, this policy change/ increase condition isn’t written anywhere in the policy documents (read it over 5 times) and the manager even said the same thing. He said “oh well we don’t write it in the policy papers and refer you to call us”. We feel so mislead and misinformed over the last 5 years!! I’ve tried to google search this “can’t increase policy because you’ve claimed in the past” but can’t find any information!! I understand you can’t increase it midway through the year, but this is for renewal!

We feel so stuck because she has a pre existing chronic condition that won’t be covered with a new insurer. Has anyone had this experience?? Any advice?

muddlemand

I know they put the premium up as the animal ages, but I didn't expect it to kick in when a cat turned six. Based on average lifespan that isn't even middle aged. My cat came to live with me last year when she was five, and is now six (duh ), and my renewal quote is 44% higher than last year. No claims, no health conditions, nothing but the birthday. I'm shocked at such a big increase - is this usual? This is Tesco pet insurance; I went with them for the price combined with a good policy.

KxMx

If your cat has had no health problems at all (including things you may have raised verbally with the Vet which went no further), then I'd definitely shop around and look at other insurers.

Have you spoken to them to see why it went up quite so much? It could be a normal rise plus the end of a discount, such as 10, 15 percent off the first year if you buy online etc.

Ben_Co

Hi everyone. Hope you can help me with some advice. I have a cat which is about 1 1/2 years old. About 2 weeks ago she had an accident and possibly broke her tail (she can't lift it as high as she used to). We took her the vet, he said he can't say much without x-ray and gave pain killers. Cat seems okay, but we would like to have the x-ray done. The cat is not insured at the moment, and I'm wondering, if I get a insurance, would the insurance cover the costs for the x-ray (after the cool down period). Thanks, Ben.

Savvy_Sue

Unlikely. 

KxMx

No because the x-ray would be needed for a problem which occurred before the policy was taken out.
Therefore a pre existing condition and therefore excluded.

martyp

Hi all,
Please can I get a little help with regards to pet insurance.
My cat is a 10 year old Bengal cross, she stays indoors or just goes in the back garden. I've had her since a kitten and thankfully the only vet visits have been for minor things such as small injuries etc. And cost under £100. I've not had to claim on my Covered for Life policy with Petplan and now it's £30 a month with £115 excess and 20% of the remainder payable.
Having got online quotes I'm considering instead getting an animal friends policy for £8.75 a month that seems much the same in what's covered and then put the remainder of the £30 I would have spent into a savings account each month which could then cover visits under the excess if required.
Would that be a good idea or is my existing policy a bargain with amazing cover?

KxMx

Anything that's she's seen a vet for before will count as pre existing and be excluded from a new policy. Even if you haven't claimed on the insurance. 

Sometimes the exclusions do go further as well. 

As an example my Vet had told me my late cat would need teeth cleaning at some point. I declared this when changing insurers and the exclusion was all mouth and oral disorders.

After 2 years the insurer, Pet Plan, agreed to remove this exclusion as she hadn't needed treatment and had had a through recent dental check while under sedation, which she passed. 
Note not all insurers will remove exclusions.

They also paid out £3.5k no quibble, settling the £3k claim just as quick and query free as a £30 claim. Pet Plan are the Rolls Royce of pet insurance so it does tend to be more expensive. Animal Friends don't have a great reputation.