Pet Insurance guide discussion area

martyp

Thanks KxMx, I do worry about going elsewhere as I have heard so much about them. Her visits were one off things which wouldn't need any further treatment e.g. when she managed to consume something harmful and had a fight with another cat. They were treated at the time with no further problems, more precautionary treatment really.

KxMx

Anything counts as pre existing. Treatment ongoing, one off, minor, major or discussed with a Vet and not treated. Pre existing means exclusions are very likely. 

Here is what Animal Friends say:

https://www.animalfriends.co.uk/?pet_101=pre-existing-condition

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.animalfriends.co.uk/blog/pre-existing-conditions-and-how-it-works/amp/

sheramber

 It is not just the condition that is considered pre existing. It is also anything that could be related to it.  
E.g. if your cat had hd an injury to a leg that cleared up with rest and maybe painkillers.  If in later years she developed arthritis in that leg that could be considered to be connected to  the injury years before. 
Some companies have a very wide exclusion for such things. Animal Friends is one of them.
 

CodyOconcho

Hi guys! I'm looking for some advice and I'm really hoping you lot may be able to guide me...

I have 7 cats who as you can imagine become very costly on vet trips, I decided to finally get them insured now that there's a stray cat that keeps coming into my back garden and attacking them (we chase the cat away every time he comes in the garden) 
a little back story to my cats 
Coco - Female/spayed/ 8 years old 
Jasper - Male/Neutered/ 5 years old (6 this year)
Kevin - Male/Neutered/4 years old (5 this year)
Fry - Male/Neutered/ 5 years old (6 this year) had teeth removed a year or so ago
Forest - Male/Neutered/ 5 years old (6 this year)
Teddy- Female/spayed/ 5 years old (6 this year) had teeth removed a year or so ago 
Winnie -  Female/spayed/ 5 years old (6 this year)
so that's the just of them all. 

I looked on admiral as that's who my car insurance is with and I selected premier plus as that seemed the most beneficial for them as you can claim up to £10,000 in treatment costs etc so it'd be a bit easier on my pocket. I understand I would have to contribute 10% co-payment for the cats that are older than 6 which again is better to pay £10 than £100 or £100 rather than £1000! I also understand that they will not cover death in cats over 8 years old as well as cremation costs.
I would just like to be  able to be comfortable knowing that they're all covered worst case scenario.
if anybody could give me some advice or suggest a trusty company I would be forever grateful.

thank you in advance!

Cody

dirtmother

I have six currently aged 5 to 14. I do not have them insured. I completely understand the wish for 'all covered worst case scenario' but I honestly don't think that is guaranteed.

We could cover a lot of acute eventualities through having ample credit card limits (over the years we've paid for dislocated hips to be put back, radioactive iodine for hyperthyroid and various surgeries) Not financially painless but manageable.

As a cautionary but reassuring tale, I did have my dog insured and then gave it up when the renewal price was hiked by 30%+ (just generally, nothing to do with her history). She then had some awful episodes of extreme pain (bad enough we'd've had to have her euthanised if we couldn't treat it - it was appalling) We pressed the vet for X rays which she didn't think would show anything but to everyone's surprise, they showed a badly deteriorated hip joint. (Very annoying since we'd made a point of buying a puppy from parents with good hip scores in a not especially vulnerable breed) Referral for hip replacement was recommended and that would have been painful to accommodate financially (vet costs have rocketed) But she was doing better by this point, it didn't seem to fit the symptoms, and our house would be very difficult to provide the high quality rehabilitation required for successful outcome, so we decided to wait and see for a bit... and she's been fine for years, no recurrence of the pain. I suspect had she been insured she might have had surgery she didn't need. 

sheramber

The Rolls Royce of companies is Petplan. They are more  expensive than most but do not  increase your premium if you claim Many companies do. 
There are annual incases due to rising costs which all companies  
You could look at Bought  By Many who   have had some good reviews on here. I have no experience of  them.
Be wary of any connected to E&L (check underwriters) They tend to be cheap but there can problems getting claims paid.
Animal Friends are very strict when it comes to claiming if there has been any previous vet involvement , no matter how obscure.

With so many to insure  consider  self insuring  by putting  that money away in a separate account each month to use for vet bills.
Only you can decide whether that is a viable option.

CodyOconcho

sheramber said:

The Rolls Royce of companies is Petplan. They are more  expensive than most but do not  increase your premium if you claim Many companies do. 
There are annual incases due to rising costs which all companies  
You could look at Bought  By Many who   have had some good reviews on here. I have no experience of  them.
Be wary of any connected to E&L (check underwriters) They tend to be cheap but there can problems getting claims paid.
Animal Friends are very strict when it comes to claiming if there has been any previous vet involvement , no matter how obscure.

With so many to insure  consider  self insuring  by putting  that money away in a separate account each month to use for vet bills.
Only you can decide whether that is a viable option.

I already have savings for them but the cost of vets compared to getting them insured is crazy different, I feel like I wont stress as much with actual insurance...
Pet plan wont let me insure more than 5 unfortunately  

sheramber

CodyOconcho said:

sheramber said:

The Rolls Royce of companies is Petplan. They are more  expensive than most but do not  increase your premium if you claim Many companies do. 
There are annual incases due to rising costs which all companies  
You could look at Bought  By Many who   have had some good reviews on here. I have no experience of  them.
Be wary of any connected to E&L (check underwriters) They tend to be cheap but there can problems getting claims paid.
Animal Friends are very strict when it comes to claiming if there has been any previous vet involvement , no matter how obscure.

With so many to insure  consider  self insuring  by putting  that money away in a separate account each month to use for vet bills.
Only you can decide whether that is a viable option.

I already have savings for them but the cost of vets compared to getting them insured is crazy different, I feel like I wont stress as much with actual insurance...
Pet plan wont let me insure more than 5 unfortunately  

Obviously vet fees depend on the health of the animal as insurance does not cover routine vet costs.
If any of your cats has had any previous  condition, then that,  and anything that can be related to it, will be excluded.

straytoaster

Does anyone have experience with Vets Medi Cover? Even the top rate of cover seems suspiciously cheap.

sheramber

straytoaster said:

Does anyone have experience with Vets Medi Cover? Even the top rate of cover seems suspiciously cheap.

As long as you are aware of the excess 10% of the bill  for aged 4 and over and 6%   for aged 6 and over.