Cat insurance - pre exisitng condition trap, how to avoid?

gettingready

1) OK, I had my 4 kittens insured with Argos Platinum when I got them but had to cancel when I was out of work for 6 months.

In the time when they were insured - both Fred and George had terrible dihrea (spelling) and had quite a few tests done (nothing came up, Fred did not ever do a normal poo to this day) which came to around 500 so I did put a claim in and this is of course recorded with Argos.

Now - my understanding is that if I was to re-insure the cats (which I want to do now) this could be used as "pre existing condition" for any tummy related/digestive/whatever problems. Despite the fact that nothing came up on the various tests they had done and Fred just simply having those runny poos all the time no matter what /how I feed him. He looks very healthy, has beautiful shiney fur, bright eyes, nothing wrong BUT those runny poos - which do not seem to bother or affect him in any way. Still - if somethin was ever happen to him this claim for tests etc could be used to reject any future claims for tummy related problems, is that correct?

What if I insured the cats with another company now? Would that still be the case?

2) If they are microchipped/registered at the vets in my name, can they be insured on someone else's name? My daughter will be paying the insurance. Would that be a problem with any possible future claims?


3) Looking at insurance - drives me crazy as online quotes have no space for 6 cats of various ages...grrrrrrrrr

Thanks a lot

Fire_Fox

Any insurer would ask for a medical history so you are unlikely to be insured for any digestive complaint with any insurer: it would be insurance fraud to try to get round that. You also cannot insure or claim for a car/ house/ pet that you do not own, the insurance must be in your name but your daughter can still pay by direct debit. Unfortunately diarrhoea is a symptom, regardless of clinical signs (test results) or lack of diagnosis. It's actually a possible symptom of numerous conditions so you may find insurers try to wriggle out of all sorts of future claims for non stomach conditions. Have you tried probiotics plus fish body oils, a completely novel protein or completely raw? Have allergy tests been done or rare parasites?

gettingready

Thanks for that - that is really bad news re insurance.

So I have one problem with the chips already as the ....... (fill an insult of your own choice) ex STILL did not change the details.

And now another with Fred and George and insurance.

But at least I now now that does not matter where I insure them - it is still going to be the same story.

When I insured the original 4 cats first time, I do not rememebr anyone asking me about any pre existing conditions?

As far as I know Chloe and Teddy have never been to the vets for anything other than their neutering and vaccinations so those should be ok together with Fiona and Phoebe.

I just wonder something - when someone gets an older cat and is not aware of whatever prior medical history does that cat have - what happens then with insurance? If the owner is genuinely not aware of any possible pre existing condition of a cat and it turnes out the cat is unwell with somethich chronic that obviously started earlier?

Fred is extremely greedy, he has his food and finishes off all the other cat's leftovers if not stopped. Sometimes he gobbles his food down so fast that the others are not even half way through their meals and he is pushing them away.

When all the tests came back negative, vet even suggested that he simply eats too fast and that may be the reason? No idea.

And I do feed him more wet as he does not touch dry at all - and still he seems to be always hungry, despite looking very well, much "fatter" than other cats.

I feed them Animonda in the mornings and Classic in the evenings (can not afford all animonda - wish I could). The orhet 5 cats have dry food out all the time (Orijen mixed with Go-Cat which I have bought in bulk before knowing any better and still got a few bags left so mix the 2) but Fred does not touch dry at all.

Fred GROWLS like a dog - at the dog and all the cats when he gets a chicken wing or a spare rib (once/twice per week they all get a bit of raw).

He jumps INTO the fridge when I open it.

I have had a few cats in my life but never met a cat like Fred.

People say that cats will eat anything when hungry - not Fred, he will not touch dry food no matter what.

Or perhaps he is not hungry enough to tocuh dry. But if he is not hungry enough - why is he ALWAYS in the kitchen trying to nick food? Or trying to nick it off my plate? Or practically from my mough? yes, he eats bread if I am having a sandwich.

He eats anything that I do - well, he tries to anyway.

I have to admit that very often I end up having to lock him in the living room when I am in the kitchen as one can NOT prepare any food without Fred putting his face in it one way or another.

Last time he went for sweetcord from a tin.

The silly thing it - when I lock him.. there is no door in my living room or kitchen. But I have a dog gate (similar to baby gate but taller) in the living roo and lock him there.

Now, from the 6 cats - Fiona gets out in between the bars, so does Phoebe. George jumpa over the gate (George is a PROPER cat LOL), Teddy and Chkloe are simply not bothered but would jump no problem and Fred just sits there like a lemon and cries to be let out..... He has got no brain that cat...

gettingready

OMG - Just looked at Petplan (Supercat) and the quote for just one cat (tried George) was £21.27.......with £85 excess

I had a VERY similar cover with Argos and it was under £5 per month...with £65 excess


Wanted to check other providers but £21.27 is way too much, with 6 cats no way I could afford THAT....


Done a quote on Argos (platinum) now for George as well - £13.93 with £65 excess
So I assume Fred would be the same
Teddy came up at £18.27
Chloe at £6.41
Fiona at £6.41
I asume Phoebe would be the same as Fion and Chloe

So for the 6 of them would be 13.91X2 + 6.41x3 +18.27 = £64.78

All with £65 excess and 7k per year for life.

Female cats insurance is a lot cheaper than males - when I once asked about that .. I was told boy cats are more prone to acidents/fights etc and that is why their insurance is more expensive

Zara is on Argos Platinum (higher figures for dog than cat) and I pay about £31 per month so total insurance for all pets would be just under £100 per month for all 7.

I am sure Zara's will go up a lot at reneval since she was diagnosed with displasia and arithritis.

Now, none of those 2 covers dental and Argos does not cove complementary - Petplan is up to 12k per year and Argos up to 7k per year.

I want the highest per year for life cover but also want dental

I was looking on here:

http://www.catinsurancecompare.co.uk/

I really would not like to pay more than £100 (absolute max) for the 6 cats and dog together per month - will have to keep on looking.....if I can get dental included for this price somewhere else...

rising_from_the_ashes

This is the major downfall of insurance - my wee girl cat tried to jump from the kitchen worktop (have no idea how she managed to get up there in the first place as she was tiny at the time) to the kitchen table, missed and damaged her knee.

She had to be knocked out for x-rays as the vet thought she'd broken something - luckily not and as there was no "real" damage she was neutered at the same time (I'd already paid for the anaesthetic so the vet said she'd do it while she was knocked out).

So, in the end the cost of x-rays/treatment was less than £100 so I didn't bother claiming (conscious that it would be excluded from future problems if I did).

However, it still shows up as an exclusion on her insurance - I've been told by the vet that should something happen and she say breaks that leg, the insurance are very unlikely to pay out even though it's obviously not a "related condition" - which IMHO is totally ridiculous. When responsible people are trying to do their best for their pets by insuring them to exclude conditions which bear no relevance on current conditions is quite frankly scandalous.


Very few insurance companies include dental treatment as standard (even the likes of PetPlan as I discovered) and you will pay an extra amount for this - could you not stick an amount away each month into a separate account to pay for this if and when it's needed?

rising_from_the_ashes

gettingready wrote: »

I just wonder something - when someone gets an older cat and is not aware of whatever prior medical history does that cat have - what happens then with insurance? If the owner is genuinely not aware of any possible pre existing condition of a cat and it turnes out the cat is unwell with somethich chronic that obviously started earlier?

This was the case when I got my rescue dog 6 years ago - he was somewhere between nearly 5 (what I was told) and 7 (what we/the vet suspected).

Due to being unable to prove his age or whether he'd had any vet treatment in the past I was quoted an huge price (it was something like £45 - 50 / month + £150 excess).

When I worked out how much that was / year (ie over £700 and that would be with one excess being paid, more if it was more than one condition) I decided to go with putting an amount away each month to cover any treatment he may need.

Yes, I've been very lucky with him, a few tummy upsets over the years (none of which have cost more than the excess would have been each time) and he's on medication for arthritis which costs me about £15/month (buy online, incl 6 monthly check up & prescription from the vet) - I would much rather have insurance but for him, it just wasn't feasible.

patchwork_cat

If your vet has an insurance section, then they know ways to phrase things, so that it will be paid. Our vet has a specialist on this and they are very good at phrasing it, so that it is a different condition.

We now self insure, being an ex cat breeder I have a lot of cats! Your attitude helps with this, I have the attitude that I would NEVER put a 19 year old cat thtrough an MRI scanner (as others do). The thing with insurance is as the cats get older and therefore more likely to need treatment insurance costs increase even if the company will insure them. As over 50% of my pets are over 10 now this is another factor.

Fire_Fox

gettingready wrote: »

So I have one problem with the chips already as the ....... (fill an insult of your own choice) ex STILL did not change the details.

And now another with Fred and George and insurance.

But at least I now now that does not matter where I insure them - it is still going to be the same story.

When I insured the original 4 cats first time, I do not rememebr anyone asking me about any pre existing conditions?

As far as I know Chloe and Teddy have never been to the vets for anything other than their neutering and vaccinations so those should be ok together with Fiona and Phoebe.

I just wonder something - when someone gets an older cat and is not aware of whatever prior medical history does that cat have - what happens then with insurance? If the owner is genuinely not aware of any possible pre existing condition of a cat and it turnes out the cat is unwell with somethich chronic that obviously started earlier?

Fred is extremely greedy, he has his food and finishes off all the other cat's leftovers if not stopped. Sometimes he gobbles his food down so fast that the others are not even half way through their meals and he is pushing them away.

When all the tests came back negative, vet even suggested that he simply eats too fast and that may be the reason? No idea.

And I do feed him more wet as he does not touch dry at all - and still he seems to be always hungry, despite looking very well, much "fatter" than other cats.

I feed them Animonda in the mornings and Classic in the evenings (can not afford all animonda - wish I could). The orhet 5 cats have dry food out all the time (Orijen mixed with Go-Cat which I have bought in bulk before knowing any better and still got a few bags left so mix the 2) but Fred does not touch dry at all.

Fred GROWLS like a dog - at the dog and all the cats when he gets a chicken wing or a spare rib (once/twice per week they all get a bit of raw).

I don't think most insurers do ask about pre-existing conditions, its only when you make a claim they ask for a full history. If you adopt an older cat with no medical history then you are insured for anything hidden, providing there are no signs or symptoms appearing before the uninsured first two weeks are up. Realistically chronic conditions such as diabetes or CRF will show symptoms early on, so you would have to lie to the vet/ insurer to claim which is fraud, and risking the health of the animal. Many strays end up at the vet before being permanently adopted, it's often illness that prompts a member of the public to take a cat in or ring a rescue. Note that by 'you' I mean everyone, not suggesting you personally would do this.

Applaws tends to be cheaper than Orijen as it comes on offer regularly (currently ~£10 for 2kg in P@H) and Bozita is cheaper than Animonda. Both are high meat content, will your cats eat those brands? Nothing wrong with feeding Classic, it's animal protein and no grains at an excellent price. :money:

The lack of satiety may well be a symptom related to the diarrhoea, does your vet know how bad he is? You might be able to add a bulking agent to his food - which may firm up his poops and keep him feeling full - but I would ask your vet as it may bind nutrients. I would certainly be using probiotics regularly, there are products that contains both soluble fibre and probiotics (eg. Protexin). You can purchase bowls designed to slow down eating, I don't know if they are expensive tho. Growling is quite normal, see cats eating raw wings on YouTube. My friend's ex-stray ate half a tin of kidney beans once, I've heard of them eating an entire cake too! :rotfl:

gettingready

Just insured my lot, all six with Argos Platinum for £60.60

Teddy 12.10
Chloe 9.06
Fred and George 11.22 each
Fiona and Phoebe 8.50 each

That already included 10% discount for "multipet" as Zara is insured with Argos Platinum too....


Ufffffff

Fire_Fox

gettingready wrote: »

Just insured my lot, all six with Argos Platinum for £60.60

Teddy 12.10
Chloe 9.06
Fred and George 11.22 each
Fiona and Phoebe 8.50 each

That already included 10% discount for "multipet" as Zara is insured with Argos Platinum too....


Ufffffff

That sounds very reasonable for six, well done! :T

gettingready

Even better - my daughter is paying for that, DD from her account.....

On my current wages.. may need to WALK to work next week, skint every single week

Need to find another job as this one is just not working out (financially) for me... life, huh?