Halifax pet insurance ending

zebidee1

We've had Harley insured with the Halifax since he was a tiny pup. He has had a fair few things wrong with him and has ongoing colitis so the insurance is a Godsend.

We got a letter today saying the Halifax are withdrawing from the pet insurance market and we can't renew Harley's policy in October.

The letter states they have agreed to provide us with an alternative cover quote from Petwise and that the quote was enclosed (it wasn't).

Given that many insurers will not cover exisiting conditions, I think we're pretty stuffed when it comes to insuring Harley with someone new now.

Has anyone else with the Halifax had an actual 'alternative' quote from Petwise? How did it compare to your existing cover and cost?

gettingready

Would that "Petwise" cover Harley for the condition though or wuld they exclude it as pre-existent?

If they take over from Halifax they should honour the cover as it was really..... am I wrong?

ka7e

Thanks for the heads up. I have a Halifax policy that doesn't run out until March, but I'm tempted to cancel and renew elsewhere. If my dog should develop a long-term condition in the next 6 months, I will be in the same position.

zebidee1

Finally got to speak to someone at Halifax (or BDML to be more precise as it's them that run the pet insurance arm for Halifax).

The Petwise quote that they are to send out, will not cover pre-existing conditions. The only benefit offered is that under the circumstances, they are going to waive the intial 'no claim period' so that if you need to make a claim the day after getting the insurance, you can.

Other than that, it's a new policy with the usual exclusions with regard to pre existing conditions. I'm absolutely gutted tbh. I love Harley to bits but he is a big expense.

ka7e - I would definitely cancel now. Better to maybe lose out a little financially now rather than run the risk of losing out in a worse way down the line.

hethmar

Thats really awful - what do they expect people with pre existing conditions to do. Disgusting. I hope you manage to sort out a better insurer. Personally I am beginning to think we should avoid all the non-insurance company pet insurers as they are realising its not the money maker they expected. Going direct to an insurer is probably better. Pet Plan and NFU have been going for many decades.

gettingready

That is absolutely horrifying to find oneself with such a problem....Whoever takes over should take over existing customers with their exisiting covers including all existing conditions being included.... so sorry to hear they do not....

zebidee1

I'm having the same thoughts hethmar. There's more chance of this happening again with a company whose main business arm is not the insurance market.

I've just spoken to our vet's receptionist who deals with filling out the insurance claim forms, to see if there is any particular company that is more problematic when it comes to claims. There is only one she would advise steering clear from and that isn't one I'd heard of anyway. Don't think I want to state which one in case it's frowned upon.

She herself has experienced a change in policy and she is now being asked to pay the excess on the policy PLUS 20% of the total cost. Apparently many insurers are following suit. Makes you wonder if it's worth it now.

Btw, BDML Connect is an umbrella company that deals with pet insurance from several companies, Sainsburys and pdsa to name just a couple. I suspect the pet insurance market isn't as different as I'd originally thought.

orlao

Is there an Insurance ombudsman?

If there is, I'd go through their complaints procedure, surely the Halifax Insurance docs say that ongoing conditions will be covered if you renew, pay your premiums, yada, yada so they are breaking the terms of the original policy by not allowing you to renew (for whatever reason)?.

hethmar

Worth a go.

zebidee1

Just been onto the Insurance Obudsman. Apparently there have been several calls about this very issue. Complaint has been raised but they have up to 8 weeks to reply with a decision and given that I need to renew shortly I have no idea what to do.

I realise this is business and not personal but I am so disgusted with the Halifax that I am seriously considering moving all my business away from them. I don't expect they will care too much but it sticks in my throat to leave all my assets with them given how they have treated us tbh.

My next stop after looking for alternative insurance will be looking for an alternative current acc, savings acc and ISA!

Money_maker

zebidee1 wrote: »

She herself has experienced a change in policy and she is now being asked to pay the excess on the policy PLUS 20% of the total cost. Apparently many insurers are following suit. Makes you wonder if it's worth it now.

I found this with MoreThan insurance, small excess plus 10% of bill balance :eek: hardly worth having the policy.

Best for me appears to be LV but still hesitating as you really don't know how good they are until it's too late and you need to claim.