Anyone with Argos Pet Insurance due for reneval in June?

rising_from_the_ashes

Beeping beep - how on earth are they coming out that much!

gettingready

NO idea.. I am only guessing must be some post code lottery playing part here

rising_from_the_ashes

Must be ...... pants

KxMx

Axa is quite reasonable for my cat, maybe give them a try?
They do proper life policies where the clock resets every year, think my cat is insured for 7k.

Hillbilly1

Argos now RSA underwritten so same as Tesco, M&S, More Than etc.

The policy wording usually states "new policy" as it is a new policy, it is your continuation of payment that links it in for life cover. I wouldnt be worried by that.

I'm not sure how much cheaper you will get cover as RSA covering a big sector of the market.

For the OP who changes every year, it does mean ANYTHING your pet has been seen for, even if not claimed will br excluded as pre-exisitng. Tesco wording is the rather frightening "symptoms the same or similar to" which means if your pet vomited once 5 years ago they won't cover anything to do with vomiting... They seem to be much more black and white than the other RSA companies, and it is one of the reasons they can be cheaper, they are less likely to pay.

spookylukey

Pet insurance doesn't always work like car/house insurance where a claim will definitely affect future premiums so the rise could be due to Argos changing business model or underwriter rather than the fact that you have claimed for George.

I have 'identical' cats eg same age, same sex, same postcode, all neutered and chipped - last year I had to claim for one of them and at renewal their premiums increased by the same amount (a couple of pounds a year).

Have you checked that Argos have the correct neutering/microchip status for them all? My insurers had the neutering status incorrectly down as 'no', I queried it and made them amend it and the premiums were reduced by 20%

Was that quote from petplan for the 12k cover? Have you tried quoting for the 4k (lifetime still) cover - not ideal but better than many of the 'per condition' policies or ones that aren't for life.

Also have you tried doing a 'new' quote (only for the ones that have NO pre-existing conditions) with Argos and seeing how much the new quote is? I often do that with car insurance and it works out much cheaper than a renewal. Obviously you know the importance of continuing the policy for those with pre-existing conditions (even if you haven't claimed for it) but will type this out in case someone is reading this who doesn't!

gettingready

Good oint about checking the neutering/microchipping details - all my cats are neutered/chipped and those details were given when I took their policies but worth checking if they got them right.

Did not have the time today to call argos, was at woek and then to pick up Zara from Surrey (5 hours in the car...) and still not quite 100% myself after my own op but will be calling them tomorrow.

The cover I was getting the quote from Petplan was almost identical to the one I have with Argos, 7k per year, life time etc etc. I do not feel 4k cover is enough. One of the cats had an op last year that was alsmost 5k so... better overinsure than underinsure.

Also PetPlan excess was 85, with ARgos it is 65 - so if the quotes are almost identical - I rather stay with Argos....

Unless I find something else tomorrow with better quote. Fred and Teddy have NEVER been to a vet for anything other than neutering/chipping/vaccinations so should be able to find something more reasonable price wise.

Thanks everyone for your thoughs....and input, very much appreciated.

Hillbilly1

GR, it may be worth asking if Argos put any co-payments on after the age of 8 or above?

PP do but it is limited to 20%, some other companies go up to 40% for older pets! It makes the £20 difference in excesses pale into insignificance!

gettingready

None of my pets are 8 though....

Hmm

Hillbilly1

But will be soon and then you may not be able to change to pre-existing conditions so best to know full picture now?

Hmm? - only trying to help, do spend alot of time working with pet insurance so just trying to advise on possible future pitfalls.