Pet Insurance -- Help with picking policy few questions for you!!!

elsien

I always used petplan, and yes they were dear but I did find that they didn't quibble about paying out at all.
I had an EBT (now sadly gone on to better things) and petplan only exclude conditions that exist before you take out the insurance. Any conditions that develop after you take out insurance will continue to be covered by them as long as you stay with petplan. Be aware that if you then move to a new insurer, they will treat it as a new claim and will exclude anything that's developed over time.
As far as level of cover is concerned, I had £4000 for mutt (I think) which reset every year, so even though she had a couple of long standing conditions which needed ongoing medication we never reached the limit. However referral to a specialist cost me £1000 for a days worth of tests, so big ops etc may need more but day to day stuff for most dogs you should be fine.
I found with petplan that the premiums didn't alter by much but as others have said the excess does goes up as you claim. I think once you get to age ten they start to add on 20% of the bill on top of the excess, but a lot of companies do that.
On balance, I'd use petplan again, they've never queried any of my bills. I had an OTT general exclusion for all foot conditions, then mutt needed a toe amputated and they did pay up straight away because the vet made it clear that the cause was unrelated to any previous illnesses. For longstanding conditions, I'd whack in an invoice once a year to cover all the visits that year (- the excess is per condition btw not overall).

Expensive but in my opinion you do get what you pay for with them. Is there not a lower level of cover - 12K does seem a bit excessive unless you're really unlucky. Edit - have a look at their liftime classic cover, sounds like you've been quoted the ultimate cover, no wonder the premium is so high. I really think you're unlikely to need anywhere near 12K.

Any piccy's by the way?

SprocketBully

Hello All

Thankyou for your replies.

I'm currently insured with Tesco. (7.5limit per condition in lifetime)

Im still tempted to go with vetsmedicover who seem to be the 'new petplan' 10k per year limit lifetime cover.

However I still plan on putting 20-30 a month to one side in a savings just incase.Anyone think that should be enough alongside the tesco cover?
Would anyone else be concerned about going with a newish company like vetsmedicover? Apperently their underwriters are in Ireland? is that a problem?


So many things can go wrong with dogs? but then again it may never happen. I always want him insured just picking the right one. Coz obviously if he develops anything I'm then stuck with that insurer.

Elsien it wont let me post a pic coz I'm a new user He's currently 10weeks old. (already going to have to pay out my money for a hernia operation as the insurance will count this a pre existing from birth) but apart from that and the obvious trying to learn him not acceptable to bite our hands/feet/clothes etc he's an absolute joy and is really training well.

zakblack

I worked in a vets and they get BIG commission for selling Petplan, so a vets will always try and sell you Petplan, Petplan are good but very expensive. Look at the possibilities of what your pet is likely to come into to, health - unlikely if you keep him vaccinated/wormed etc - broken bones - this would cost around £2000 for a difficult break, I know have been there. A hernia in such a young dog is probably a birth defect and you should advise the the breeder, as this could be inherent. Look at all the liklihoods of what could happen, most people have a pet for years without any problems. I have had dogs for 30 years, the first expensive problem was about 4 years ago and a badly broken leg as a puppy, wasnt insured and cost us £2000 but the original vet just wanted to amputate his leg, (to save costs) we couldnt do this to such a young dog with a whole life ahead of him, so paid for surgery, he is lovely and well worth it, so my advice is read all the terms and conditions and find whats right for you and your animals.

ahll

I read this thread with interest as we have just got a new addition to our family in the form of an 11 week old puppy. We where given a month free petplan insurance with the puppy. Which I guess if you take the 14 days period out means a couple of weeks.

I am wondering what is best to do about insuring the puppy. So far she has cost me £100 as she seems to have come with a tummy bug (so needed meds and antibiotics) and her 1st and 2nd injections. She also has a ambilical hernia but the vet says they can fix that when she is spade at 6 months(So I guess wouldnt be cover by insurance).

I am torn between the self insurance and taking out a policy for her ! As someone else said its like a minefield !