Sitting here in shock!!

Dollardog

My dog's insurance with Sains has just gone up at its renewal from £65.04 per month to £130.48!!!!:eek: and his excess from £75 to £125 or 15% of the cost of treatment.

It's his age, he'll be 10 in November and the claims that have been made, he has two ongoing claims so no chance of shopping around either.
Think I'd better get another job!! I really can't afford a jump like that, but have no choice but to pay it, daren't not, as I couldn't afford anything major.
They just said over the phone as well that they don't take on any dogs who are 9 yo anymore although those that they are already covering they will continue to cover.

Something to think about for those looking for insurance.

gettingready

Zara's one went from 40 something to 88.90.... per month.. sigh...

BECKIN1507

Both your insurances have more than doubled!! :eek: This happened to me with sainsburys but I had made alot of claims, his ongoing treatment was only going to be £12 a month so I decided to cancel the insurance. I now have a standing order set up with my vets and pay them how much I was paying the insurance. As I had 5 large dogs at the time the insurance was just to much. I also have a credit card that I do not use, it's left incase the animals need anything.

meames_2

I posted about what i thought was a ridiculous increase in august. They really are taking the mick! is this just pure greed on the case of the insurers?

I can see that it will become so unaffordable, more and more pets will be abandoned. I really hope not.

Bromley86

What sort of dog is yours DD? GSD?

hayleyc_2

I had the same with Sainsburys when my dog got older. We'd only made one claim, which was for when my dog decided to eat a load of chocolate, so not an on-going condition or anything. In the end we just had to cancel because paying the premiums, excess and 25% or whatever it was, we felt it wasn't worth it. Luckily we never had any large vets bills after that, but I hated having no cover for him.

gettingready

Currently, after recent increase for Zara - my total insurance payments are £175.00 for 4 cats and a dog.

But I would be absolutely terrified to cancel - Zara's vet fees came close to 7k this year, George's vet fees came to around 5k last year.

So the insurance has to stay.. sighhh

fairymoneysaver

OP, that is a huge jump, I know I could not afford that amount.

meames wrote: »

I posted about what i thought was a ridiculous increase in august. They really are taking the mick! is this just pure greed on the case of the insurers?

I can see that it will become so unaffordable, more and more pets will be abandoned. I really hope not.

I don't think insurers are taking the mick, they need to make money after all. I think that some pet owners are asking for all sorts of unnecessary tests, x rays etc and even taking the mick because they know the insurance will pay, we have become more 'savvy' becasuse of the internet, the vets aren't going to say no are they? plus if they know an animal is insured some vets will suggest extra tests I am sure.

I have said this before but I don't know how people can moan about the increase in premiums when they are claiming huge amounts especially in breeds that are known for their health problems, someone has to pay for it and it is all of us that suffer, in the long run some of our pets will also suffer. My current dogs are young at the moment and their insurance is quite cheap but there is no way I could afford £100 a month for each of them. I do have an unused credit card incase of emergencies though - not saying I could pay it back but will cross that bridge if/when it comes to it.

Sharon140

Same thing happened when my Sasha got to 10 even though I hadn't ever claimed I just insure the younger dog now which is £6 per month and put money away each month in a seperate account for Sasha's medication, vets bills ect. She is 12 now and is slowly needing more and more treatment for various illnesses

Forgot to mention she is a Shih Tzu so I don't think they discriminate with the breed of dogs its just the age factor

Sally_A

Can you not choose a bigger excess, say £500?. That way the insurers would only pick up the catastrophes, rather than everyone claiming for the smallest thing.

Also, wish they'd do a pick and mix of policy cover, there are a lot of useless frills in the policies as they try to make themselves different from each other and "enhanced".

I'm grateful that so many responsible owners go to the vets, but I'm not one that would rush there on first symptoms unless I was really concerned.

The cost of simple advice and consultation time, with a few meds normally goes above the policy excess, hence all the claims.

Unless it is an obvious emergency, I tend to let mine go 3 days, so long as there is no discomfort, or pain. Even pets get off days.

Vets have a duty to treat an animal, and worry about payment later, some practises offer easy payment plans after the event.

zaksmum

My dog Lucy's went up a lot this year too. Fortunately she's got to the age of almost ten with no pre existing conditions, so I shopped around and got a good policy with M&S for just over half the price Direct Line had quoted.

I think the insurance companies want you to go elsewhere when your dog starts to get old - they know there are likely to be some big claims in the next few years and prefer to only insure your dog when they are young and healthy.