Potential insurers for a 10yr old cat

Lollapalooza86

Hi all,

We're looking to adopt a cat from a rehoming charity and are researching the costs of insurance for her. She's around 10yrs old, we don't know any of the medical history as she was found at someone's back door but the vet has given her a clean bill of health and estimated her age. From my research I understand a lifetime policy is best to protect you from the will of insurers to exclude 'pre-existing' conditions upon renewal of annual policies, but we're struggling to find an insurer who offers this for a cat of her (estimated) age.

Can anyone recommend (as a 'new customer' owner of an older cat)?

Many thanks

V & M

paddypaws101

You may well find that your vet estimates her to be a different age depending on what he sees when he examines her and also what hints you give him as to her guesstimated age. I think 8 seems to be the cut off point for insurers to accept older cats.
Other than that you could choose to self insure by setting up a savings account to cover any potential vet bills.

MallyGirl

you also need to bear in mind that if you do find an insurer they will probably only pay out something like 60% of the claim, after excess, due to the age. It might be better to 'self insure'

penny_pincha

I agree with MallyGirl. Self insure can be the way to go. I bought a kitten last summer. After 2 weeks she went to the vets after being sick and diarrhoea. When I came to renew her insurance 2 weeks later, the company said that she wouldn't be covered for sickness or diarrhoea in future as it was pre-existing condition. I tried to argue that sickness and diarrhoea is a symptom not a condition and can be caused by a number of reasons. But you can't argue with insurance companies, they hold all the cards.

mrsscattercushion

We've just got a 14 yr old cat from a shelter...I had a look at options but could only get a year's cover with a high excess and then only a percentage paid out...we've decided it is not worth it and like others have gone the "self-insure" route....had no insurance with our last boy, who lived until 20 yrs and did cost us a lot in blood tests, regular meds, dentals etc, but doubt we'd have made much if any of it back via insurance...it is a gamble taking on older animals but I find it so worthwhile, and thankfully in a position where I can afford the vets' bills