any good prices for pet insurance.

jamminjamaica

just want to get insurance for my 5 month old boxer pup.

can anyone recommend a good insurer and the cheapest

Bromley86

I've been searching for lifetime cover for a 3m Lab female (seems the boards blank out b*tch ) in the South East. My main reason for insuring is to cover expensive/repeat illnesses (all the policies have enough personal liability cover for me). Although I don't necessarily want more than £4,000 per annum cover, I don't want condition limits (as I want to cover big problems like arthritis). I suppose I might accept a limit of £2,000 per condition per annum.

I don't care about all the fluff cover for holiday cancellation and small vets bills. Likewise, I'm not too fussed about "pull" offers as they'll only affect the first year and I don't want to risk switching every year. Where possible, I've increased the excess to the maximum.

I haven't checked out what happens to all the premiums when your dog gets old. Where I have, I've included it in brackets after Cost.

I started with Martin's suggestions and then Googled [lifetime "pet insurance"] to check other options.

My tentative conclusion was initially Pinnicle, although that might change if the reviews on E&L underwriters aren't as bad as I've been led to believe. Then, possibly, at 6-8 a change to M&S if everything's okay (naturally, if you've had an ongoing problem, you pretty much have to stick with whoever you're with).

However, I've just Googled and found the NFU Mutual. Downside, there's no online form or even policy wording. Upside, they have great staff on the end of an 0800 number (0800 316 4661). I'll look at the policy when it arrives, but I'll likely sign up to this anyway and use the cooling off period of 14 days if there's something too wierd to live with. One for Martin to look at next time he redoes his Pet Insurance article.

EDIT: Never say never. Looks like the Halifax is even better! Assuming I'm not missing something here, Martin's article needs updating.

Also, I just can't bargain, but I sensed that there might have been a little scope for it with NFU. Should have got the mother in law to call .

The results (all Lifetime policies, per annum):

M&S
Cost: £310.81 (8yrs £369.43)
Vet fees: £7k
Conditon limit: £7k
Excess: £125
Comments: More cover than I need.

PetPlan (Budget)
Cost: £366.48
Vet fees: £4k
Condition limit: £4k
Excess: £90
Comments: More than I'm willing to pay!

Pinnacle (Classic)
Cost: £208.32
Vet fees: £4k
Condition limit: £1k
Excess: £90
Comments: That condition limit is probably going to prevent me going for this - otherwise perfect. Likewise, the budget "Vital" of £2k at £167.76 was excellent until I saw the £500 per condition per annum limit.

Pinnacle (Premier)
Cost: £259.68 (8ys £434.16)
Vet fees: £6k
Condition limit: £6k
Excess: £90
Comments: Looks good now. Checked the costs for when she's older - steep, but may still be worth it. 6yrs=£326.88, 8yrs=£434.16 (can't check any later as their online quote system won't quote for new dogs over 8yrs old).

Animal Friend Insurance (Gold Standard)
Cost: £173.43 (8yrs £222.48)
Vet fees: £2k per condition
Condition limit: £2k
Excess: £49
Comments: Excellent premium and that cover is per conditon per year, so as far as I can see it's in theory limitless (if your dog has numerous separate conditions!). Equine & Livestock (E&L) are the underwriters. I've seen people warn that they're !!!!!!!s to get money out of. Premium is not flexed for regions or breeds, so a Lab in London might do well here, whereas a mongrel in Scotland will be penalised. Finally, the age issue. Good premiums i.e. 0-8yrs is one, 8+ is another, rather than it increasing every year (although there will be inflation increases). However, at 8 years the excess becomes £49 PLUS 35% of the claim! That could be huge if you're looking at arthritis etc.

Animal Friend Insurance (Gold Super)
Cost: £229.92 (8yrs 274.80)
Vet fees: £4k per condition
Condition limit: £4k
Excess: £49
Comments: Again excellent value but underwritten by E&L and age issues. There are Platinum cover options as well for £5k & 6k.

HealthyPets
Is Lifetime, but limit doesn't renew each year (i.e. Gold=£5k max and then you're on your own).

Vet2Pet
Just a reseller for Pinnicle that adds on ~£50 per annum .

NFU Mutual
Cost: £196.51 (7yrs £259.35)
Vet fees: £4k per condition
Condition limit: £4k
Excess: £50
Comments: Excellent! Perfect cover for me and a better price than any of the other's that I'd consider. Lady on the phone was helpful, knowledgable and not pushy. That quote excludes foreign travel - add £14.96 for up to 60 days. Costs as the dog ages were: 3yrs same, 5yrs £217.46, 7yrs £259.35. No data after that as they don't take new dogs on older than 7 years. She did say that the excess increases to £100 at 10 years and that they look at your claim history when deciding the premium, but I personally don't mind that. Other pluses were that there's an NFU office 6 minutes from me and they may reduce your premium by paying out a share of their profits (have to wait a year to see if this means anything in reality). Very minor downside - there was a 3% (£6 in my case) charge for using direct debit rather than lump sum payment.

Halifax (eXtra)
Cost: £151.66 (7yrs £249.44)
Vet fees: £6,000
Condition limit: £6,000
Excess: £50
Comments: Just goes to show that you shouldn't stop looking. Someone mentioned them in a post back in 2005 and look at the results! Even better than NFU. Their 10 year old quote was £345.61 (with the excess still at £50) - that means that they'll take on old dogs, which is unusual. It also quantifies what you might expect to pay as she gets older. This all includes 12m travel cover.

pboae

There is a huge thread on this on the Pet board http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=108056

I am with M&S, but PetPlan and NFU seem good too.

I've seen way too many people screwed over by E&L, and I wouldn't touch them with a barge pole. You are better off putting the money in a bank account than paying it to a company that won't pay out when you need it.