Pet Insurance - which company would you choose?

Cuilean

I've had my dog insured with HelpUcover since we got her in 2012. They've been fine. We've only claimed once, they paid up without question. The premium was about £15, has gone up a few pennies each year, and that's been fine.

Today's renewal came and the price has shot up to £17 for their basic lifetime cover. Nothing has changed - we've not claimed for 2 years, the dog is in good health and we've not moved. I ran quotes through the comparison sites, and HelpUcover still came out cheapest (For the same level of cover), and cheaper than my renewal quote. I rang them to try to haggle, and they said they don't price match for renewals, not even their own online quote. Loads of excuses, until the poor sales rep eventually said "I don't understand it myself madam, so many people cancel then buy a new policy from our website, and we can't stop them". So I joined these people and cancelled my renewal.

Anyway, looking into it, HelpUcover are still the cheapest for my dog. Lifetime cover is £11.60 per month. £90 excess, but no cover for death as a result of illness. Payout is £500 per condition annually, but there's a limit of 4 claims per year.

The next cheapest quote was from Pets At Home. That one's £14 a month, with an excess of £75+ 10% of the remaining bill. You are covered for death by illness, and payouts are limited to £4000 per year.

It's all very swings and roundabouts. Do I want the reassurance of cover for death by illness? The payout is better on the PaH insurance, but it's an extra £2.40 per month.

I'd appreciate some opinions from other pet owners please

rising_from_the_ashes

Sorry but do you really think an increase from £15 + the pennies from last year to £17 is 'shot up' - seriously?

That's not a big increase however you look at it.

There are people around whose premiums have increased hugely this year eg from £40 / month to £227 / month - for a dog with no claims made (I am not kidding) and many more with similar increases.

I'd have been delighted with £2 increase - I think most others would be too

Sorry if that sounds harsh but the realities of the pet insurance market mean increases are inevitable year on year - if you get one that's only a few £s you're doing well!

Slinky

Personally I'd chose another company completely. £500 cover per condition per year doesn't sound like much, costs can mount up very quickly.

And I agree that £15-£17 has hardly 'shot up'!

Johnny_Dangerously

Honestly, when it comes to choosing insurance companies, I wouldn't make premium my sole focus. It's a trust industry and it's just as much about who is going to pay out when you need it to. You've seen a 13% increase in premium, which by percentage is large, but in real terms small. Personally, I wouldn't change for that reason alone if you are happy with you current insurer.

sheramber

While a new policy may be cheaper remebr that you will not be covreder for anything relating to any condition your dog had beforehand.

So,anything connected in any way to your previous claim/s will not be covered by a new policy from either company.

If you have consulted with your vet about any symptoms, whether they led to treatment or not, that will be considered an exisitng or previous condition.

A consult for an upset tummy could negate any futur claims for any kind of stomach problem.

A limp would prevent any claim in the future for arthritis in the same limb

So,you need to consider your dog's medical history before changing.

Prsonally,I consider £500 per condition a very small amount that could easily not be enough to cover treatment necessary such as xrays, blood tests etc.

However, if you are comfortable with the above points then a £2 is insignificant.

I am not bothered about being able to claim a sum of money on the death of my dog as no amount of money can replace her or him.

Just make sure you read the policy document thoroughly so you know exactly what you are and are not covered for.

chris_n_tj

Pet Plan for me all the way. Yes its expensive compared to many but you get what you pay for.
Our plan is £7000 per which renews itself every year. x
£500 can be used up within hours with certain conditions, I would worry if that was our limit

Whoop

£500 per condition is rubbish cover. I am a vet nurse and if your pet got referred then that would only just get you through the door. I wouldn't get cover for anything less than £7k a year life time cover. With pet insurance you get what you pay for. I will only use pet plan for my own pets.

gettingready

Sorry but you have very low payments as it is but your cover is way too low. £500 per condition is not worth having at all. And for a dog?

Any cover "per condition" is no good at all as if a pet develops chronic illness that "per condition will run out just do do the tests.

Zara my dog is on tablets that cost over £200.00 per month. Every month. Just an example.

Saying that - by cancelling your renewal you possibly shot yourself in the foot as anything that is in dog's history (claimed or not) will not be covered by any new insurer.

To me - always get the best possible cover you can afford. For a cover as you described I would not bother to be honest at all. That amount almost anyone could come up with if needed. All my lot (4 cats and a dog) are insured for 7k each per year for ANYTHING and that renews every year (PetPlan 4 cats and Argos Platinum for the dog)

melloecastro

I have also up to £7000 cover which renews everytime I renew the cover each year. Have one with Animal Friends and the other dog with Sainsburys as he has a pre-existing condition. Pay £20 with AF a month and slightly more with Sainsburys but they have an offer of 3 months free at the moment for new customers.

gettingready

I have a dermatologist appointment for Zara next Monday and the appointment alone is £300.00.

I am fed up with vets guessing what are her skin issues (she takes very expensive tablets that used to work but stopped now) and want to get to the room of the problem rather than just deal with the symptoms.

£500.00 per condition cover would get me absolutely nowhere.

Your dog is around 3 yo right? You said you got the cover in 2012? Unless you got an adult dog?

3yo is young, I really would go for the best possible cover when you still can - older dogs are more expensive to insure

Slinky

I'd also point out that death cover generally only covers the cost you paid for the pet in the first place. Petplan paid out £50 which was the fee we paid to Cats Protection when our Tinka was killed by a car.

It's not like life insurance for people where you can choose a sum insured. AFAIK