looking for cat insurance for 7 year old cat..any recommendations?

March2012

i doing a quick comparison quotes at mo. are there any you would or would or not recommend? thanks. would you go lifetime or just do a 12 month policy. not sure of the best way forward but i do need to sort it out. ideas of what excess you tend to go for ? i usually prefer lower for cat stuff.

LutonGirl

I didn't realise but I had a lifetime policy on my previous cat. She was diagnosed with diabetes and needed regular blood tests as well as insulin injections twice a day for the remaining 4 years of her life. If I'd just had a 12 month policy, the diabetes wouldn't have been covered after the first renewal.

I would have paid anything to keep her well and happy, but being insured made it a lot easier.

I'm with Happy Pets for my three now. All lifetime policies, and touch wood, not had to make one claim so far.

warehouse

My cat is 12 and just cost me over £500 for an operation, (not insured). Go for lifetime.

sheramber

Lifetime is best. as long as the amount of vet fees cove is reinstated at the start of each policy year.

Per condition over the life of the pet is next best and usually cheaper. his policy covers each condition up to a fixed amount. Once that amount has been reached there is no more cover for that condition but any other condition will still be covered up to the fixed limit.

A12 month policy is the cheapest but not good cover as you have cover for a condition for 12 months from first diagnosis.

Check out the underwriters- may be given in the FAQ ir in the policy document. Avoid any connected with E& L who are cheap for a reason.

Animal Friends tend to wriggle out of paying if at all possible so if he has any previous conditions or illnesses be careful with them.

There are a few companies who will cover pre existing conditions which may be important if you have had any previous vet visits.

What you pay in excess is what you are comfortable paying. Some have a fixed excess at all ages, some have a fixed excess plus a percentage contribution , either from the beginning or at a certain age.

Some companies do state that they do not increase the premium when you claim but most companies do.

It is all very confusing but you need to do your research.

Check out the company name followed by 'reviews ' on Google to see what other people say, but remember more people complain than those who give praise.
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LusciousLuce

You could also consider maximum benefit policies. What most people describe as lifetime policies on here are actually reinstatement policies - this means that the benefit level reinstates each policy year. Max Ben policies don't reinstate, so you get a pot of money per condition and once it's gone that's it, no more money for that condition. With dog owners I'd advise to be very wary, but cat vet bills are lower thus a maximum benefit policy of, say, £4000 would be more than enough to cover most scenarios.

Please avoid Animal Friends and E&L, as well as 12 month policies.

spirit

Agree lifetime policy. Also, not all insurers are on comparison sites as I discovered 2 weeks ago (just adopted 2 more cats)


I went with Direct Line in the end, but there are others LV is one I think, so as well as comparison sites, google cat insurance for the other providers.

selement

LusciousLuce wrote: »

You could also consider maximum benefit policies. What most people describe as lifetime policies on here are actually reinstatement policies - this means that the benefit level reinstates each policy year. Max Ben policies don't reinstate, so you get a pot of money per condition and once it's gone that's it, no more money for that condition. With dog owners I'd advise to be very wary, but cat vet bills are lower thus a maximum benefit policy of, say, £4000 would be more than enough to cover most scenarios.

Please avoid Animal Friends and E&L, as well as 12 month policies.

Oh no I'm with animal friends for my kittens, what's wrong with them? Maybe next year I'll change

mynameisclare

We are with PDSA. We got our cat as a rescue at ~10 years old, and a lot of other insurers wouldn't cover her due to age cutoffs. It wasn't the cheapest I could find, but still reasonable.

Touch wood we've only needed to claim once, for a heart ultrasound scan that was £500-£600, but they paid out quickly with no issues.

ElusiveLucy

I'm with Petplan and whilst they may be more expensive they are great for lifetime cover.

One of my cats had an infection and ended up at a specialist. That year she exhausted the full £6000 cover but petplan always paid promptly and didn't hike her premium the following year. Yes, the premiums do go up every year and they introduced excesses, but they do that the same for cats that have had treatment as they do for those that haven't. The same cat has lifelong conditions and her medication is covered each year after I have paid the excess. It gives me peace of mind.