Worth claiming on pet insurance?

ianbeale_steeplecocque

I have Classic Lifetime cat insurance with Pet Plan, which covers any illness for life. I recently took her to the vets because there was blood in her litter tray, and she's fine now but it's cost almost £300 and I was wondering whether it was worth claiming in the long run.


She'd be covered for this condition for life, but does anyone know if it affects claims for other digestive issues? She had a sore on her neck from a vaccination before I first insured her, so now she'll never get cover for any skin condition, I don't know if this is the same. Also, would a £240 claim after excess have much effect on premiums? I'm currently paying about £25 a month so if it goes up by £10 a month I'm losing out after two years.


Obviously I'm not paying Pet Plan for the fun of it, but I have insurance for peace of mind in case of treatment in the thousands, so in the past I haven't usually claimed.

Quentin

Thought petplan didn't load premium if you make a claim - isn't that so?? (Check your policy wording)


Same for ongoing conditions - isn't the idea of lifetime cover you can claim each year up to the limit?? (Again check your policy wording)

stator

PetPlan provide good insurance, the premium doesn't go up if you make a claim.

You should make a claim if the total cost of treatment is above the excess and the admin fee the vets charge for filling out the forms.

The only downside of PetPlan is that the excess goes up every year because your pet is older, but this will happen whether you make a claim or not!

Also regarding pre existing conditions. If they have added an exclusion to your insurance policy, you can sometimes get this removed if you think it's unfair. If you ask for it to be reviewed they will ask for a copy of the medical history of your pet and one of their underwriters will have a look at exactly what was wrong with your pet and might remove or change the exclusion to be more appropriate.

sheramber

As you already have lifetime cover there will be no exclusions related to the claim.

Petplan do not increase premiums if you claim. They are one of the few who do not.

Any increase in premiums is due to your dogs breed, age and general increase in vet fees and admin costs.

Petplan will consider whether they can remove and exclusion if there have been no recurrence and no treatment for 2 years. It will depend on the condition and whether there is likely to any future problems related to it.

It won't do any harm to ask if it has been at least 2 years since it occurred.

ianbeale_steeplecocque

Thanks for the replies, I've only ever claimed on pet insurance once for a different cat and accidentally cancelled that policy not long after, so I didn't know that Petplan don't increase their premiums.


I've heard they can refuse to pay out if your cat hasn't had boosters, which mine haven't for about 2-3 years (they're indoor cats and the vet at the time suggested they weren't necessary), but I'll put in a claim anyway and see what happens.

dacouch

I may be wrong but I have a feeling if you don't claim it can become an excluded existing condition.

You have a good lifetime policy, you should claim

sheramber

ianbeale_steeplecocque wrote: »

Thanks for the replies, I've only ever claimed on pet insurance once for a different cat and accidentally cancelled that policy not long after, so I didn't know that Petplan don't increase their premiums.


I've heard they can refuse to pay out if your cat hasn't had boosters, which mine haven't for about 2-3 years (they're indoor cats and the vet at the time suggested they weren't necessary), but I'll put in a claim anyway and see what happens.

If you do not vaccinate, Petplan will not cover you for any disease that could have been prevented by vaccination.

However, they will cover anything not connected to these conditions.

Petplan will only cover dental illness or injury if your pet has had a dental examination by a vet within the last 12 months and any advised treatment has been carried out.
They do stick strictly to 12 months os if you go over the 12 months they will not cover you.
If you want dental cover then you need to ensure your vet examines your pets teeth every 12 months and notes it on their medical history.

Nebulous2

I've found Petplan to be exceptionally good. We had been paying them for 4 years with no claims and I was beginning to wonder if it was worth it. Then dog had a mystery illness which took almost £3000 to diagnose.

The vet dealt with the claims- I completed a short claim form and handed it to the vet after each payment. Petplan refunded the money to my bank account within 2-3 weeks.

We didn't have a noticeable increase in premium either. It has been creeping up slowly each year, but £3000 would have been a big hit to take if we hadn't been insured.

sheramber

Nebulous2 wrote: »

Ibut £3000 would have been a big hit to take if we hadn't been insured.

That is the peace of mind my pet insurance gives me