NOT vets, Insurance companies.

happydog100

I have been using the same veterinary practice ( Abercorn, in Edinburgh)  for 15 years, and have never had cause to question their prices, or my bills. 
They have  always informed me in advance of costs for treatment, and discussed options fully. They have even offered to provide prescriptions so that I may search for the best prices for medications.

The highest cost of owning a dog in my experience has been the insurance premiums, I think these should be investigated, not the vets. My premiums recently increased by 60% in one year. This is ridiculous and surely demands questions ? I have been forced to reduce the cover for him to keep premiums affordable.
My insurance company (Animal Friends) would not provide information as to why this increase was necessary, would not explain it to my satisfaction nor justify it. When I started my policy with them it was half the premiums of other companies, and I expected increases as my dog aged. At £ 160. Plus per month I believe it is still less than others, but I do think £ 160 a month is profiteering and not due to increased costs for providing cover.

Speaking with other dog owners, not many have ever been angry or have complaints about vets, vet bills, nor information from vets. But every dog owner I talk too agrees insurance prices are way too high, and many do not insure their pets as they can not afford to do so.

I think vets are perhaps being unfairly singled out here, especially smaller independents, it is Insurance providers who are making money from pet owners,  prices are obscene and should be investigated.

happydog100

I have been using the same veterinary practice ( Abercorn, in Edinburgh)  for 15 years, and have never had cause to question their prices, or my bills. 
They have  always informed me in advance of costs for treatment, and discussed options fully. They have even offered to provide prescriptions so that I may search for the best prices for medications.

The highest cost of owning a dog in my experience has been the insurance premiums, I think these should be investigated, not the vets. My premiums recently increased by 60% in one year. This is ridiculous and surely demands questions ? I have been forced to reduce the cover for him to keep premiums affordable.
My insurance company (Animal Friends) would not provide information as to why this increase was necessary, would not explain it to my satisfaction nor justify it. When I started my policy with them it was half the premiums of other companies, and I expected increases as my dog aged. At £ 160. Plus per month I believe it is still less than others, but I do think £ 160 a month is profiteering and not due to increased costs for providing cover.

Speaking with other dog owners, not many have ever been angry or have complaints about vets, vet bills, nor information from vets. But every dog owner I talk too agrees insurance prices are way too high, and many do not insure their pets as they can not afford to do so.

I think vets are perhaps being unfairly singled out here, especially smaller independents, it is Insurance providers who are making money from pet owners,  prices are obscene and should be investigated.

Emmia

Insurance is ultimately risk based. 

Your dog has got older, and this probably increases the risk of a big claim. Have you made any claims in the last year? Is your dog on medication etc. 

Your alternative is "self insuring" by saving the premiums but the question is could you afford a £5k+ vets bill, costs of ongoing medication etc. 

The bonus of self insurance comes if you don't need to pay for anything big, you could end up with a nice cushion of savings - the risk is that you end up with a very large vets bill shortly after you start doing self insurance or your pet develops a condition requiring expensive medication,  with the only alternative euthanasia.

KxMx

Oh, plenty of people on here have complained about Vets fees! 

Baldytyke88

I have the choice of various vets in the area, profit and non profit making vets, I don't and have never had dog insurance, no problems.

sheramber

happydog100 said:

I have been using the same veterinary practice ( Abercorn, in Edinburgh)  for 15 years, and have never had cause to question their prices, or my bills. 
They have  always informed me in advance of costs for treatment, and discussed options fully. They have even offered to provide prescriptions so that I may search for the best prices for medications.

The highest cost of owning a dog in my experience has been the insurance premiums, I think these should be investigated, not the vets. My premiums recently increased by 60% in one year. This is ridiculous and surely demands questions ? I have been forced to reduce the cover for him to keep premiums affordable.
My insurance company (Animal Friends) would not provide information as to why this increase was necessary, would not explain it to my satisfaction nor justify it. When I started my policy with them it was half the premiums of other companies, and I expected increases as my dog aged. At £ 160. Plus per month I believe it is still less than others, but I do think £ 160 a month is profiteering and not due to increased costs for providing cover.

Speaking with other dog owners, not many have ever been angry or have complaints about vets, vet bills, nor information from vets. But every dog owner I talk too agrees insurance prices are way too high, and many do not insure their pets as they can not afford to do so.

I think vets are perhaps being unfairly singled out here, especially smaller independents, it is Insurance providers who are making money from pet owners,  prices are obscene and should be investigated.

You  don’t need to complain about the vet bills as your insurance pays the bills. 

The cost of insurance is related to the  cost of  vet bills.

That is the reason your premiums have risen so much. Vet bills have escalated since big companies are taking over vet practices. They then dictate  what the vet charges.

My own vet joined one of the companies at the beginning of the year and prices escalated immediately. 

Independent vets  are cheaper but they are getting fewer and fewer. 

Nobbie1967

Insurance companies are just passing on the increasing costs of vets fees. If you think your vets fees are fine, but your insurance is excessive then just pay the vet yourself and cut out the middleman.

I think there are two main issues with increasing vets fees, first is just the increase in treatments available and the demand from owners to put their pets through these, particularly at end of life. The second is alluded to above with the buying up of vet practises by big groups backed by private equity which then want to increase their return and start pushing vets to do extra treatments to meet targets.

It’ll be interesting to see what comes out of this investigation.

https://www.gov.uk/cma-cases/veterinary-services-market-for-pets-review

sheramber

I don ‘t think any body who claims vet fees in excess of insurance premiums is likely to think the insurance premium is excessive. 

Those that think they are excessive are those who do not incur vet fees, or small ones.

That is the gamble. Will you get your money’s worth. 

You only need one large bill to be glad of the years you paid without claiming. 

Also, what price is your peace of mind that should a large bill occur you are not worried about paying it, or worse, you are unable to pay it.?