Pets at the Vets

Former_MSE_Archna

Poll Started: 20 September 2005 We’re a nation of animal lovers but vet bills can be huge. So do moggy and fido have their own policy or are you a pay-as-you-go pet owner?

A. Yes, I just filled in the leaflet I found at the vets.
B. Yes, I shopped around on the internet.
C. Yes, I used a comparison service.
D. No, my pets aren't insured.
E. I don't have a pet.

Click reply to discuss or vote here.

NickC_4

I personally would recommend insurance having had two dogs insured - both of which have needed veterinary attention costing ~£2.5k each. The insurance has cost approx £12 each per month, and although we don't get all the money back, it has been a great help.

And best of all, it is nice to be able to say to the vet: "if he needs injections, pills, x-rays, etc do it, the cost doesn't matter".

You need to be careful, because the cost can rise dramatically as your pet gets older. The the percentage you have to pay towards treatment can rise significantly. You need to watch out for limits on what will be paid out per condition as well.

I have found Pet Plan to be good, although their prices seem to have risen recently. JPL Petlovers have not been as good service wise (very slow). I can't comment on any others.

Nick.

reddevilled

We use tesco pet insurance. It has cost us £144 over the past two years in insurance, but we got 2000 clubcard points (£80 in deals). Our cat is very clumsy and has had two accidents in the past two years. Uninsured tehy would have cost about £800 but we have only had to pay two lots of £40 excess.

Definately worth it for us!!

Gingham_Ribbon

We have 3 cats, but did have 5. The other 2 were ill for a long time and ran up £2000 of vets bills. Got the others insured and they've been completely fine. Since it's sods law to pay for insurance and not need it, I consider it a good spend!

Murtle

it's the one expense I have no qualms about paying so should anything ever happen to them they will be well looked after, they would anyway but this way the costs are under control. The outside surgery hours trip to the vet, no problem!! (only in an emergency and she was wonderful, the bill wasn't but is covered )

heatherw_01

I have pet insurance too. My dog is mainly fine but she had to have an operation which cost a few hundred pounds. The insurance company paid this for me so I didn't have to fork out a penny.

I would not be without it.

BargainHunterCat

Yes I agree that your pets should be insured but watch out because not all policies are equal!
My pal who has 2 cats has had them insured through the same company since they were kittens.
She chose the policy because it stated among other things, that if either of the cats came down with a chronic illness, they would be covered "for the life of the illness".
Unfortunately, after a couple of years of having the insurance, they changed the policy wording to read "until the next renewal".
Sadly she didn't notice the change and her ginger moggy who has developed the feline version of IBS, is now costing her a fortune!
Watch out and read the small print every year!
It's like Martin says - they are just out to diddle us all!!!

presenthyme

we have paid for c10yr
monthly cost now high as dog is 10yo
cost £28pm orig costs c.£10pm and automatically rises every yr.
dog had accident recently treatment costs c.£800, however i did feel vet was piling on the treatment because the dog was insured.
currently waiting for insurance cq to come through.
one thing is definite will not get another dog when current one dies simply because it is too expensive to be insured.

IvanOpinion

Both mutts insured through M&S - supposed by a term of life policy

Ivan

Debt_Free_Chick

Deep rooted suspicion of pet insurance and I have a working gundog so I suspect they'll be plenty of exclusions for my mutt. I trust my vet more than insurance companies so just pay for whatever's needed.

Interestingly, in spite of all the "I have insurance" responses here, the majority of those who voted are (currently) in the the "no, I don't have insurance" camp.

vizcacha

I have Petplan insurance for my house rabbit (around 8 quid or so per month) there are exclusions for things like teeth trimming, the cost of spaying/neutering etc but she is covered for any diseases or long term health conditions. There is a condition that she must be vaccinated each year for myxamotosis and something called VHD.
She is generally very healthy and I'm hoping this will continue so i won't need to use it