12 months or life time cover ?
Discussion
Just reading up on pet insurance cover for our new dog who will be arriving in a couple of weeks....
What are your opinions on 12 months VS life time cover? Under the 12 months cover, any medical condition that has been treated/paid for, will not be paid out for again in subsequent years of insurance, it's a 1 time hit, and I guess changing insurers will not help as any pre-existing conditions are not covered. Life time cover allows that same condition to be paid out again and again as needed.
Clearly the lifetime cover is best, but at double the premium I need to decide what would make best sense.
Our dog is 15 months old Cocker Spaniel if that helps shape a decision ?
Cheers,
What are your opinions on 12 months VS life time cover? Under the 12 months cover, any medical condition that has been treated/paid for, will not be paid out for again in subsequent years of insurance, it's a 1 time hit, and I guess changing insurers will not help as any pre-existing conditions are not covered. Life time cover allows that same condition to be paid out again and again as needed.
Clearly the lifetime cover is best, but at double the premium I need to decide what would make best sense.
Our dog is 15 months old Cocker Spaniel if that helps shape a decision ?
Cheers,
Lifetime is obviously better than 12 month, but you need to decide what's best for your circumstances. Most illnesses incur the majority of costs in the intial diagnosis, so ongoing costs for drugs and monitoring may be manageable without the help of insurance. There are a few conditions which can incur big costs every couple of years, you'd be unlucky for your animal to suffer from those.
Make sure you understand the policy your getting - I'd say you want at least £4000 per condition/fees per year, anything less and you may end up hitting the limit of your insurance.
You're correct about insurance not covering pre-existing conditions - the basic rule is that if your animal develops any illnesses (even if they're just picked up at a routine vaccination check), be very careful about changing insurance companies.
Make sure you understand the policy your getting - I'd say you want at least £4000 per condition/fees per year, anything less and you may end up hitting the limit of your insurance.
You're correct about insurance not covering pre-existing conditions - the basic rule is that if your animal develops any illnesses (even if they're just picked up at a routine vaccination check), be very careful about changing insurance companies.
£4,000 not really enough these days. My own cat cost 4.5k and that was 4yrs ago. I'd really advise minimum 6k cover. Cover for life also ensures a condition such as bilateral cruciate repairs will be covered even if they are done a couple yrs apart. 12 month policy would count a 2nd cruciate as a pre existing problem and not cover it. (I use this example as a client found this out today)
It is correct that often the main cost is the initial diagnosis but some medications available today are costly and add up over a few yrs, 12 month policy no good for this.
12mth is better than nothing but it has significant limitations.
It is correct that often the main cost is the initial diagnosis but some medications available today are costly and add up over a few yrs, 12 month policy no good for this.
12mth is better than nothing but it has significant limitations.
K77 CTR said:
andy_vtec said:
Thanks for the feedback so far - any recommendation on insurance providers? or are they all much the same ?
The gold standard is petplan but have heard good things about Tesco and M&SWith Teco you pay the vet then claim back off Tesco, but claims handling is pretty quick, I highly recommend them.
Avoid E&L, it's very difficult to get them to pay out and when they do it'll take months to get the cheque. They now trade under different names so make sure you check the small print to see who underwrites the policy. There's no one else you really need to avoid.
Refusing to cover bilateral cruciate rupture is a harsh decision - if I was the client I'd be taking that up with the insurance ombudsman - fair enough if it was a 2nd problem in the same joint but if its on the other leg it can hardly be argued that it's a pre-exisiting condition.
bexVN said:
£4,000 not really enough these days. My own cat cost 4.5k and that was 4yrs ago. I'd really advise minimum 6k cover. Cover for life also ensures a condition such as bilateral cruciate repairs will be covered even if they are done a couple yrs apart. 12 month policy would count a 2nd cruciate as a pre existing problem and not cover it. (I use this example as a client found this out today)
It is correct that often the main cost is the initial diagnosis but some medications available today are costly and add up over a few yrs, 12 month policy no good for this.
12mth is better than nothing but it has significant limitations.
I'd disagree. The majority of animals will never use their insurance, those who do most bills will be under £1000. I've only seen a few cases where the bill has exceeded a £4000 limit, even with referral. It can happen but the vast majority of animals won't need more than £4000 - the OP needs to decide what level of risk to take.It is correct that often the main cost is the initial diagnosis but some medications available today are costly and add up over a few yrs, 12 month policy no good for this.
12mth is better than nothing but it has significant limitations.
Refusing to cover bilateral cruciate rupture is a harsh decision - if I was the client I'd be taking that up with the insurance ombudsman - fair enough if it was a 2nd problem in the same joint but if its on the other leg it can hardly be argued that it's a pre-exisiting condition.
We'll have to agree to disagree because I've seen too many clients run out of ins due to amounts being too low, though these are still better than no cover!
Re: the cruciate I'm not sure of the ins and outs but I think it's because both joints are affected by arthritis so a linked problem. We will try and write to them (even then beause she pays a lower premium she is penalised because she now has to pay £150 excess and 25% of the total bill. Plus the vet has already warned her the 2nd cruciat is likely to go so you could say it is now a pre existing condition..unfortunately.
Cheaper insurances usually have a catch somewhere.
Re: the cruciate I'm not sure of the ins and outs but I think it's because both joints are affected by arthritis so a linked problem. We will try and write to them (even then beause she pays a lower premium she is penalised because she now has to pay £150 excess and 25% of the total bill. Plus the vet has already warned her the 2nd cruciat is likely to go so you could say it is now a pre existing condition..unfortunately.
Cheaper insurances usually have a catch somewhere.
Edited by bexVN on Thursday 29th March 20:21
gd49 said:
I'd disagree. The majority of animals will never use their insurance, those who do most bills will be under £1000. I've only seen a few cases where the bill has exceeded a £4000 limit, even with referral. It can happen but the vast majority of animals won't need more than £4000 - the OP needs to decide what level of risk to take.
I have just had a claim for £8500 for my cat which was only insured up to £6000. It was a horrible situation to be in wondering if I could afford to get my cat through the treatment he needed. I will now be switching him to Petplan where the limit will be higher as I don't want to be in that situation again. He is insured with Halifax, so have no choice about changing insurance companies.K77 CTR said:
gd49 said:
I'd disagree. The majority of animals will never use their insurance, those who do most bills will be under £1000. I've only seen a few cases where the bill has exceeded a £4000 limit, even with referral. It can happen but the vast majority of animals won't need more than £4000 - the OP needs to decide what level of risk to take.
I have just had a claim for £8500 for my cat which was only insured up to £6000. It was a horrible situation to be in wondering if I could afford to get my cat through the treatment he needed. I will now be switching him to Petplan where the limit will be higher as I don't want to be in that situation again. He is insured with Halifax, so have no choice about changing insurance companies.We went for £4000 with Tesco even tho £7000 was £3 more a month, biggest mistake we ever made, I honestly think a few extra pounds is worth it for peace of mind, just imagine the worst happened and doggie gets ill, knowing you dont have to worry about huge bills means you can relax and concentrate on looking after the dog.
I took on an eight year old Cairn, and was horrified by the premiums. Vet staff told me that if he'd been on a plan at a younger age, he 'd be covered for life. So perhaps lifetime is better. Costs more, but it covers them for life,without some company saying"he's too old for cover".
You rack up £4000 very easily. Go for as high as you can find then when you are stressed with a dreadful situation there is one less issue regarding the money. Just tell then to get on with it and keep your fingers crossed.
If you care enough to insure them you don't want to be found a couple of thousand short if that sort of money will be deal breaker. Frankly even if its not the premium difference will be trivial.
If you care enough to insure them you don't want to be found a couple of thousand short if that sort of money will be deal breaker. Frankly even if its not the premium difference will be trivial.
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