Discussion
Well, little pup has had her first vaccinations this morning and the wife has come back with a few different numbers for pet insurers.
We're in no doubt we want cover, but does anyone have any recommendations or advice?
Life long cover seems a must, but what sort of claim limit do you have and how much should we be looking at for the year?
We're in no doubt we want cover, but does anyone have any recommendations or advice?
Life long cover seems a must, but what sort of claim limit do you have and how much should we be looking at for the year?
We have done all sorts over time. Our opinion is that the companies seem to like the ''pre-existing conditions'' get out clause - linking one problem to another (skin conditions is a favourite). But of course that won't apply with a pup with no history - as long as you get decided soon.
The Petplan site states that many problems happen in the early years - and we would agree. We have just cancelled our insurance for the youngest dog, now five - and should have done it two years ago (but Mrs Mercs felt otherwise).
We did claim with this dog when he was very ill in his first year (only about £500) - proving that is a good reason to start with insurance for a pup.
Generally the next time you start claiming is when the dog is older (unless you have some bad luck). And you still have excesses to account for.
The next alternative is to put those premiums into your own deposit account ready for when you need them. Based on a lot of recent experience you need to allow about £2 per day for medication in the last one / two years of the dogs life. Our vets don't seem to overcharge too much at this time for the regular stuff (brain / heart / arthritis pills). Some of the pills are available online a bit cheaper without prescription once you start using them.
In 15 years, and with three dogs, we have not spent more with the vets than we would have done on insurance.
The Petplan site states that many problems happen in the early years - and we would agree. We have just cancelled our insurance for the youngest dog, now five - and should have done it two years ago (but Mrs Mercs felt otherwise).
We did claim with this dog when he was very ill in his first year (only about £500) - proving that is a good reason to start with insurance for a pup.
Generally the next time you start claiming is when the dog is older (unless you have some bad luck). And you still have excesses to account for.
The next alternative is to put those premiums into your own deposit account ready for when you need them. Based on a lot of recent experience you need to allow about £2 per day for medication in the last one / two years of the dogs life. Our vets don't seem to overcharge too much at this time for the regular stuff (brain / heart / arthritis pills). Some of the pills are available online a bit cheaper without prescription once you start using them.
In 15 years, and with three dogs, we have not spent more with the vets than we would have done on insurance.
My cats are both with Petplan now, originally one was with Hailfax and after all the issues I had with them withdrawing from the pet insurance market, I will never use a company that doesn't specialise in Pet insurance.
I also only had £6000 cover with Halifax which wasn't enough when my cat was hit by a car, putting me in the horrible position of having to consider putting my cat to sleep as I'd hit the limit that I could afford.
Make sure you get 'for life' cover
I also only had £6000 cover with Halifax which wasn't enough when my cat was hit by a car, putting me in the horrible position of having to consider putting my cat to sleep as I'd hit the limit that I could afford.
Make sure you get 'for life' cover
We are with esure for both of our dogs. We were with previously with m&S but they put premiums up even though we did not claim.
Our insurance now with Esure is now about £70 per month, but we have in the past year claimed about 3k as we have found out he has epilipsy. I still think that is porbably cheaper than PetPlan. We also cannot change insurance as anything to do with his epilepsy, either directly or indirectly will be classed as an existing condition.
A lot more vets will deal with petplan direct for payment. Our vet has once dealt with ours direct, but the specialist would not. For cases like that it is a good idea to have a credit card with intertest free on purchases as it gives you a chnace to claim the money back and then pay off the card. I keep a card just in case of a large vet bill (only used once).
Our insurance now with Esure is now about £70 per month, but we have in the past year claimed about 3k as we have found out he has epilipsy. I still think that is porbably cheaper than PetPlan. We also cannot change insurance as anything to do with his epilepsy, either directly or indirectly will be classed as an existing condition.
A lot more vets will deal with petplan direct for payment. Our vet has once dealt with ours direct, but the specialist would not. For cases like that it is a good idea to have a credit card with intertest free on purchases as it gives you a chnace to claim the money back and then pay off the card. I keep a card just in case of a large vet bill (only used once).
Petplan for us, lifetime cover BUT only £4k limit (in any one year). We have blown that limit twice and our dog is only 4 and a bit years old. I thought that £4k was huge, but pup went down with what turned out to be an auto immune condition in year one and I realised that £4k is nowhere near enough. I would want an absolute minimum of £7k if I had the option. Petplan won't increase our cover level because of her claims history and we can't go elsewhere without excluding pre-existing conditions.
Personally I would go with a specialist insurer - one of the general insurance co's pulled out of pet cover a little while ago - I think it may have been Halifax and this produced difficulties for those with lifetime cover and pre-existing conditions as they had to find another insurer.
Personally I would go with a specialist insurer - one of the general insurance co's pulled out of pet cover a little while ago - I think it may have been Halifax and this produced difficulties for those with lifetime cover and pre-existing conditions as they had to find another insurer.
Thanks guys, Petplan look like they might be a safe bet then. Quotes came back at about £50 a month for the top, £12k lifetime cover which in the grand scheme, doesn't seem reidculous.
I think the wife may have tired her out today, fast asleep and taking residency on the snug sofa when I got in this evening.
I think the wife may have tired her out today, fast asleep and taking residency on the snug sofa when I got in this evening.
Edited by Spoof on Wednesday 6th March 22:41
We have John Lewis £10k per condition per year lifetime cover for our 16 month old rottie. Just had our renewal through £707. I questioned the amount as 'worth it'. JL have been very good and quick paying last year and the lifetime cover is massive piece of mind considering she already has a slightly dodgy knee.
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