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AIBU?

Pet Insurance

38 replies

JeeanieYuss · 23/01/2013 22:34

Okay, so I know this isn't the right place so yes Iabu, but I need your help and I know there are a lot of dog lovers on MN.

So, I have a 7 month old Collie X boy, who I love dearly, I am currently looking to get lifetime insurance for him and I am just so confused by all the different policies, types, what it actually covers etc.. And obviously the most important thing (well in my eyes), who pays out easiest and fulfills there end of the bargain Confused

I did do a search but the last pet insurance threads were from back in 2006, so again I'm sorry, but I know there is more traffic here and I want to get it sorted a.s.a.p as I've kept putting it off and putting it off again, I am the eternal procrastinator!!

So please 'Oh wise ones of MN' share your wisdom Grin

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JeeanieYuss · 23/01/2013 22:35

Apologies for the over use of 'so' !

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JeeanieYuss · 23/01/2013 23:03

Anybody........... ?

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Naysa · 23/01/2013 23:06

Definitly speak to your vet re who pays out best. Some vets won't work with some insurers as they don't pay out.

Best thing is to ask your vet then check comparison sites.

Have a look on Horse and Hound forums under All About Dogs. They're great with stuff like this Grin

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kimberlina · 23/01/2013 23:09

Petplan are undoubtably the best imo

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LadyBeagleEyes · 23/01/2013 23:10

I've got my cats insured but I didn't when I got my dog 2 years later.
I think because the cats are always out and about, and my dog is always with me, and I tend to worry about cars.
But yes, I know I should get my Alf insured, though please look at the small print, pet insurance is notorious for the 'exemption clause'.

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HousewifeFromHeaven · 23/01/2013 23:13

I use pet plan cover for £33.00 a month. She's a pug. I know it's expensive but IMO you get what you pay for and I've never had any trouble claiming (ok so only once!)

She's covered £7000 per year, and it's a life cover policy. I did look at others but felt more comfy with a specialist pet insurer.

No doubt ill get flamed for using them but I'm happy and would recommend Smile

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Ginshizz · 23/01/2013 23:15

My dog is insured with the kennel club and my cat is insured with direct line; they have both been great. We went for the stupidly expensive option on both to get lifetime cover for ongoing illnesses rather than standard cover which only covers treatment for any one condition for a year.

Good thing too as GinCat has just been diagnosed with hyperthyroidism Shock

Good luck!

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HollyBerryBush · 23/01/2013 23:16

Petplan all the way.

be careful though - they do several types of policy, I took out a life policy (so its more expensive) but the other policies were yearly renewable thus a condition wouldnt be convered after 12 months.

I do realise the liklihood of me using it is the cost of a cruise round the world, but she's worth it!

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Lonecatwithkitten · 23/01/2013 23:22

Avoid any company that uses E and L in it's title they have several guises, but us vets know them as evil and lying.
In all honesty you get what you pay for with pet insurance the easiest company to deal with is Pet Plan.

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rosieposey · 23/01/2013 23:24

I probably would advise you to use pet plan like me but that's because our vets only take the excess off me and then deal with the insurance company directly - as it would be hundreds and we rarely have that up front - they will only do this with pet plan as they say they never have any problems with them paying out. It's probably a Swizz though and pet plan make it worth the vets while iyswim?

Additionally I would buy lifetime cover because some conditions can cost a fortune to treat over a lifetime and a lot of policies only pay out for up to a year. If you have a credit card with a decent limit then you could go for a lifetime policy with another insurer which will probably cost half of what pet plan do though, read the small print!

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catloony · 23/01/2013 23:28

If you go on the moneysaving expert website their is an article explaining the diferent types of policies.

There is about 3different types,

Accident,pays out an certain amount but runs out after a year, these are usually the cheapest ones.

Per condition, pays out a maximum per each condition, once maximum is reached then no more can be claimed.

Lifetime, pays out maximum, per condition per year, the amount is reset when renew each year, by far the best but obviously the most expensive.

There is comparison sites for pet insurance

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JeeanieYuss · 24/01/2013 00:13

Thanks everyone, I've been looking at Petplan as vet recommended them, their is just so much conflicting information out there!

I didn't mention in my OP that we have already had to take him to the vets, he made a dash for it on a main road when my OH was walking him, to say I was livid is an understatement, not because of the cost but at the sight of my gorgeous little pup ( barf , I know, I am super guilty of being overly soppy about him ! ) coming home covered in blood, whimpering..
He tripped my OH up as he made the dash for it and ended up getting his paw ran over, twice, the driver went over it and then reversed ( not on purpose )the vet said he was lucky that his bones are still growing/soft so that nothing was broken.. He was bandaged up and sent home and is well healed now thank god!!

This cost us £325 for the x-rays etc, so I am now kicking myself for keeping on putting off getting the insurance sorted, I kept saying after Xmas as we we're so skint before, so it is now top of my list to sort out.

And I also gave my OH a lecture on how to hold the lead a little bit better Sad

I actually haven't trusted him to take him back out again, I doubt very much anything would happen again, but I'd rather it was in my hands than his!

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JeeanieYuss · 24/01/2013 00:21

Your quote per month
£20.26
67 pence per day
includes 10% online discount
Kipper's details X
Your Details
Kipper's cover
Policy Benefits... Levels Excess
Veterinary Fees
£4000
£75
Complementary Treatment
£1000
£75
Third Party Liability
£2m
£250
Death from Illness
£1500 (Optional)
NA
Death from Injury
£1500 (Optional)
NA
Advertising & Reward
£1500
NA
Boarding Fees
£1500
NA
Theft or Straying
£1500
NA
Emergency Repatriation
£500
NA
Quarantine Expenses & Loss of Documents
£1500
NA
Holiday Cancellation
£1500
NA

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JeeanieYuss · 24/01/2013 00:23

That's with Petplan, quite a reasonable quote I think? But do the the other bits look okay?


By the way my dog isn't called Kipper really Grin

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JeeanieYuss · 24/01/2013 00:27

This is for the classic for life for £4000 a year or I could choose the £22.19 plan (still classic plan) and be covered for £7000..

Would I need £7000?

Sorry for all the Q's ...

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musicmadness · 24/01/2013 02:22

You're unlikely to need £7000 a year unless your dog gets ill with something that requires constant medication. My dog is on medication that would be costing around £6000 a year total if not for his insurance (thankfully we had lifetime cover), but the vet said we were basically very unlucky that he fell ill with something that required such expensive treatment. For the vast majority of things £4000 will be fine.

Petplan are really good, they pay the vets directly so I only have to pay the excess and there has never been a problem with them (have been dealing with them regularly for almost 4 years now). I'd definitely recommend them :)

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TheNebulousBoojum · 24/01/2013 06:44

Petplan in my opinion too. Operations, medication and tests have all been paid out for with no problems.

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Chopstheduck · 24/01/2013 06:52

I don't have dogs, I had rabbits, but I was advised to get a lifetime policy rather than a yearly one. If your pet develops a reoccurring conditions (e.g. diabetes) a lifetime policy would continue to cover that, providing you renew it each year. A yearly policy wouldn't cover pre existing conditions, so if your dog develops something like diabetes, once you get the next policy it won't be covered.

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dangly131 · 24/01/2013 06:59

I have mine insured with co-operative, not sure if they do a lifetime cover or not. Mine is £11 per month and covers for £4000 in one year for illness/injury. My dog had to be treated least year which came to £500 and they paid up without any bother. My excess is £75 and my new premiums only went up by 50p after the claim.

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Dawndonna · 24/01/2013 07:22

Check out what sort of illnesses your dog is likely to get. We went for the £7000 because we knew ours were prone to ear and heart problems. So far, in the last year, he has had four operations and seen a specialist. We have spent, well the insurance has spent, almost 7,000!
Fortunately, his problems seem to have been cleared.

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crashdoll · 24/01/2013 07:54

I went with pet plan for my toy poodle pup upon the advice of my vet. Biggest mistake. As a new dog owner, I thought £33 a month wasn't that bad. 4 years later, he has a knee condition, so if I ever changed policies, it would be excluded as pre-existing condition and also, I pay £46 a month. They've been a right PITA too, taking months to send me a cheque for £2000 after my dog had a knee operation.

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miggy · 24/01/2013 08:05

Id pay the extra £2 and get 7000 cover, have regularly seen people exceeding insurance limits once dog is referred to a specialist centre.
Animal friends is a good payer, and they donate a lot to charity, might be worth a look.

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TheCatIsEatingIt · 24/01/2013 09:13

I'm with Animal Friends - the Cats' Protection League gave me a leaflet along with the cat. It seems like the same sort of cover as petplan but cheaper. I've never had to claim, though, touch wood.

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HousewifeFromHeaven · 24/01/2013 12:54

I have the £7000 because my dog is a pug, and although a long lived breed is prone to problems.

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Lifeisontheup · 24/01/2013 13:11

We were insured with Direct line and they've always paid out quickly. At our old vet they would send the bills to the insurance company who would then pay directly, we only had to pay the excess.
Our current vet, we have to pay and then take the form into them and they send it to the insurer with copies of the bills.

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