Any recommendations (or not) for pet insurance?

[whostolethesocks]

That's it really. Just got a 14 month old Lab and looking at insurance quotes.

[Waswildatheart]

We are with Tesco and they were great when our dog had a load of very costly cardiac tests. Were great when I rang for advice and paid for everything really promptly. Would just say to read the small print as there are limits to the annual amount you can claim for any condition and they won't cover pre existing conditions.

[ma4pie]

Something else to look out for - some pet insurance is annual meaning that a new policy is required each year - as opposed to continuing with the old one. Probably not wording this brilliantly but how it was explained to me was that if your dog develops a chronic condition during one year of the policy you may not be able to renew that policy for the following year - it becomes a pre-existing condition and the premium will either sky rocket or the insurers won't touch you. Hope that makes sense. I think some of the cheaper options work this way - check the small print.

[noexcuses]

Tesco only covered our lab's hips condition for a year from diagnosis. Which if you know labs and hips wasn't great news.

[weevil]

The best policies are 'for life cover' so you pay your excess then can claim for the same thing year on year. Pet plan are good, AXA and m and s get reasonable reviews too.

Never touch e and l... Cheap in all ways.

[PersonalClown]

If you can hold on for 2 weeks..then look at Homebase/Argos/Tesco etc
They are in the middle of changing underwriters so any quotes being given at the moment are not accurate if you don't need your insurance immediately.

There are very few 'lifetime' plans available now. No idea why. The next option for that is a large fee limit per condition with no expiry on when to claim it.
Eg..if your dog develops epilepsy, you get a set fee to pay for tests/meds etc. Once that amount has run out, you have to pay yourself.

I was/am with Homebase. Lifetime cover £7500 fees a year lifetime cover. But they've just thrown my premium for Staffy boy up by £10 a month so I'm looking for another provider.

[TracyK]

Remember if you go through cmparethemarket, you get a cuddly meerkat toy!

[dazzlingdeborahrose]

We use Animal Friends, life cover. they're a not for profit organisation.

[Lizcat]

Keep away from any company that has the initials E and L. Animal friends have some really quite dubious policies probably a hangover from previously being underwritten by evil and lying.
Make sure you get a lifetime policy most large claims are for ongoing medical conditions like arthritis, heart conditions or diabetes.

[Lunatit]

I have just changed to Sainsburys which was £195 for the year, cheaper than renewing with Tescos. This includes lifetime cover up to £7.5k pa. I have a lab.

If you join Quidco there is a £60 cash back, which is bloody marvellous !!

Agree that E & L are crap

[coccyx]

animalfriends