Best company to insure dog with?

[doozeldog]

Hi, can anybody recommend a insurance company that insures dogs please? I am with Nfu for my horse and other bits but when reading up on their dog policy's I i'm not that impressed ( all vets fees cover stops at 10) which defeats the object because that's why I want to insure!

Thanks

[blueskypink]

Lots of threads on this topic if you search. Petplan is generally considered to be the best.

[doozeldog]

Thank you x

[BiteyShark]

I can only give you my experience with petplan. I went with them for my puppy despite being quite expensive because the reviews suggested that they paid out quickly and they didn't put the premiums up after a claim as much as other companies. Whilst I have no direct comparison to go on I have claimed for a few small accidents and one major illness in the first year totalling around £2.5k. They paid out within a couple of weeks with no fuss and my premium went up by around £15 for the second year. Mine is a life policy and I am glad I went with them given the ease in which I have found claims to be paid.

[blueskyinmarch]

I use Petplan and they paid out quickly and with no fuss when my dog needed treatment.

[Eifla]

My dog is with Petplan. We’re heading towards maxing his £8,000 policy for the third year running. Paid everything without quibble.

[scattyhattie]

NFU Must have changed its policy as my old dog was 10 when I claimed about £3k. I know most insurers have cut off age for accepting new policies. NFu do hike up the excess with each new claim, went from 60-90-140. They mistakenly sent renewal after he'd passed (had 2 dogs on policy) & was surprised premiums hadn't risen more as boy had about £7k in past year for 2 conditions. I didn't have an issue with vets claiming direct, one referral vets wanted pre-authorisation but expect they do with most. I think you need at least £7k per year vet fee cover & possibly more if youngster so will be worth less in 5-10yrs.

I have my 2 newer additions with Petplan as most vets will direct claim with them & I feel company is more stable as at time couple had dropped out of market or switched underwriter causing huge premium hikes. Although more expensive the premiums haven't risen by as much year on year as previous insurer. I have 11yr dog so pay 20% of vet fees on top of excess but I prefer this to uncertainty of premium rises & risk of becoming unaffordable. Only complaint is hydrotherapy which comes under complimentary is restricted to 10 sessions per condition which is pretty stingy.

[blueskypink]

I presume all companies will put premiums up as dogs age, and claims are made. We're currently paying Direct Line about £124 pcm for our 11 year old lab. Started off about £40 I think. But we've claimed about £3k in the last 18 months.

[Panicmode1]

I'm currently with Tesco as their cover seemed to be as good as Petplan for less money. Sadly, my dog, who is only 3, was diagnosed with cancer on Friday and may lose an eye... I have been super impressed with how Tesco dealt with me on Friday when I was trying to deal with the referral etc. Claim is likely to be very sizeable, so can't comment on my renewal yet, but so far, am v impressed with their efficiency (and compassion).

[Floralnomad]

Our dog has a lifetime policy with Direct Line and I’ve never had any problems with them , he’s 7 and we’ve made about 3 claims . My mum has hers with Tesco , although not on a lifetime policy and they’ve always been very helpful , she’s made a claim for both of her dogs this year .

[passmethewineplease]

We're with more than

[doozeldog]

Thank you for your replies, I will look into all of the insurers mentioned!

[meandmytinfoilhat]

Always get a lifetime policy and steer clear of animal friends. I know people who have been burnt by this company (myself included)

[CauliflowerBalti]

PetPlan - absolutely amazing. Make sure you get cover for life/a lifetime policy, whoever you go for.

[DownHereInTheHorridHouse]

My dog will be 8 in May and we're paying £500+ a year - does that seem about right? She isn't on a lifetime policy, so it does go up each year.

[Fintress]

So sorry about your dog @Panicmode1, I hope it will be okay.

When we had our dog we used PetPlan. We never had to pay anything upfront and claim it back as the vet dealt with all the paperwork and got paid direct.

Miss my wee doggy.

[Nifflerbowtruckle]

Petplan are good. The premiums go up each year even if you don't claim however once the dog reaches old age (usually 8) the cost doesn't go up as that's when you usually need to claim. It's £90 excess but that's not for each claim it's for each year.

[Beckface]

Can anyone else confirm what @Nifflerbowtruckle says re petplan not increasing after 8 years of age? We just got our renewal and our dog turns 8 this year. It's £67 a month which is at our absolute limits but if it won't increase after that we would stay. If it will continue to go up (this renewal was an increase of £100) then we would be better jumping ship now due to the fact that many won't let you start a new policy once they hit 8-10 years.

[BiteyShark]

Beckface I very much doubt if that is correct. Petplan on their website say premiums go up with age, breed and location but not claims.

If you do jump ship and you are on a life policy do be aware that anything you have been to the vets about even if you never claimed is usually viewed as a preexisting illness.

[LaGattaNera]

Tesco for 3 dogs and LV for one - always been happy with Tesco as have used them multiple times with all dogs but not at all happy with LV and would never use them again refusing to pay out and then only paying some which was very upsetting as dog had died by then.

[Nifflerbowtruckle]

Sorry just read and petplan do go up with age. Apparently they've changed their underwriters recently.

[kath6144]

For those who have lifetime cover and have claimed, can I ask how much your premiums have gone up in the following years?

We have a 4 yr old lab, no claims, fit and healthy, our renewal this year with John Lewis, for their middle cover, including lifetime, has shot up £16/month. There seems no reason for this, esp as I can cancel and get same cover under a new online policy for £2 increase on last year.

What we are wondering is, why have lifetime cover, if they increase by this amount with no claims and only 4yrs old, I can imagine that if we did have a claim for a lifetime illness, the renewal increase might then be extortionate. Making a mockery of the lifetime cover!!!!!!

Its not the actual renewal amount that is annoying, we can afford it, but its the p**s-taking increase that is so much more than a new client can get online!!!

[BiteyShark]

I have only had one renewal and that was after a claim and taking account of the additional deal we got for our first years policy it went up around £15 for the year.

Petplan do say that premiums will go up based on age and location so every year they will base it on the dog being older and or if we moved house. The issue with cancelling and taking out another life policy is that anything you have seen the vet for even if you never made a claim can be seen as a pre existing condition so you need to consider that if you cancel and effectively take another 'policy' out as mine wanted a full history on the first claim for anything we had been seen for (irrespective of the condition I was claiming for) from my vet.

[kath6144]

Was that with petplan Biteyshark?

I expect some uplift each year, as the dog is a year older, £15/year seems ok, £16/month is taking the mick.

We have never seen the vet apart from immunisations, and once for a cut paw, so we wouldn't have a problem there.

We did the same 2yrs ago, when JL then wanted a massive increase, cancelling and taking a new policy. A friend had same problem, they gave her the online rate over phone, but wouldn't do same for us. JL seem to do it after 2 yrs with them, from our experience.

[BiteyShark]

kath6144 yes petplan. It sounds like you're in a good position to take another policy out if you need to then if you have only seen the vet for a cut paw. The issue with life policies is if like me you have had an awful year of illnesses and injuries when moving now would exclude so many things it wouldn't be worth it.