Lifetime Cover Insurance

[Dazzalm]

Hi there

We have an almost 5 year old rescue dog. At the moment she has lifetime cover with PetPlan which includes up to £4000 of vet bills per annum. I am conscious that this should really be higher and for the same monthly premium I am paying with PetPlan I can get a similar lifetime policy with Bought By Many which covers up to £15,000 vet bills.

However, she has seen vet 2-3 times with vomiting and diarrhea. Although I've never made a claim with PetPlan for this treatment, if I switched to a different company does anyone know if this would this mean ANY/ALL gastro issues (eg a blockage which needed surgery or pancreatitis etc) would be excluded?

Thanks

[Maneandfeathers]

In my experience yes you would probably find you have an exclusion for Gastro sadly.
Perhaps not a foreign body but probably pancreatitis/GE/IBS.

I would ring them and ask though.

[BiteyShark]

Yes I think you will have an exclusion. I would as PP said phone and get a quote and tell them about the vet visits and ask if they have any exclusions because of that and also whether those exclusions will be lifted after a certain period.

[Petitprince]

I'd ask your vet to put a note on your file saying what the cause was if possible, then there's no confusion further down the line.

[Scattyhattie]

Petplan excluded all bowel conditions for my dog that had a bout of bloody diarrhea, I think after 2yrs of no issues & letter from vet they may consider lifting, so worth discussing with insurer. Assume an increase of cover may start new policy even if you stayed.

[Dazzalm]

Thanks all.

Renewal isn't for a couple of months so will give them a call nearer the time and have a chat with my vet (who is also a good friend) and see if she has any advice.

I am not sure if staying with Pet Plan but increasing the cover counts as a new policy and therefore gastro would be excluded with them anyway, but to be honest I suspect £15K worth of cover for vets bills with Pet Plan would put the price of the policy up to a ridiculous costs anyway!

[pigsDOfly]

I had exactly the same situation as Scattiehattie, bloody diarrhea and all. At the time I had a yearly policy and had all the exclusions when I switched to a life time policy.

I was also able to get them removed after two years, obviously dog has to have no bowel related issues during those two years, whether you make a claim or not.