Should I claim on insurance or not for suspicious mole removal

[Woodlandwalks]

My lovely 5 year old dog needs to have a growth that has developed suddenly above his eye removed this week. They have quoted £600 for the operation and testing to see if the growth is anything more to be worried about (trying not to think about that and will cross that bridge when we come to it).
We have max benefit insurance which we've never claimed on. I'm wondering is if better to just pay the fees ourselves rather than risk his premium going up astronomically? We can afford to just pay the fees but only just as I'm on maternity leave so very little income this year to work with. We're due to renew his insurance next month anyway and they had just sent our renewal quote which was actually very reasonable and genuinely cheaper than starting a new policy with another provider.

[TARSCOUT]

I would not much point in having insurance if you don't? I recently claimed £200 less £98 excess and didn't change the general. Hope it all works out ok.

[Moondust001]

The problem is that this has happened. If you go to a new provider you will have to tell them. And if you don't claim with your existing provider, but then there is any possible linked illness, you could be in trouble for not disclosing it - and will probably have any claim rejected. I think you have to claim, because you have to tell them whatever happens.

[doodleygirl]

You must tell the insurers even if you don’t claim.

[vanillandhoney]

You still need to disclose it to the insurance company either way, so you may as well claim.

[Woodlandwalks]

Thank you, I hadn't really thought of that but of course I would have to tell them anyway. All sorted, I've rung them this evening so just to hope for the best for the operation now 🤞