Quick question about pet insurance - I’m confused!

[Snufflebabe05]

First time pet owner here.

Our family dog is 4 and has ongoing tablets for an allergy. They are not cheap, and I’ve been claiming them on my pet insurance (yes, I know, I shouldn’t have, but here we are.)

When it comes to renewal time, pet insurance is doubling in costs. If we look elsewhere and disclose his medical condition, it’s coming in at roughly the same price.

My question is - if we don’t disclose the allergy, and move to another provider, how does it work. Obviously we pay for his allergy meds ourself, but we’d have to tick a box to say no previous health conditions…so that would be..untrue? However, I wouldn’t be claiming for anything existing? I’m trying to work out if it’s cheaper to pay for the tablets ourselves but can’t work out how we do this, and get the costs of our pet insurance down.

Sorry it would be worthless as when you make a claim your vet has to submit full medical history. If you omit this information they won't pay out.

I just want to be clear - I wouldn’t be claiming for any of his allergy tablets. It would be if I had to claim for future illness. Say he broke a leg etc.

Why shouldn't you be claiming for the tablets? I wouldn't have thought they would be covered but for a claim your vet has to confirm the treatment and the company approve it so if they have done that then I don't see the problem.

As i understand it increases the premiums.

Can you get pet insurance which omits certain conditions? (I’m basically trying to get cheaper pet insurance, and pay for the allergy meds myself, as I still think it will be cheaper)

So confused by it all!

If you move company they will exclude anything allergy related. This is where it gets more complicated as many things could come under allergy... Any skin problem/ ears/ anal glands/ diet issues can be further allergies. So you may find a cheaper insurer but check what they would still cover. Plus check for life long policy and a new one seems to be where they don't cover bilateral conditions. So then if your dog say had an issue with its knee like a luxating patella, then it wouldn't be covered on the other leg then either.

Unfortunately any existing condition like you say won’t be covered or probably anything related to skin. My dog had a skin infection, which the vet had to do a scape under aesthetic, plus bloods, total cost including medication and a few check up visits came to £1,600, so be careful when changing insurers. Before you change ring around a few to check.

@Snufflebabe05

its 'insurance'. Confusion is their main aim!!

personally I think 'an allergy' gives them a pretty free pass to say x condition is due to 'the allergy' even a broken leg!

I doubt you'll find one that's significantly cheaper & then they won't pay out in future because you didn't disclose the 'allergy'. Not because it caused it, but because you lied to them.

i have a similar situation with travel insurance. I'm sure other people would too if they needed to claim - even for something absolutely in no way relevant. They can refuse the claim because you didn't disclose the completely unrelated issue.

its shit!

If you don't disclose the allergy (pre existing condition) to a new insurer, you are withholding relevant information, and when they find out it is likely to invalidate your policy so the dog will effectively not be insured at all.

It makes no difference that you don't intend to claim for that condition, you still have to tell them.

The best thing to do is ring and speak to a human at your existing insurer (and also a new one) and ask what the cost would be if you exclude this condition.

However it may not make much difference. Premiums rise year on year, sometimes gradually and sometimes dramatically, not always entirely related to whether you have made a claim.