Mumsnet users share what they think of pet insurance providers

[EllieMumsnet]

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We want to know what you think of all things pet insurance as well as pet insurance providers. Have you found the perfect plan for you? Is there something you wish providers would do more of? Perhaps you can share how you found the pet insurer you are currently with?

Whatever your thoughts and feelings are about pet insurance and the providers, please share them on the thread below to be entered into a prize draw where one MNer will win a £100 voucher of their choice (from a list).

Thanks and good luck!
MNHQ

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[jamielmdjs]

Usually use comparison sites for this sort of thing but didn't find them as easily available for pet insurance. Important product to have as vet bills can rocket but still want to find the best deal.

[piggypoo]

I used to have all three of my cats insured. The only time I had to put in a claim, the vet surgery told me that the excess I would have to pay is £70, and that I'd only get back about £2, so it would not be worth claiming. After that I stopped paying into them. My pets are old now, they are indoor cats, so don't go out. I'd rather just pay up when the time comes to take them to the vet.

[suzyq50]

It's expensive so much so I've stopped taking out insurance. I had a 2 claims albeit small ones & the premiums went sky high even with new providers.

[Monty27]

Robbers

[angela121262]

A necessity as Vet bills are very expensive

[tpwigwam]

We have two dogs and I change my insurance company every year to ensure I get the best deal. I use Which? website to understand the best value / best customer service annually. Although I get the best deal on offer at the time, my insurance premiums increase every year despite never having made a claim for either dog. Insurance and vet bills continue to soar!

[wef1984]

I'm with Tesco, it's the first pet insurance policy I've had and heard good things about them. I haven't had to claim luckily so can't comment on that.

[holey]

I keep meaning to get insurance for my two dogs but can never find exactly the right plan. It didn't seem so important when they were pups but now they are 6 and 5 I'm aware that they are approaching middle age and health problems will become more of a possibility. I'd love a mix and match type approach to pet insurance that would let you build up a plan based on your priorities and pay accordingly.

[Lasplin84]

I think pet insurance is an essential purchase if you have a pet as peace of mind that you will be able to support them whatever happens.

[emene]

I find them highly priced and the excess tends to be high. never made a claim a friend of mine did and she wasnt covered for certain things so ended up costing her even more.

[lorrainej162]

Both my cats were insured and I had no problems with claims being settled. My dog is insured but the premiums have gone up a fair bit, even without recent claims. But due to her having existing conditions, if I moved provider those conditions wouldn't be covered. I did query this years renewal and they took of 5%, better than nothing!

[bibopalubop]

I've gone for quite a high premium but I think it's worth it as my husky is like a baby to me. I know some people who don't insure and just put a little away every month for a rainy day but I couldn't risk it!

[blue25]

We have dogs, but I don't trust insurance companies and prefer to just save a good amount each month for vets bills if needed.

[upthehammers]

I was literally horrified when looking for quotes for my kittens and finding that to insure them costs more per month than insuring my 12yr old car!

I agree with a previous poster in that health records should be transferable in order to enable those with existing conditions to be able to shop about at renewal.

[nbrad1234]

We use Petplan but I think all pet insurance is so expensive for what you get. They don't pay for most of the things we go to the vet for.

[laurapotz]

One of my cats fractured his sacrum and the bills came to over £6000 - I'm so glad we had pet insurance as we maxed it out! It is expensive though so it is tempting just to save every month instead.

[kelliec]

The price jumps for age of dog are too big. It would have been better to put the same amount into an isa or savings when I first got them in case I needed to pay out for an operation/treatment. It would have been cheaper in the long run.

[Kangakate]

Like most things, there are good and bad and the different policies can be confusing, but I have seen so may animals that have been able to be saved due to the fact the owners have insurance, including my own dogs

[baconbap]

they want to do invasive diagnosis/treatment on dogs that are too old

[pinkspideruk]

I have 4 cats one of whom was born with CH the insurance cost is ridiculous for all 4 of them with 3 over 10 and the one with special needs they wanted a few hundred a month - the most I've paid so far on a vet bill in the last 10 years was £500 - if I had been paying for insurance it would have run to the thousands

[grannybiker]

I'm appalled at the high fees that can be racked up at the vets - our dog is un-waged!
Seriously, I know that vet training is highly professional and there's no doggy NHS funding treatments, but I just wish it wasn't all so darn expensive!
We have a pay monthly plan that we've fortunately not had to test yet.

[rexy0101]

Proud owner of a mongrel dog, one of the most healthiest breed of dog. Did not take out any pet insurance as found the premiums rise so sharply after the animal reaches 7 years old i find its not worth it.

[greensmith68]

we have 3 dog and use pet insurance for them because god forbid if anything did happen i wouldn't want the added upset of trying to afford there treatment

[cathyov]

Pet insurance has really rocketed in price and the excesses have increased horribly too. My vet came up with an idea that if you choose not to insure then open an account for your pet and put in as much as you can afford monthly as you will need it at some point in their life.
We took over a young dog that our elderly relative was not coping with and she had pet insurance thank goodness: she has had so many tests to try and explain her behaviour and has got into so many scrapes and had to have her tail amputated and swallows a sock that had to surgically be removed - the bills were all paid no problem but the insurance premium is now very high.

[Jocelynne123]

I would ALWAYS have pet insurance. My shitzu has a spinal problem. She has had 3 spinal operations and been paralysed. The total cost was around £13,000. The insurance paid it all and she is now a healthy 13 year old dog. I also have a Newfoundland that has skin issues. Her medication costs £2,000 every year. She also had TPLO surgery. There was another £5000. And had an MRI a few months ago at £2000. Everything is paid for. Having insurance means I can give my dogs the best care possible and is worth every penny. Xx