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MNHQ

Mumsnet users share what they think of pet insurance providers

299 replies

EllieMumsnet · 23/08/2018 08:48

This activity is now closed

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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Mumsnet users share what they think of pet insurance providers
OP posts:
Minnibix · 24/08/2018 15:42

I think that they have improved so much over the last few years. It was a bit of a scam and when your dog/cat got older they threw you off the books but all this seems to have changed for the better

Bumblebeans · 24/08/2018 15:43

We use pet plan for our cat as it seemed to be the most comprehensive. He means alot to our family and want to be able to provide the best health care possible if required

vixxx666 · 24/08/2018 15:49

I think some companies charge an absolute fortune knowing that they'll be people out there who are so completely in love with their pets they'll pay it. It's always worth researching and comparing prices and cover before settling.

ElizabethinherGermanGarden · 24/08/2018 16:05

My 15 year old cat costs significantly more to insure than my 12 year old car... I'm with Petplan and pay £37 per month. They have been excellent in terms of service and have paid out not only for the costs of treatment over the years but also exploratory tests when needed.

For a good few years I felt that I was in profit despite rising premiums following a couple of major infections and accidents (he has used at least 4 of his lives by now) that led to thousands of pounds in vet bills. However, because he's a relatively long-lived boy, I do think they've got their money's worth out of me by now.

The excess is very high (£120 per illness) and they pay 80% of costs after that - it's a fairly substantial change to Ts&Cs.

Once a pet has been ill and has a number of pre-existing conditions, you need to stick with the same insurer, which means that they can and do raise premiums regularly.

Having said all of that, I would have had to have had my lovely boy put down when he was just two (and when he was 6, and when he was 8, and this year) without the safety net of insurance. It's been a huge outlay - over £9000 in all, which would buy a small conservatory - but has been worth it.

IonaAilidh11 · 24/08/2018 16:21

never had but currently looking into it

itsali · 24/08/2018 16:39

I've been looking at pet insurers and I notice there are certain ones with very bad reviews. The premiums seem to go up yearly as well. However, it has helped me narrow down potential companies.

AnimalAddict · 24/08/2018 16:46

I'm with Petplan at the minute with my 5 month old kitten. It took having another pet with several health conditions to make me realise I definitely need to invest in pet insurance. Sadly my previous pet died but the vets bills for her were so high. I knew getting pet insurance would give me peace of mind if anything went wrong and my vet recommended Petplan to me, thankfully I haven't had to claim anything yet. :)

lovemyflipflops · 24/08/2018 16:48

I've been with the same provider for 5 years now, and have renewed with them each year (after looking on price comparison sites). The monthly premium just keeps increasing, and I feel as my dog gets older (when I am more likely to need a vet) the monthly premium will soon become unaffordable. No claims bonus for me, and reading the smallprint they will only pay for one condition. I really do not see the point in insuring - I will probably put my premium into a separate 'doggy' account and use it should I need to go to the vet.

ThemisA · 24/08/2018 17:14

I found it fair in the early years but as my dog ages she has developed arthritis and now I have to pay £1 a day for her pain relief and when we need to check whether it is deteriorating I have to fund the £1000 x-ray costs because it is now a pre-existing condition. As time has gone on my monthly charge has gone up four fold.

LeeR1985 · 24/08/2018 17:22

The main problem I have with pet insurance providers is the excess seems to be quite a lot sometimes. I do pay for it though because if something really bad happens, it won't be as costly as it is without insurance

ang65t · 24/08/2018 18:05

we have a rabbit and have never needed a vet, so never looked for pet insurance but I think as with most insurances I think they move the goal posts for popular claims aand I believe reading small print is vital

amyhalliday1 · 24/08/2018 18:20

I think they rip people off and do not cover half the things that come up

towser44 · 24/08/2018 18:52

I've found them perfectly fine when setting up the policy for our new lurcher pup, but time will tell how good they are should we ever need to claim!

Lioness82 · 24/08/2018 18:56

It truly does depend on the insurers.

I have a 12 year old small dog, insured with Petplan. I got 4 weeks free when he was a puppy, and premiums started at £8 something a month. I chose a conveyed for life policy, because it meant 'old age' conditions would be covered (cancer, diabetes, arthritis), year on year, no exclusions. No long term conditions yet though.

Same cover now costs me £69 a month. With a £200 excess and 20% co-pay on any claims.

I looked at other insurers last year. They wanted to exclude heart, spine, legs and tail, all oral or dental surgery.

Premium was 2/3 of the price - hardly surprising, they were only willing to cover 2/3 of the dog! That policy was utterly worthless. I stayed with Pet plan for the peace of mind that everything is covered, even though it costs more.

I've chosen to look at as

  • In the last twelve years , the only insurance policy I have claimed on, is my pet insurance.
  • home insurance, car insurance... all cover replaceable things. Which do you value more, the car or the dog? I'm willing to pay more, for the more fulfilling one. It costs a fortune, but so do vet bills. I won't be without it (although the high excess and co-pay may force my hand.)
phillie1 · 24/08/2018 18:58

Put the money aside each month that you would spend on insurance, and then it's there available if needed.

devito92 · 24/08/2018 19:07

With the cost of vets fee's these days pet insurance is a must

APJ1 · 24/08/2018 19:28

Our dog is insured with Animal Friends. We thankfully haven't had to use them yet but found them to seemingly be good value.

pennwood · 24/08/2018 20:06

Hefty excesses, & lots of exclusions have put me off pet insurance. I think it is better to save towards any health issues, & if not needed I have saved money anyway.

abby12321 · 24/08/2018 20:08

Don’t go for the cheapest! Go for reputation. Our dog developed a chronic hip problem and Pet Plan paid out for the rest of her life! A lot of policies wouldn’t have done that so ensure it’s cover for life

Shuggas · 24/08/2018 20:13

I'm a vote for put the money aside instead, my DDogis 14 and I'd have spent a fortune on insurance by now vs saving money for a lucky only two trips to the vets in her life.

It can be a gamble though so I guess it's down to individuals and their preference really.

Rachdayan · 24/08/2018 20:19

So far so good, never had any problems or issues claiming. I've only had to claim once and it was straight forward, but it did make me more aware of excesses and policies that only cover up to a certain amount per condition.

liz1970 · 24/08/2018 20:54

We have had pet insurance for our dog who is six years old. We have had to use it once, when she cut her paw badly, having insurance made it easier for us, as the cost came to over £800

freefan · 24/08/2018 22:07

To start with it seemed really reasonable but every year it went up with the cover getting changed with it, we changed insurance providers and it really does pay to shop around as we've save over £40 a month combining 4 animals insurance into one.

OnlyToWin · 24/08/2018 22:17

I was going to reduce my pet insurance this year as luckily I did not claim at all last year when dog was a puppy and more reckless. However I bottled it when it came to it and kept the cover at 7.5K. I know someone whose dog broke their leg and the costs were astronomical. I just kept imagining myself stood in the vets thinking “Why did I not choose the higher option?” when faced with a massive vet bill. I suppose that’s what insurance companies play on - fear of the “what if?” or the “worst happening”.

lhlee62 · 24/08/2018 22:22

I have limited choices as we have a greyhound who is an exracer, when we do a price comparison a lot of the providers wouldn't insure her. We were with Petplan, but then found another provider who was less than half for similar cover. She is only 4 and no problems so far.

When we had a mongrel we had pet insurance and it was really lucky that we did as she got Cushings and needed monthly meds, if we didn't have inurance there is no way we could have afforded the £100 odd a month they wanted.