Tesco extra insurance - lifetime cover?

[fanoftheinvisibleman]

Our puppy came with the standard 4 weeks KC insurance and we are now looking for a longterm policy.

I've had a few people recommend tesco to me and I have used them in the past when I had a cat. I know they say they will insure older pets but do they guarantee lifetime cover? I'm just a little worried that they could refuse to renew at a certain age?

You need to check the smallprint VERY carefullly. Lifetime cover does not always mean each condition is covered for life.

i.e get an ongoing problem with a need for lifelong medication and it may have an upper limit i.e 5 grand. Once that has been met you are on your own. Although they will continue to cover your dog for all other illnesses for life.

I am aware of the maximum cover for each condition. I'm just concerned about whether they can just refuse to insure you at all at a point where you are going to find it difficult to be taken on elsewhere at 8+.

I don't know if it is worth worrying about or not as I guess they can always make it difficult for you with unreasonable premiums anyway if they want rid of your custom.

i just had a brief look at the tesco one you mean, and it would seem that it will insure for life, i,e as old as the dog gets. I have just cancelled an insurance for my dog who will be 12 soon as the premium has now reached 38 per month for quite a basic cover. My thinking is that if it were something horrendously expensive like big ops etc, it would not be fair to put him through it. Anything else I can pay as I go with what I am not paying as a premium.
My other dog is with KC all singing all dancing at 29 per month and still a pup. Will be reviewing that as I go.

I did the same thing with my cat tbh Skilift. Premiums rocketed once he hit 13 or 14 and I decided I wouldn't put him through invasive or unpleasant treatment anyway so cancelled.

KC is wanting £26 a month for similar cover with a higher excess than tesco who are under £15 a month. A few people I know in real life have said they were very good at paying out for expensive ops.

The only reason I chose KC was due to the lifelong bit meaning that every year the total amount for a condition starts again.

So say it was 5 grand per condition and you reached 4 grand in a year, the new year starts with a new 5 grand. Which is great if you have a young dog on lifelong medication etc. But as you say, expensive with my excess being £75

I'm with Petplan and would really recommend them.
If you want to chat through various policies, have you tried VIP? They are a pet insurance brokers so can advise on different policies with lots of different insurers.
I've used then for a few years and they sort out renewal, any claims etc for me.

I had a fallout with Petplan when I had my cat Jemima. It was silly really and nothing to do with my service but the lady I spoke to was just so rude and snotty I ended up cancelling my policy.

They sent renewal notices for the previous owners of our house for 4 years. Every year I rang and told them and every year they said they couldn't stop the mailing. When I queried why they had no 'gone away' policy or responsibility to safeguard bank details (DD info on policy) she was beyond rude. So I stropped and moved to Tesco. I bear a long grudge when it comes to customer service!

I haven't seen VIP. Will take a look. I appreciate that is a good advantage of KC insurance too Skilift.

I would have done the same fan. Can't abide rude customer service. Luckily I've not seen that but maybe that's only because I don't actually deal with them but deal with VIP?