Petplan: is it worth it?

[CheesePlanted]

I have been with them a year, renewal documents arrived. My premium has gone up by £50. No claims and no new conditions. I put my dog’s details in as if I was a new customer and it was £50 cheaper. I phoned them up and the man was really quite rude, and said the premium was the premium.
My friends use other companies for significantly less and have claims paid without any issues, but my vet always recommends Petplan
Are they worth the extra money?

I had this squabble with PetPlan - though the price difference was because I moved to a much cheaper part of the country and a new policy would have been less than half the price. After two weeks of phone calls and chasing via Twitter DM, they amended my policy.

Thanks avocados . Was there a reason you wanted to stay with them particularly?

They did a discount in the first year with my dog and if you took that off the second year hardly went up despite lots of claims. If you had an initial first year discount and took that off how much has your second year without the discount gone up?

If you do decide to swop then make sure you are really comparing like for like policies. Also anything you have seen your vets about even without a claim may have a bearing on any exclusions should you swop (assuming you have a life policy) because we had to give a full history on our first claim even for things that were not directly connected.

I went with petplan originally because they advertise that they don't hike up premiums with claims.

Thank you. No discounts, just a big increase ☹️. On the point about exclusions, that’s the part that feels really wrong about this industry - you are effectively tied in to one insurer who can then do what they like with the premiums.

Yes I can't swop now because I think I have claimed or had treatment under the excess amount for just about every part of his body except his ears.

No they are way way overpriced.

Try Tesco or Direct line

Absolutely.

(And I say that as an insurance claims processor in a veterinary hospital)

Is that £50 for year?

TBH over same period Petplan has had lower premium increases than with other insurer we used, who was cheaper while young but same on quote at 7yrs. Claims also bumped up premium so it actually wasn't worth claiming unless large amount as you'd be paying higher for rest of lifetime. Plus they significantly increased the excess each condition claim.
With Petplan the claims haven't made a difference so I don't worry about effect of making them. Now dog is 13yrs i expect many companies would've just made it unaffordable to get rid of the increased risk, so I don't mind that I pay higher excess & % of the bill as know where I am.
The vets & specialists have been happy to direct claim as they settle quickly which is a relief as I can't pay upfront & re-claim. They also have 12 month period to claim , some its only 90days.

I decided the extra expense was worth it to me as they've long history/stable & had seen fallout of axa & Halifax deciding to pull out of pet insurance. With lifetime they agree to cover conditions on renewal but can still change policy details which often happens if underwriter changes such as M&S in past which bumped up premiums & your over a barrel with preexisting conditions.

I would stay with them. I've had to claim several times and all went through easily. They are also one of the few where my vet trusted them enough that they would do a direct claim- most you would pay the £0000s and be paid back by the insurance.

I'm with Petplan with a lifetime policy. I've claimed a lot from them. They're not cheap but they pay out every time without quibbles. Cheap is not always the bargain you think it's going to be.

Just be aware OP, if you do decide to shop around, make sure if any insurance company you go with is willing to remove any exclusions after a certain period.

I had an exclusion when I first joined Petplan for any digestive related stuff, dog had had some sort of short lived stomach virus prior to joining them, which they agreed to take off after two years without recurrence thank goodness, because dog later went through a period of being very ill with pancreatitis and I've claimed £££ from them for treatment.

Thanks for all the inputs. I understand that as the dog gets older the premiums go up and that’s how it works. I just don’t understand why it’s cheaper for a new customer with the exact same dog, that’s what doesn’t feel fair no matter how good they are

I think that's pretty standard with all insurance companies to give a better deal to new customers for whatever you're insuring: car, house or animal.

The insurance company that I had insured my house and contents with for the last 4 years suddenly doubled the premium this year, never made a claim. When I rang them to ask if they could do anything for me they were completely dismissive and also quite rude.

I went with another company and not only was my premium a good deal less than I'd been paying with the original company before they'd up the price, but it was also a better policy. I'm expect there to be a big increase with them when I come to renew next year.

It pays to shop around sometimes, but unfortunately with pet insurance, you are going to come up against exclusions, especially if you're insuring an older dog, and once the dog gets past a certain age no insurance company will take you on as a new customer anyway.

It's very loaded in favour of the insurance companies unfortunately. It's how they get to be so big.

I'm can't change to another company because of my dog's pre existing condition but tbh I'm okay with that as I've never had a problem with Petplan but I agree it is annoying that they have pet owners over a barrel.

I wish I had stayed with them (or a good coverage lifetime healthplan) My dog has always been so healthy so I ended up cancelling mine and going with a cheaper one with not lifetime cover.
Anyway my pooch is now 11 years old and Last month he went to the vet for something routine - fast forward and £7000 later! My dog has suddenly multiple expensive medications and procedures (including removing his gallbladder). Of course I love him so much and although I never thought I would pay up so much - I have ended up paying and trying to save him (so far so good fingers crossed) Then today there is potential that he has cushing disease. There was talk about an adrenal gland op and all sorts. Now to be honest I am going to have to discount another surgery because I am at the end of my money pot. But even without the surgery I am looking at constant meds and blood tests.

I really wish I had better coverage because it has been so stressful and I would have loved not to have to worry about the insurance and money side of things - it has really exacerbated the stress.