At what point to claim on insurance (and risk premiums going up)?

[VelmaandShaggy]

I'm with ASDA (yes, I know! But they are affordable monthly and aren't going to put the excess up to 20% of all claims, like the popular providers are, once my dog hits 8 and he was already over 7 when I got him).

My dog has got a chronic ear problem (inflamed/irritated), which it's now looking like is going to need to be managed through the rest of his life via low dose antibiotics etc.

I could currently claim back about £45 from ASDA, after minusing the £100 excess.

The question is would it be foolish to do so for a low amount as they will certainly put my premiums up by £££ next year as a result of making a claim? Or if he is on constant medication and the price grows over the year, should I try to be clever and work out the tipping point for where it would be more advantageous for me to claim, get money back and then pay a higher premium (so perhaps a few hundred spent on ear medication)? Dog is coming up to 7.5 years old now.

Thanks!

How long do you get to a submit claim? If it's a year you could wait and see how much more likely to cost before submitting, but some it's only 90 days.
If going to be on long term medication check to see how much they are to buy via online pharmacy with vet prescription as that's often cheapest, which may help you weigh it up.

I'm with petplan so claim for everything but with past insurer I only put through large bills as soon discovered it increased premium for rest of lifetime along with excess with each claim, but I've no experience what Asda is like.

I wouldn't for £45 tbh.

Insurance has us over a barrel we have £4K lifetime cover and ddog now has lifetime diabetes. Premium is through the roof £80pm and we can't move because
No one else will cover pre existing conditions. I don't claim for the diabetes medication because it will just push up the premium.

We only keep it going in case he something else or an emergency or accident that we can claim for.

Thank you both! Part of me thinks what's the point in having insurance when I'm not claiming for everything as it's so expensive, money for nothing, but the other part is obviously hoping it doesn't become even more expensive! All for that 'just in case' where dog might need thousands of pounds worth of stuff, which is apparently only 1% of all insurance claims or something? GAH!