Eyewatering insurance renewal....!

[Panicmode1]

My insurance renewal has just come through - my dog is a 'frequent flyer' having had cancer, MCTs, sacrolumber disease, so I was bracing myself for the renewal because she's turned 10 since the last premium increase.

I'm with Tesco who have always been brilliant, and despite huge claims over the years, have been fair. I understand that they (Tesco Insurance) have just been sold - which may or may not have a bearing on the increase, but it's gone from £2.3k last year to £4.5k this year....!

I feel completely stuck because I can't move because the new insurere wouldn't cover her for any pre-existing conditions. DH was made redundant in the summer, from a very healthy income - so prior to him losing his job, I would have just sucked it up. We are fine for another few months, but paying almost £400 a month seems bonkers when in a few months, we may be really struggling.

Has anyone managed to negotiate with their insurers? Do I just stop insuring her?!

I don't think there's any negotiating with them, I'm afraid.

It sounds like you can't afford it anyway - not really - so I think that's your answer. You can always press pause on her insurance for now, save that money, and pray your DH gets another job? A gap in your insurance isn't the end of the world...

I feel your pain though, my old girl (12, but old for her breed) costs me £6K a year but her cover is up to £15K. She's a breed that's prone to cancer and heart disease and those cost a pretty penny to fix!

If you can't afford it, then you have to face the hugely unsavory fact that you may well have to make a horrendous decision about when to pts much sooner than ever anticipated. I do think there comes a point in any case where it becomes unethical to put animals through multiple treatments for cancer etc.

I wouldn't pay £400 a month for insurance - that's ridiculous.

There are insurers that cover pre-existing conditions but in all honesty, at that age, they are likely to tell you "no". I would put the money into savings and consider using a credit card for any bills.

Honestly, I wouldn't shell out that much for insurance. If a ten year old dog, with a poor health history, needed major treatment I'd be thinking every hard if it would be fair to put her through it.

Mine has also doubled to £400 a month with Tesco (11 year old dog). I had to cancel. I'll have to pay about £130 a month for her existing long term medication which we are now not covered for and the new insurance is £67 so I am paying the same as I was before. Our Vet said this has happened with a few of their clients who were with Tesco and we have all cancelled our policies. I just can't afford £400!

Honestly I’d stop insuring her at that age and that price. Because you also have to think if she needed major surgery would you put her through it? If she needed regular meds it’s probably going to be less than £400 a month. If she needed investigations it would probably be less than the insurance. Maybe try and put some money aside in case she did need a blood test or an X-ray..

That's interesting Hoglet - who did you move to for cheaper insurance? We are on a monthly £100 for medication, which I can cover - I was paying £250 a month, but I'm not paying £380!! I want to try and cover her for things like cutting open her paws on a walk or something, but will hvae to make hard choices if her cancer comes back..TBH at 10 and having had multiple surgeries, I wasn't going to put her through any more anyway, but it was nice to have the insurance to help us to get to a diagnosis and then make a decision. Now it's being made for us :-(

@Panicmode1 we've never used insurance for minor injuries and many can be treated at home with OTC medication.

We treat cut pads, limber tail and minor limps as well sickness bugs and upset stomachs at home with OTC medicine - we also use OTC cleaners for ears and eyes. We've only once ever needed to see a vet for any of the above.

I agree @biscuitsandbooks only my boss had a situation recently where a dog jumped up and managed to put his front paw through a glass door and needed emergency stitches etc - I wouldn't fuss for a minor cut/graze. It was just an example I pulled out of the air - ie something I can't treat at home, but which may cost a fair bit to sort out!

@Panicmode1 have you looked into insurance for injuries and accidents only?

Can you open a savings a/c and put what you currently pay a month plus a small % over .
Then in time you will have a pot to call back on when you need it . Of course you have to hope there is no big bill in the early months .

@Panicmode1 we went with Animal Friends. It's not great. Our Tesco policy had a £60 excess and covered everything and this has got the old 20% clause etc etc but we are like you and want cut paws, emergencies etc covered. If anything else bad happens, would I put her through any trauma at her age? Probably not. She's had a lot in her little life.

Thanks Hoglet, I will look at them. I've just spoken to Tesco and they won't do anything (increase excess, exclude cancer, drop to a lower level of cover). They tried to help me last year, so I'm sure it is the new owners/insurers. I've cancelled the policy and am now sitting here in floods of tears feeling so sad that she's not covered from the end of the month, but equally know that I wouldn't put her through any more invasive tests/treatments anyway.

I have the same with my 10 year old Dcat although nowhere near as expensive as you DDog. Mine jumped to £1200 pa this year. We are with ManyPets and DCat has had a few serious issues in the past and they always paid up.
I'm inclined to agree with pp that you don't insure and keep aside an emergency fund so that you can pay for any diagnoses at least.

I've just had a quote from Animal Friends, which, on the face of it seems quite good. But looking at the small print, the max they will pay for anything means I'm not sure it's worth it - a maximum of £100 for a stay in hospital. £21 towards blood tests? In the summer, I had to pay £950 for midnight - 7am for my dog to be in specialist vet hospital after an operation (she'd swallowed a corn on the cob) and was told it would be an extra £120 if she pulled out her drip. Her blood tests were over £300.

The only quote I was given on Compare the Market is £78 for accidents only, but there's no third party liability cover at all.

😭

Likewise. I have a stash of dressings, antiseptic, wound powder etc. It's saved us a good few hundred quid over the years.

OP, for third party, check your house insurance. You might be covered.

@Panicmode1 you can get third party coverage for £25 a year with Dogs Trust.

Would your house insurance cover you for third party liability? 🤷‍♀️

I think it may do, yes. (I managed to get PL cover under my own policy when I organised our most recent street party so one would hope my own dog would be covered but will check.)

This. I stopped at 10 years old as I would never put my dogs through cancer treatment or if older, major surgeries involving long recovery times.

They don't understand why we would be putting them through stressful vet visits, endless tests and stays in vet hospital.

I had Petwise, who were taken over by Purely Pets last year. Nine year old healthy Border Collie who had never had any health problems - they wanted triple the cost at renewal. Funnily enough though, went on price comparison and they were selling my exact same policy for only £60 a year more than my existing policy! When I phoned them to point this out, they basically said "tough". My vet told me that they had had dozens of people with the same tale - Purely Pets were unreasonably raising the cost of older pets to clear out the existing client base. I'd never touch them again, even if their quote was the best one.

I stopped insuring at 7 or 8 years old, following MCT, lameness investigation and low thyroid diagnosis. At the time the quote was £3500 per annum for about £8000 cover. He’s 14 now and although he costs a bit now, no way have I spent 6 or 7 years worth of premiums, which would have continued to rise.

I am selective about what we do - conservative treatment - so turned down an MRI, for example.

My first question these days is ‘what difference will a firm diagnosis make? Can we change the path of this ?

The answer is generally No, he’s aging well, let’s keep him happy and comfortable.

My three year old Labrador's insurance went from £450 to £750 this year. Never claimed. So I increased excess to £250 (in line with car and house) and reduced his cover from £10k to £7k. I reckon we could add the same again if we had to. The quote came down to £550.

I wish insurers would take into account the many owners who sign up for a care plan - ours is c£20 a month, so another £240 a year, but at least we get a known benefit from that. If they pull the same stunt next year I will be waving goodbye to pet insurance.

This. I would be looking at PTS @Panicmode1 Your doggo is 10, which is a good age for a dog - maybe like 70 for a person. Not very old, but a decent innings. That renewal price is a fucking joke, and they're taking the piss. Chances are they'll find some excuse to not pay up anyway. (They often try to worm out of paying!)

As has been said, I would NOT put an old dog (or cat) through distressing and stressful cancer treatment.

Even injections for arthritis can result in your pet losing fur, and vomiting, and internal organ damage, and having poo in their blood.

My friend's cat has arthritis and she has been given meds for her, and so far it's improved a lot (in 2 months,) so my friend doesn't have to get the injections for her. When the meds stop working she says she will have her PTS, as she is nearly 18 now, she is not putting her through the stress and discomfort that the injections cause, and she is not spending £300 a month on the treatment. (Just for kitty to die 6 to 9 months later (probably,) from issues caused by the injections!)

Many (not all but many vets are con merchants who rip people off.

That's insane. Cover the £100 for meds, take out PL with Dogs Trust and put the other £150 pm in a Dog account. I do this with my horses as it's crazy money to insure them. Luckily Ddog is only £37pm with Perfect Pets but have just put a claim in so will see what the renewal is.
Last resort is credit card if there's a big vet bill.