Changing insurance - what vet fee limit?

[Fandangles]

Morning!

Bit boring but I’m looking at switching insurers for my 6 yr old cockapoo and just don’t know what vet fee limit is reasonable.

currently with more than with £4K per condition per year, no limit. Will be £45 a month.

looking at others who have a £5k overall fee limit per year and wondering whether that will be sufficient?

having never had any issues with our dog (touch wood), I’ve got no reference for how much treatments can run to. I know it’s a bit “how long is a piece of string” but any wisdom / advice would be much appreciated!

It’s a difficult decision and I think it comes back to how much treatment you’d give a dog if the worst happened.

For example, in the case of cancer, would you try chemo? If so, that’s a fair few thousand, esp if it follows tests and an op.

So difficult to make a decision hypothetically and, it may not ever happen.

We’re currently in a very unfortunate situation where DDog is quite young but with an aggressive cancer. We maxed out our insurance with his first opp (before we knew what the problem was) and so we’re paying for everything ourselves now.

I agree with @BenWhishawsBottom

Our dogs are assistance dogs in training, so I've got the maximum policy with PetPlan. I know that I couldn't afford to pay for very expensive treatment, and I couldn't imagine saying "we're putting her down because I can't afford surgery". So I pay a higher premium. In past experience, towards the end of his life, I was paying £90 per month and claiming £260 per month for my GSD, so it was well worth insuring him.

I'm with PetPlan and have £7k per year.
One of my dogs had lots of health problems and I claimed between £2k and £6k a year.
My cocker needed an operation for a luxating patella. With x-rays, scans and physio, we went just over the £7k. Fortunately the second operation to remove the metalwork fell into the next year's insurance.
My first two dogs were uninsured, but never had any vet bills above what the excess payment would have been.
It really is the luck of the draw. I'd go for the highest amount you can afford.

I guess it depends how much you have in savings or on credit, and how you’d feel having to have your dog put to sleep because you couldn’t afford the necessary treatment.

We have a 10k limit for each animal, all on lifetime policies with Tescos. We’ve only had to claim once and it was very quick and straightforward.

Really helpful, thank you. I’ve gone for John Lewis £12k limit (their max). It is hopefully unlikely I’ll ever need that, but it’s already £10 cheaper per month than the previous insurer.

@BenWhishawsBottom so sorry about your dog x

Good choice @Fandangles and thanks for your kindness. We’ve just had to say goodbye to him.

I’d advise anyone reading this to go and give your DDogs a big cuddle (please!) and maybe a treat…

Oh I’m so, so sorry. What a heartbreak.

be kind to yourselves, it’s an awful thing. X