AIBU to feel sad about cancelling pet insurance?

[YourNeedyLurker]

Our dog is 16 and 3 months old, I’ve been with Tesco for her and her dearly departed sister for years. We didn’t actually start claiming until last year for her and then for her sister’s kidney failure and subsequent PTS. I’ve claimed a few times for the dog we have now as she has had the occasional seizure episode. Blood tests showed she “may” have a brain tumour but as she is ok in herself for now we are not putting her through tests as what could they do anyway?

Anyway, we had notice that we are due to renew for her at the end of October so had notice that her monthly policy was doubling to £105 a month. That’s just not feasible because, really how much vet treatment is available at her age? we have just decided to put the £50 away each month.

I just feel sad about it.

Here she is on her birthday in June 😀

Grrr image is under review for now.

I would never have an uninsured pet. The simplest of treatment could costs thousands.

We have been in a similar position with our dog who is now 13. We had previously had quite expensive but comprehensive pet insurance. About eight years ago he was very unwell but was treated and apart from a different diet being needed he was fine.
at that point we changed to a cheaper more basic insurance as we were told that we couldn’t claim for the same issue again in future.
In our case I think the sadness is because you acknowledge that if that thing happens again the cost of treatment wouldn’t be covered. It’s also part of recognising their inevitable end of life I think.

I am fully aware of this, hence having insured her for over 16 years. The point is that it is not worth insuring her anymore because of her age.

It’s the inevitable end of life thing. Thank you for understanding unlike the sneering PP.

I hope you have many more good years left with your pooch, The lady at Tesco Insurance I spoke to today was so nice and understanding about it too.

As our pets become older and we wonder if having treatment is actually still in their best interest it seems to make sense to stop paying insurance which goes up so much as they age, even if you have never once claimed. When my son's cat died aged 18, he had to be PTS because of a tumour, I went back through spreadsheet and realised he had not been to vet apart from annual vaccination since he was 4. Yet from time he was 13 his premium went up every year and quite steeply after 16.

We've just made the same decision for one of our cats. She's 17 and vet phobic (will not allow the vet to examine her, screeches, scratches and bites (well she would if she had any teeth, which might be the root of the issue, she had all her teeth removed years ago in 3 stages because she had a condition that the vet described as being almost like 'allergic to her own teeth')).

So I can't see a situation where she'd tolerate extended veterinary treatment and she's possibly not survive an anaesthetic if she needed surgery. Her insurance jumped to £40 pm (cats are much cheaper than dogs, our youngest cat's insurance is £12 pm for a policy with a lower excess, the old one's policy also only pays for 80% of any costs above a £170 excess) so it's not worth paying nearly £500 a year for insurance that will only cover part of any treatment she might need and if she develops a condition, we can try medication if she'll actually allow the vet to examine her long enough to have it prescribed. But in reality it's probably not in her best interests to put her through a lot of trips to the vets now and it might be kinder to let her go.

Ignore horrible PP. I totally understand that you feel sad. It’s not the money, it’s the fact that you know, at her age, that if she becomes seriously ill, you wouldn’t put her through lots of treatment anyway, because it wouldn’t be in her best interests. It’s anticipatory grief. When we get a pet, we all know that, all things being equal, we will outlive them. But knowing that doesn’t make it any less painful when that time comes or you feel it is approaching.
A couple of mine are really knocking on now and I feel exactly as you do xx

Your dog is so adorable in that picture. Clearly very loved. You’ve made the right decision. May her final few years be happy and comfortable ones.

I get it. My dog is only 8, but doesn't have much longer. I cancelled his insurance earlier this year, as the premiums went up to nearly £200 a month, with cover of £2500. It made no financial sense. Due to various health issues it wasn't worth moving him elsewhere as none of it would have been covered anyway.
It wasn't a decision I took lightly, but like you, mine also wouldn't be put through lots of testing etc with the way his health is.

Your dog is adorable by the way!

Yes but the point is any treatment worth that much wouldn’t be in the best interests of the dog. A dog that age likely wouldn’t survive a general anaesthetic. So that rules out operations and a lot of investigations.

my dog is 12yo and I suspect I may make a similar decision soon. She’s had blood tests this year and is on painkillers but wasn’t worth claiming on insurance due to excess and 20% copay which they’ve stuck on due to her age. Vet said not to X-ray her as she might not survive the anaesthetic for the X-ray.

I feel your pain. I have just cancelled my dog’s insurance after it jumped from £86 to £145. She’s 12 and in generally very good health but we just can’t afford that. I feel like I am letting her down.

At the age of 16 the amount of available treatment is going to be incredibly limited - palliative care at best. My elderly cat is uninsured for this reason too.

In theory yes. But it often happens that after a certain age, depending on the breed and previous claims, it is not feasible. As an example pay £229/month cover for life but the maximum you can claim per year is £2850. You may never claim. Or you may need to cover the difference for a vet expense of £9000. You're better off to put aside the £229/month just in case. If you were going to find the difference for a £9000 vet bill anyway, why would you give the money to the insurance company.
So it's all OK if you pay £150/month for cover for life if you can claim £10000/year in vet fees for example. But it comes a point where it doesn't make financial sense after a while.

Gorgeous picture!

The same happens with humans doesn’t it, at some point dh and I will have to stop buying travel insurance and subsequently travelling. It’s hard enough now for dh at almost 70 with health conditions.

I would do the same in your position. I had a dog with a suspected brain tumour. I didn't have it investigated, because at nearly 15 years old I wouldn't have put him through any intensive treatment.
I hope you enjoy many months of quality time with your sweet girl.

I was with Tesco for years for my 2 cats. They're 16 now and the renewal was £175 per month for both. One cat is on thyroid meds which I was getting £68 back for. I now buy 4 months worth of these meds for £48.

It is sad they're not insured anymore, but it is not cost effective at their age. They're also at the age that I wouldn't put them through extensive treatment.

Why can't they live forever? 🥲

I get it @YourNeedyLurker . Our dog was 12, possibly 13 (rescue). He had a tumour on his mouth. The vet was talking about radical jaw surgery, etc. No way. I had him put down. He was a good dog and any treatment like that would have been for us, not him.

I never use pet insurance, it’s a total rip off.

Had a conversation with my vet about this-he said insurance can be a game of chance-ppl get it when they have a puppy, pay in for years (and maybe never use it) and then as it keeps increasing in price/pets getting older people drop it because it is not feasible any more.
There was talk of sending my 15 yo dog to london for chemo-which was speculative anyway. He would have died from the stress of it-we declined.
Older pets can break your heart

I think the posters getting in to the general discussion about pet insurance are missing the point.

Once a pet reaches a certain age and state of health it would be unkind to.put them through major treatment. So vet expenses would be based on keeping them comfortable for as long as possible, and then having to say goodbye.

OP, I get it. DDog is young and healthy and hopefully has many years left (so.of course I have insurance) but the thought that one day i will lose her brings me close to tears.

Tell that to people who have had bills covered in the thousands when their dogs were only one or two years old.

Please ignore the other harsh posters, its a common sense decision. She is so gorgeous ❤️.

Our pets aren’t insured we put away a good amount for their possible care each month more than what we would have paid to insurers and have enough in the bank in case of any serious problems. If you don’t have that, (I know we’re lucky, to be able to do that,) of course insurance is necessary. In your case I would also be cancelling.

why? I have a lifetime policy that’s paid out around £5000 this year for my cat

It’s a risk, I know but I’ve saved thousands of pounds. My last dog lived to 14 and was never insured. I have the Healthy Pet scheme with the vet, which does give you discounts on medications and treatments. That’s about £18 a month.