Pet insurance

[Pluto46]

Have always been with Petplan but really expensive now - nearly 1k per annum for a 5 year old Cocker and have never claimed. Just wondered if anyone had any alternative recommendations

I've heard good things about Sainsburys and the Kennel Club, but honestly at less than £100 a month I'd say that's not bad going for a five year old dog - although that depends on the cover. If that covers £15K+ then that's pretty reasonable. If it's only covering £8K then that's terrible.

My second youngest Goldie is £70 a month and he's only just three, and my youngest is £50ish and she's only 5 months. Edit - just to say those amounts are for £15K worth of cover.

Ok, thank you - good to get some comparison. Its 12k cover so maybe not so bad after all

That's not bad. And OP are very good. Some of the smaller newer companies will reel you in with a low first year premium then boom, your premium goes up hugely in year 2. You get what you pay for with pet insurance.

I've always been with Animal Friends for my dogs, absolutely great. My current dog, had her just over a year, she's 9 and cost £2k in vet bills in February, covered by AF, her renewal in September came in at £34 a month for lifetime cover. I do have to pay 20% of any claim and it doesn't cover dental because of her age.

We had two claims for my DDog when he was young and monthly cost skyrocketed to almost £100pcm when he was about 3, as he was an unneutered pedigree. I cancelled the insurance and saved the monthly cost. 10 years on I have spent about £1800 on things I might have been able to claim on insurance so I am quids in!

We’re with Sainsbury’s and it’s now over £100 per month but our dog has arthritis mildly and also lost a leg in an RTC this year so it shot up at renewal in October.

We also had to claim for some ear issues and have had a couple of other claims over the years and it’s very easy to claim and they are quick to pay

That sounds great in theory...but 20% of something serious, like surgery for hip dysplasia which could cost upwards of £8K, could set you back £1600 which is a huge amount of money.

Ditto, things like oncology treatment or lump removal you could be looking at £5K plus. Not many people have that sort of money laying around.

@TheHungryHungryLandsharks You are absolutely right, of course. I certainly don't have that kind of money knocking about. She cost me £96 at the vets a couple of weeks ago because we visited my neighbour and she found some chocolate and hoovered it up. That went on the credit card!

I'm realistic though, in that she's old. I would never put any elderly animal through surgery with a long and painful recovery. In February she was an hour off having abdominal surgery, I said to the vet then that it wouldn't be fair to put her through that. But she rallied within the hour because she's a stubborn thing and I'm glad because I love her! My last dog had to have cruciate surgery, he was four, though, had a good recovery prognosis and I didn't have to pay the 20% because of his age.

When dogs get to 8yrs and older, more conditions are placed on insurance. More things are excluded. I don't think I'm paying a lot right now, but I will reconsider at her next renewal depending on how much the premium goes up. She'll be 11 by next September so any major surgery isn't going to have a great outcome and her wellbeing is the most important thing.

@Pluto46 i use animal friends for both dogs. Large breed, one 3 the other 11 years old. Very reasonable.

I’m with animal friends. About to make a claim for an op costing £2k so will soon find out how good they are!

I pay 75 a month for two dogs (2&4 year old labs). That's with many pets for 15k of cover each and 99 poind excess so 100 for one 5 year old does seem expensive to me.

I think location and breed also have an impact on costs though.

I'm with Waggel, they quite reasonable and the price hardly jumped for the second years premiums, they do cover dentals as long as the teeth are checked yearly, but I have been lucky in not needing to claim so far.

I was with Sainsbury's for my dog's predecessor and switched to Direct Line for my current dog. I was very happy with Sainsbury's but Direct Line were a fraction cheaper for my dog's breed. Sainsbury's never quibbled on any of the claims (not had to claim thus far for this dog, paw on wood).

I used to work at an emergency vets practice for a number of years and I have to say that some hearts did sink when claim forms were produced from Animal Friends (and some of the other, more "budget" options). For the reasons that @TheHungryHungryLandsharks gives, and because they queried and probed every aspect of the claims with multiple back-and-forths between them and the vets (of the "was this essential?", "why?", "we'll pay for this but not this" variety). To be fair, they generally did pay out in the end, but some owners were, indeed, caught out by the percentage aspect and not reading the small print in the Ts&Cs.

Animal Friends wouldn't be my choice, but far better them than no insurance at all.

I will admit to being swayed by the lure of Nectar/Clubcard points on the Sainsburys/Tescos insurance - and I think their policies are underwritten by the same company that owns Petplan (or they certainly used to be).

Hope this is helpful. x

My JRT is 10 Pet Insurance £32 month with Tesco.Have never claimed but her main problem is her teeth which are not covered on any Pet Insurance policies .

Thank you for all your replies - really useful to get a wider perspective. Will have a look at Sainsburys next renewal ...interesting to know they make be similarly underwritten to Petplan

@Pluto46 I think they may have changed underwriters. Allianz underwrites Petplan; I've just checked and Tesco and Sainsburys (and M&S) seem to be Pinnacle now. Sorry for not checking that before. Was still happy with Sainsburys service for my late JRT though. Best wishes to you and the dog! x

@REP22 Thank you x

Petplan often settle vet bills direct, I think that’s one of the reasons they are expensive. We were with Emporium, but once our dog turned 7, the premiums almost doubled. We are now with Sainsbury’s same amount covered, half the price.

We used pet plan for the first year and now use many pets. Our dog is now 5 and we pay £60 per month for the highest level of cover. We have claimed 2 in 4 years, about £1000 total

I’m with Petplan and they have introduced the 20% for dogs over 10 years old. I think a lot of pet insurances are doing the same. It’s not fair but what’s the alternative? I can’t swap providers as my dog has been treated for different things over the years that still need cover.

Petplan cover dental costs depending on your plan. My dog has just had 3 separate surgeries on her teeth following a check up and they paid out with no issues.

Four year old male Labrador was c£500 p.a. this last spring. £10k cover, £150 excess.

I have an 8 month old male Lab and he costs me £67 a month for £12k of cover with £100 excess. That’s with Petplan

I can’t complain though as so far, I’ve paid just over £400 in premiums and the other weekend I had to take him to an emergency vet to make him sick after he ate a rotting rat carcass 🤢
I paid the first £100 and the rest was an additional £500!

I’m with them for my 12yo dog and pay £41 for a lifetime cover a month. I do think you need to shop around OP.

sorry, should say I was with them as have just cancelled. Because I decided that insurance for a 12yo dog isn’t cost effective. I have a high excess and a 20% copay. I wouldn’t put her through surgery at her age for anything. She had blood tests earlier in the year and they were under the excess so i didn’t claim. I have money in the bank to pay for investigations if needed. But my point is I’ve never paid anything like what the OP is paying, even when she was younger and i didn’t have the copay thing.

Sorry, should've said we're with Marks and Spencer!