Insurance - any recommendations?

[cozietoesie]

I'm now, seemingly, in a position where I can actually take out insurance. (Young cat etc.) I think my vet practice mainly works with Petplan so I guess that's the one they'll recommend next week. Are they any good? (Or should I go elsewhere?)

Tesco. Very quick and efficient when I've made large claims this year. Cheapest I found for really good cover.

Tesco get my vote as well, they were great when I had an expensive claim for DCat. No problems what so ever.

My vets say they prefer Petplan, I've no idea why, but they had no issues with my Tesco policy

Direct line have paid out a lot for my dog with no quibbles.

Petplan have been excellent with Harry and, unless anything changes, I'll use them for any future cats. They've paid out really quickly and the vet now claims direct from them and bills us the excess.

Thanks all.

Vote for Petplan here and as he's a young lad you can get the lifetime cover. Avoid any underwritten by Royal Sun Alliance just in case you have to be referred as you will have to pay an extra excess if the referral vets aren't on their list (most aren't).

That's a good point about RSA Vino, I wouldn't use a company underwitten by them for that reason. The ones I can think of off the top of my head are More Than, Argos and Tesco but I know there are a lot more.

The reason vets and charities like pet plan is that they offer cover for life which means that if your cat were to develop a condition e.g. diabetes and you had to claim, you can still claim for this year on year. With most supermarket and cheaper policies, this would automatically be excluded when you renew your policy after 12 months. Pet plan pay directly to the vets and the vets hold the claim forms so it is a much quicker process and you don't have to pay up and claim back (apart from the excess). Pet plan are more expensive but I have definitely found that it has been worth it and they have always paid out. If you can find out firms that offer cover for life at a cheaper price then that is obviously a good option too. Good luck

Petplan. You get what you pay for with animal insurance. They're not the cheapest but by far the best ime.

Yes, the place Vinocat was referred to isn't on their list. They are highly regarded by vets (our vets have remarked how excellent they are if they need to discuss patients and more willing to share knowledge and expertise than other places) but not by RSA...

Ah. I seem to recall Lone talking about the RSA restrictions.....

So PetPlan aren't in the RSA stable?

Tesco had no problem with Fatty being referred to a referral centre not on their list.

Nope Allianz own Petplan. The only odd thing they wouldn't cover is sharps bins which we need for insulin syringes, granted they're a tiny cost but odd.

I didn't have to pay anything up front with Tesco. The vet settled direct with them.

Poor DCat didn't make it but Tesco paid £150 for him to be cremated and to put in a wooden box. I've no idea why I wanted this at the time and I def didn't think about what I was going to do with the box when I got it.

£150 surprising wasn't enough but the vet wrote off the additional £5.50.

*vet settled direct for everything with Tesco apart from my excess that I paid the vet direct

I think it might depend on the vet as to whether they will claim direct. I seem to remember reading that Animal Friends is one to avoid as they try and wriggle out of most claims.

I don't think Harry's bills would have been paid by some insurers as they were linked to dental problems and the vet recently told me that a lot of insurers won't pay for Pronefra as they don't consider it a medication but a supplement.

Yes, I think the vet has to have some agreement with the insurer. We have to pay then vet submit the claim form.

My cheaper everyday vet, I had to pay and then claim back. The hospital and referral centre both did direct claims with Tesco. Though the referral centre's fee was fairly hefty for this. But I can't complain. I've had £10,000 of treatment and it's only cost me £120 in excess.

Petplan. Never any aggro. For life. Worth every penny when my old cat got poorly.
Unrealistic to say "oh just put money aside ". Risk you will dip into that pot for all sorts of other things.

Another vote from Tesco here.

*for Tesco - I don't work for them!

Cozie after seeing you here for several years I would advise that you choose a non-RSA ( so not Tescos, More Than etc.), lifetime platinum policy. I would try to get a policy with at least 7K if not 10K cover.

As an aside I am so glad you have found an heir to senior boy's estate.

Thank you, Lone.

Going against the grain - but pet insurance is not mandatory. I've never had it with any of my cats and financially I wouldn't have benefitted with any of my 8 cats (to date) individually, let alone considering the total spend across the eight.

I also do look at some of the long term invasive treatments being given to domestic animals (driven by insurance) and wonder if they really are to the benefit of the pet which sadly can't have pain explained to it.

I also question (some) vetinary behaviours resulting from no longer having to consider the financial wisdom of treatments. As an example one of my previous cats was very obviously on her last legs from kidney failure (long term illness) so I took to the vet one last time to be pts. The vet persuaded me (well dp really - I really wasn't convinced) to give her another chance and leave her on a drip overnight. His comment was 'well it'll be covered by insurance' I pointed out that she wasn't insured but that wasn't a consideration. Result my cat died alone in discomfort that night at the vet. (And when I got the bill the fucking vet had 'accidentally' charged for euthanising her - again probably assuming that insurance would cover so I wouldn't check the bill.)
2 facts -
Insurance companies exist to make money so most individuals do not benefit.
Vetinary practices (especially the chains) are businesses designed to maximise income and profits.

Sorry, I disagree Grumpy. While insurance isn't mandatory a lot of people wouldn't be able to afford to have pets treated without insurance. My cats vet bills have been nearly £4K over the last 18 months and, while we would have found the money somehow as putting him to sleep wasn't an option for us, insurance was a huge help. Unless you can comfortably afford a large sum for treament or are willing to PTS for something that can be treated (in which case I would question whether you should have a cat) then insurance is part of being a pet owner.

When I say 'you', I don't mean you personally Grumpy!