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?)

[Nateismine]

Grumpy I'm a vet and wanted to ask you about your previous comment. You said that 'chain' vets are all about money and profit. Do you think that 'independent' vets are not businesses and do not need to make profits? I'm really curious about this perception.

[LadyinCement]

I have a dog and no cat - but I saw this thread and am commenting because I have just done an extensive insurance search (even had a thread on it!).

Agree that for real peace of mind Petplan are the only choice, really. Many of the others do not cover certain treatments or will not let you go to certain vets (eg Supervet!). And you have to get Lifetime cover - just an annual policy is ok for a one-off incident, but if your cat gets diabetes, or has an accident which requires ongoing care, then it will not continue to pay out.

My vet has a notice up warning not to take policies with Animal Friends as they are notorious for refusing to accept claims. I took out a policy with American Express, but when the paperwork arrived and I combed through it (necessary with pet insurance!) I found several important exclusions buried in the small print so I cancelled it and crawled back to PetPlan.

[Lonecatwithkitten]

I rarely responded angrily on here, but Grumpy your attitude is exactly why a few weeks ago a vet committed suicide leaving a note for the coroner saying that whilst they will record her death as suicide she felt it should be death by client expectations and HMRC.
Yes practices are business, but people become vets because they care about animal welfare. Day in day out I wrangle to balance finances with animal welfare and as a practice owner regularly ( weekly if not daily) take a hit on my income to do the right thing for the animal.
Our oath that we all have to stand and say on entry to the RCVS is to uphold the welfare of the animals in our care. I am sorry you had an unfortunate experience, but that is a rare.

[cozietoesie]

I remember well my second last vet. For years, he told me one day, he had longed for a Siamese but he had ended up with a personal life full of the animals that no-one else would home. (He could easily have helped them on their way and nobody would have said a thing.) He wasn't wealthy at all and I never had a bill or a treatment from him that wasn't both considered and appropriate.

I think you may be being too harsh, Grumpy. Sure, vets are only human and they sometimes make mistakes or try harder than they ought simply because it's possible these days. The ones I have known genuinely love their clients though.

[Hs2Issue]

We have an asian/burmese cat and would also recommend petplan whole life cover.

Dcat has had kidney failure for 4 years since she was 12 which they pay a majority of. Also recurrent cystitis when she was younger as apparently exotics are prone to.

[Faithsock]

Another vote for Pet Plan from me. I can't imagine not having pet insurance. One of my cats is asthmatic and we have had some huge vet bills over the years but our decisions for his care have always been based on what's best for him rather than on what we can afford.

[Vinorosso74]

We are lucky that we have the NHS but it does mean we aren't aware of medical costs plus the 20% VAT on vet bills.
No personal evidence but I have read of vets not being happy with the large chains putting profits before care (I don't recall where I read it) so not the vets themselves.
Some of the expectations of clients must be ridiculous, people expect miracles, clients not giving their animals medication etc and I can see how vets get driven into the ground. In the last couple of years I have regularly been in touch with and seen different vets at our practise (on number 3 now due to moving on and maternity leave). Each of those vets has gone way above and beyond what is expected in helping Vinocat and supporting me as a client. Current vet had a lot of catching up to do on our cat's lengthy history and she used her spare time to do so. We have never been pushed into doing anything just because the insurance would cover it. She will sometimes just call or email me to check how Vinocat is.
People have funny perceptions that vets are "rip off merchants" and are all wealthy.
I think you have to have a good relationship with your vet and work together to care for your animals especially with chronic issues.
Sorry rant over but am supporting you hard working vets.

[Grumpyoldpersonwithcats]

Sorry if I've caused offence. The vast majority of vets I've dealt with have been exemplary. However, sadly in the same way that not all doctors are like Dr. Finlay, not all vets are like James Herriot.
My point was simply that widespread small animal insurance can (note 'can') drive what I regard as inappropriate behaviours from some owners and some vetinary practices alike.
Personally speaking the best treatment, advice and empathy I have received has been from small independent vets (and yes of course I recognise they are in business) whereas I have generally been less impressed by the chains that do seem more money driven than anything else (note -personal opinion).
As an aside - the same practice that tried to charge me for euthanasing the cat that had died naturally, then sent me a reminder 2 months later to bring her in for her annual jabs.
Needless to say I changed vets.

[cozietoesie]

You didn't cause offence to me at any rate.

[strikealight]

Sorry you had such a bad experience, Grumpy.

[Lonecatwithkitten]

Grumpy it is a very contentious issue in the profession sadly our man power is at an all time low, due to many, many vets leaving due to client expectations. In addition wages in real terms are less than they were 20 years ago, costs are spiralling. We have pressure from all sides I adore being a vet, but I don't intend to still be in practice in 5 years time. My exit plan involves me still working associated industry, but not in practice.