What's the best cat insurance - wanted PetPlan but proving unhelpful before buying

[Walkingtheplank]

I am looking to change pet insurer as MoreThan want more for 1 cat than I pay to insure my house and car!!

Thought I'd go with PetPlan as good reputation but I can't find the excess online - and want to know what I am buying before I pay.

Online I've gone through all the details but no excess comes up - it's not in the policy.

I've tried on the webchat and I'm told I have to buy the policy before they can tell me what the excess would be.

I've called and have got through to Indian call centre which is relying on a script and either won't listen to my actual question or have told me that the information re the excess is there but they won't tell me where. I think they want me to buy before telling me.

So

1. does anyone know what the excess is (prior to the age-related % increase at 8 years old.
2. is there a good and reasonably priced insurer out there. This experience of just trying to buy the policy has put me off PetPlan now.

Many thanks

Hi OP, just bumping this one for you in the hope that someone will come along to help.

I have tesco platinum and have made maxed out the £6k premium two years in a row.
They pay the vet direct and when our policy renews they’ll keep paying for my cats ongoing (very expensive) issues.

They only put the premiums up by £4 a month too but I have a feeling that will be rising ne t year.

We pay £18 a month.

It is not uncommon to for Pet insurance to be more expensive than house insurance as you are far far more likely claim than on your house insurance.

Bought by many have been brilliant for paying out with my friends dog, I'd use them when I get another dog.
They do cats too.

Thank you @michaelmumsnet and everyone who replied.

Animal friends were great when my cat was ill and subsequently died. They were cheaper than petplan I think and nicer to deal with.

This sounds really unusual and nothing lime the experience I’ve had with PetPlan.

Normally, on their website, you have multiple options to choose from. I can’t comment on all of them, as I’ve always gone for Lifetime cover, but that option has always thrown up monthly cost, excess etc. They have always been great at paying out.

I’ve had to call them around 4 times over the last 18 months - and have never ended up with an overseas call centre.

I’m not saying you haven’t experienced this, but it sounds really unusual.

I've been very happy with Bought By Many.

Another vote for BoughtByMany

Interested as got new kitten - never bothered before but our old cat died recently and cost us quite a lot in his last 2-3 years

I have used Marks and Spencer, Pet Plan and Bought by Many and of the three Bought by Many have been the best by a mile.

I'm with pet plan and the excess is £89

I have made 3 big claims , all paid directly to vet with no hassle at all. On that basis I would recommend .

One thing to note, which I never realised as obviously didn’t delve fully into the small print.

Please be aware (and am guessing this will be roughly the same across all the major providers of insurance). Lifetime cover is provably the best option you can go for (certainly the case with one of mine). BUT - once they reach a certain age (10 in my plan), your excess/charges change. You can still claim, but you are often only able to recover 80% of the cost.

They do this to balance out the fact that older pets often need more medical care vs keeping general premiums low for as many as possible. So, be prepared for your bills to rise the older your cat is.

I've got Animal Friends policy and very happy with them so far

Legal & general have been good for me.

I have Tesco, I've never used it but it was recommended on here.

The premiums have gone up over the years but as I don't have a stash of savings or a credit card with a large limit I keep paying,

I've had a few claims from Animal Friends and they have always been brilliant. I highly recommend them.

I've got petplan but they've just put the premiums up as she hit 10 and I now have to pay excess of £125 plus 10(I think it is). I've also just got another cat so am thinking of looking at others.

Direct Line have been really good to me, I would recommend for sure. You need to go to them rather than through price comparisons but it's worth it.