The Dreaded 'insurance' Subject......

[Lal]

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Rifle has been insured with Healthy Pets since he was a pup (he's 5 now). We've had a few claims and I've been more than happy with the way they've been handled so I was devastated when his renewal arrived in the post today, with an increase from £18 (or thereabouts, can't remember exact amount) to £42.08 per month!! In addition to the increase in premium the excess has risen to £120 from £75 and for dogs over the age of 5 years you are also expected to pay 25% of the cost of each claim (w00t) The reason is that they have changed underwriters......... I will now be changing insurers!

 

[wilfred]

Who are you with, Lal?

 

[j.appleseed]

That seems a bit steep.Can't remember how much I paid for my Bedlington when I had him but I'm sure it was about £8/month.That was a couple of years ago.

 

[gilliwigs]

Rifle has been insured with Healthy Pets since he was a pup (he's 5 now). We've had a few claims and I've been more than happy with the way they've been handled so I was devastated when his renewal arrived in the post today, with an increase from £18 (or thereabouts, can't remember exact amount) to £42.08 per month!! In addition to the increase in premium the excess has risen to £120 from £75 and for dogs over the age of 5 years you are also expected to pay 25% of the cost of each claim (w00t) The reason is that they have changed underwriters......... I will now be changing insurers!

That's horrendously expensive Lal! (w00t) We've just had Muffin's renewal through and we thought that was expensive at something like £287 (£24 a month). Excess is £70. We're with M&S which provides the same sort of cover as Pet Plan, and any amount paid out is renewed every year, so that any really expensive ongoing treatment is covered.

 

[hollyvictoriab]

Just a quick word of warning if you are looking for a new insurance company.... E&L are not accepted by either my horse or small animal vets, and they said this is the same for many vets.

I claimed from them for our pony, and they did pay, but as the vets won't accept direct payment from them, it does mean being in a position to be able to pay the bill and wait for the insurers to compensate you.

Both the vet groups I deal with said it is because e&l have made them wait years in some cases for payments and demand duplicates of paperwork that have already been provided.

So although they have paid out within a few months to me, I just thought it would be worth mentioning. I was lucky, my mum covered the bill until I got her her money back. I am now looking to insure my whippet and will probably avoid them so I know I can get treatment no questions asked!

It is worth checking with your vets if there are any companies they won't work with, they may be a bit cagey about it, but usually tell you in the end! Also, check the small print! Many companies are subsiduries of e&l!

Holly and Pixie x

ps my small animal vet rates m&s insurance! He said look for 'lifetime' policies as they cover for conditions like epilepsy and diabetes for the animals life, not just until the yearly renewal x

 

[j.appleseed]

Just got online quotes from various companies all about £7-£10/month for cover with £75 excess.That changes if you put down that you race your dog.These are all good companies.

 

[Lal]

hollyvictoriab, I was involved with horses for many years and remember the nightmares people had with E & L, yet still Horse and Hound carried their adverts! Sorry to hear you got caught out by them. Most of the vets in my area will only accept direct payment from PetPlan, I think they get some sort of backhander from them. Having said that, you can't blame the Vets for being wary when companies like E & L take years to pay up.

Wilfred, I've always been with Healthy Pets so now exploring other options....

Gillian, thanks... will check out M & S. So far had reasonable quotes from Direct Line and Argos, and a few 'ominously' cheap ones from companies I've never heard of, which make me suspicious.....

j-appleseed, Can I be cheeky and ask which companies and how old your dog(s) is/are?

 

[j.appleseed]

hollyvictoriab, I was involved with horses for many years and remember the nightmares people had with E & L, yet still Horse and Hound carried their adverts! Sorry to hear you got caught out by them. Most of the vets in my area will only accept direct payment from PetPlan, I think they get some sort of backhander from them. Having said that, you can't blame the Vets for being wary when companies like E & L take years to pay up.
Wilfred, I've always been with Healthy Pets so now exploring other options....

Gillian, thanks... will check out M & S. So far had reasonable quotes from Direct Line and Argos, and a few 'ominously' cheap ones from companies I've never heard of, which make me suspicious.....

j-appleseed, Can I be cheeky and ask which companies and how old your dog(s) is/are?

Just tried a comparison site for a whippet 1 year old to see what I could get.The companies it brought up were halifax,M&S,Tesco all the usual suspects.Hope this helps.

 

[Lal]

hollyvictoriab, I was involved with horses for many years and remember the nightmares people had with E & L, yet still Horse and Hound carried their adverts! Sorry to hear you got caught out by them. Most of the vets in my area will only accept direct payment from PetPlan, I think they get some sort of backhander from them. Having said that, you can't blame the Vets for being wary when companies like E & L take years to pay up.
Wilfred, I've always been with Healthy Pets so now exploring other options....

Gillian, thanks... will check out M & S. So far had reasonable quotes from Direct Line and Argos, and a few 'ominously' cheap ones from companies I've never heard of, which make me suspicious.....

j-appleseed, Can I be cheeky and ask which companies and how old your dog(s) is/are?

Just tried a comparison site for a whippet 1 year old to see what I could get.The companies it brought up were halifax,M&S,Tesco all the usual suspects.Hope this helps.

Thanks.... I expect things to be a little more expensive for a 5 year old dog, I'm off to compare prices and benefits.....

 

[Nicola]

Just had Stan's quote in at £30 per month. He's 9 years old. I had to cancel Fred's this time around at £40 per month. The older they get the more expensive it becomes and the harder it becomes to switch insurers!

 

[LasVegasNo1]

Alfie is now over 7 and we have just renewed with Tesco insurance, they worked out at about £18 a month. All the other quotes were unbelievably expensive or demanded 20-25% of the vet bill plus the excess. Tesco was all we could reasonably afford in the end, I dread to think what quotes we'll get as he gets even older :blink:

 

[Lal]

Alfie is now over 7 and we have just renewed with Tesco insurance, they worked out at about £18 a month. All the other quotes were unbelievably expensive or demanded 20-25% of the vet bill plus the excess. Tesco was all we could reasonably afford in the end, I dread to think what quotes we'll get as he gets even older :blink:

The more I look into it the more I think that there is a huge scam going on. It seems to be quite common that a company offers a quote, at a realistic price, you stick with them for a few years and suddenly the terms change.... They know you will find it difficult to change insurers particularly if you have had a few claims so they think they have you over a barrel!! I will look at Tesco though... thanks

 

[boothros]

Alfie is now over 7 and we have just renewed with Tesco insurance, they worked out at about £18 a month. All the other quotes were unbelievably expensive or demanded 20-25% of the vet bill plus the excess. Tesco was all we could reasonably afford in the end, I dread to think what quotes we'll get as he gets even older :blink:

The more I look into it the more I think that there is a huge scam going on. It seems to be quite common that a company offers a quote, at a realistic price, you stick with them for a few years and suddenly the terms change.... They know you will find it difficult to change insurers particularly if you have had a few claims so they think they have you over a barrel!! I will look at Tesco though... thanks

Check the smallprint with Tesco Lal as think I remember someone on here a good while ago complaining that their vet cover didnt include diagnostic tests. Bearing in mind that Xrays et all can be horrendously expensive, I personally wouldnt want to be without cover for these. The younger dogs are with Halifax and Finney who's 10 is with Argos at £40 per month for him.

 

[haycroft]

ive had both mine with halifax(not lucy but when i had peggy)

yes they paid out great..claim a few thousand for peggy injury

never claimed for Bow and now just had her renewal,,£22.84 pm

dog under 6 years(bow will bw 6 nxt may)£75 for each illness excess

dogs over 6 years 375 plus pay a further 20% for each illness/injury

im looking at argos platium to change over

halifax used be £50 excess and no %..in the last 2 years its gone up..time for a change now me thinks

yes ive heard how bad E+L..dont go there

 

[eve]

I have found Tesco excellent. I have their cheaper policy for Toddy (under £10 per month, excess only £60)) pays for about £4,000 costs but only for 1st year of each condition. No trouble getting them to pay for diagnostic tests either. Tesco do have a dearer policy as well.

Toddy is a liability because he is so mad, hence the insurance. When he calms down a bit, I will stop his insurance.

It has more than paid for itself so far.

I tend to insure my new and younger rescues for the 1st year.

Most of my dogs are not insured as I have 5!

I pay the monthly insurance premium equivilent + a bit extra per dog into a special 'Dog' account instead of paying premiums to the insurance companies. It is my Dog's trust fund should something happen to me. as well as being a 'nest egg' should the worst happen and I need a large sum for vets fees. It is quite a substantial amount after 3 years of saving, it does add up if you are fortunate and do not need to pay vets fees.

 

[Janet]

I have 5 whippet boys ranging from 7 years down to 18 months and my Tesco renewal came in at £88 per month! I have always been with Tesco since getting my first boy, however I shopped around and I'm now with LV (also do my house insurance) and its £62 per month for all of them with the same excess of £60 and its a higher amount of vets fees each year. I did speak to Tesco and they said they couldn't compete with that so I reluctantly changed because they have always been good.

I think it depends on individual vets on whether they claim direct because mine won't make any direct claims. Fingers crossed I don't have to find out what LV are like with claims this year!!

 

[cairo]

I am with argos......platinum cover £13 a month for my 2 year old. Had only been with them a month when he was attacked by a staff and they paid the vet £400 direct no problem.

 

[LasVegasNo1]

Just wanted to add in the past we've been with and claimed off of M&S and MoreThan for Alfie and they've paid up no quibbles. I think figures were around £600 for each.

 

[jeano38]

I am with argos......platinum cover £13 a month for my 2 year old. Had only been with them a month when he was attacked by a staff and they paid the vet £400 direct no problem.

I am so pleased to hear you had no problems with Argos

After spending many hours searching for the best cover wit value for money we also opted for Argos as well.

We pay £10.64 per month for our 4 month old Bitch, fingers crossed we never have to use it but just in case its reassuring to hear positive comments.

Hope your dog makes a speedy recovery

 

[Whippets Rule]

my three youngest dogs are with Tesco's...they have the "extra" cover...4,000 per condition with no time limit and an excess of £120.

Bill is ten months old and he is £12.55 per month.

James is 20 months old and he is £13.00 per month.

Moonpig is 6 years old and is £25.38 per month.

I've not had to claim for any of them yet but given our experience with Parker our last beagle, the cost of not insuring was too much.

I do worry a bit about my level of cover and wonder if I should find an insurer who does a life cover policy as these are supposed to be the best type to have....I think the ones which are restricted to an amount per condition can be tricky, in that the insurer can for example....pay out for a cruciate problem on a left hind leg but not if the right hind then goes....they won't differentiate between limbs and would say that a cruciate is a cruciate and only pay for one as they regard it as the same " condition" irrespective of whether it is a different leg.

My two oldies are not insured, there is little point in insuring them since their age and general health will exclude them from having most procedures anyway and if they were in a serious condition it would not be in their best interests to put them through too much.