The Dogmother Posted August 20, 2009 Share Posted August 20, 2009 OK, now who recommends which company? I have let the pet insurance lapse after the last dog died and really ought to start it up again. Spurred on partly after a friend's dog was attacked the other day. Done a bit of research and M&S seems to be the best/cheapest. Suggestions, please Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Redwing Posted August 20, 2009 Share Posted August 20, 2009 Some ideas here: viewtopic.php?f=28&t=48978&view=unread#unread I am going with M&S Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Couperwife Posted August 20, 2009 Share Posted August 20, 2009 we have piperkit insured I phoned up for insurance on the day I had to take her to the vet with a broken foot, about 3 weeks after she had her caste off, she cut her tongue (think she was hit by a car ) didnt have any before then... do you need any at the moment (there was no problem with me registering her then claiming the same day) cathy x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ain't Nobody Here Posted August 20, 2009 Share Posted August 20, 2009 I changed to Tesco (boo hiss) as it was a lot cheaper than Scottish Pet Insurance. Four or so years later it's more than doubled (but I didn't really notice ). We pay over £15 per month for Riley and have an excess of £120. When he fell off the cliff and dislocated his hip needing treatment then 9 days cage rest at the vets we were hoping for a big bill to make the insurance worthwhile. The bill was only £136.33 . I've claimed the £16.33 on principle . I'm tempted to cancel but he's covered for a year for anything arising from that accident . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Olly Posted August 20, 2009 Share Posted August 20, 2009 Crikey - that's a very cheap bill! Hmm, let me see ... Essex to Scotland ... I reckon it would be worth the petrol for me to zip up the A1 with the cat next time he gets into a fight! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted August 21, 2009 Author Share Posted August 21, 2009 Thanks for the link Tasha, I couldn't remember where that topic was At the moment, I am looking at M&S, but have a busy day ahead, so it won't be until next week anyhow. Cathy, who are you with? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gem_Seb Posted August 21, 2009 Share Posted August 21, 2009 Im with pet plan we pay £19 a month for the gold insurance for our two cats. Our vets will claim the money directly from them as well but no other insurance company so thats the main reason we used them.. I had to claim up to around £2500 when out last cat Boots was ill last year and had no problems the vet dealt with it all i just had letters from pet plan to say when and what they had paid them! You can usually get offers with them as well, i got my first 3 months free. i think the current offer is a month free... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Couperwife Posted August 21, 2009 Share Posted August 21, 2009 we are with pet plan with madam , ill have a look and see if i can find out how much a month it is, im sure they do free months though (maybe not if you claim on the day you join though ) cathy x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Space Chick Posted August 21, 2009 Share Posted August 21, 2009 We have Sainsburys for the Cat, which is reasonable and offers good cover for a low excess. We have not claimed yet (she says whilst touching wood) For the Dog we have Halifax, I would have changed but we can't get insurance elsewhere due to his age, but they nearly doubled the premium in Dec at the renewal We were tempted to cancel it, as they refused a claim when he needed teeth out (called it wear and tear!), however, I was able to claim when he had a Vestibular Syndrome attack in April. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ain't Nobody Here Posted August 21, 2009 Share Posted August 21, 2009 however, I was able to claim when he had a Vestibular Syndrome attack in April. What on earth is that ? Sounds like a fear of halls . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chelsea Posted August 21, 2009 Share Posted August 21, 2009 We've used Petplan for Bracken and our old GSD Fern. Never any problem claiming and prompt payment. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chickvic Posted August 22, 2009 Share Posted August 22, 2009 I use Pet Plan too, and my one cat Kirby, had a problem and ended up with crystals in his kidneys so he couldn't wee we had to take him to an emergency vets, he had to have an operation and recovery time and Pet Plan paid up promptly. My vets are , he had to have his op end of July and we paid £50 excess, the renewal was August and the vets made sure we only paid one lot of excess although it should have been 2 because we were claiming over the new years insurance. We have 3 cats all insured and our excess is £60 or £65, bit eaasier to find than £120 ANH! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nutmeg Posted August 23, 2009 Share Posted August 23, 2009 We are with MoreThan, pay £13 per month, £75 excess. They paid out for Maisy when she was attacked by another dog and needed seven stitches and when she was head-butted by a border collie and chipped a piece of bone in her knee. However, they do not cover behavioural problems, which we found out too late, to the tune of £600!! (Direct Line and Pet Plan cover that) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Karen & co. Posted August 24, 2009 Share Posted August 24, 2009 We are with Petplan cover for life with both dogs, because with mixed breeds you never know what their genetic problems may be and if they develope anything serious needing life long treatment for example diabetes etc. then they remain covered rather than being refused due to on going conditions. It's not cheap but when Alfie gashed his leg open jumping over bits of fence the vet treated him and claimed the fees direct from the insurance company Karen x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted August 24, 2009 Author Share Posted August 24, 2009 That's interesting about the lifetime cover Karen - thanks for that. I was going to look at this today, but it's monday and loads of stuff has landed in my office, so it'll be tomorrow now Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Old Speckled Hen Posted August 24, 2009 Share Posted August 24, 2009 Claret, PLEASE PLEASE look at the small print. The single most important thing is lifelong cover for chronic illness because this is the area that most insurance companies fall down on badly. If you are claiming for such treatment, whatever your excess is, you will have to pay that at each policy anniversary anyway. But a lot of insurance companies will only cover a single condition for a year then exclude it Now what a year means is up to the company. It may mean a year or it may mean a policy year. So if your pet is ill the day before a policy anniversary you will be able to claim for one days treatment then that condition will be excluded. I have had insurance companies excluding ANY treatment for ANY leg condition if you have claimed on the repair of a minor wound, thus precluding ANY claim for say an RTA in years to come. CAVEAT EMPTOR I must say that of all the companies I ever crossed swords with ... and this I did on most days ... Pet Plan gave me and the client the least bother. PS Having your vet paid directly by the insurance company is great. I only ever did that with PetPlan because I knew, I just knew that I would spend weeks wrangling with anybody else. You don't know how ridiculous it feels arguing with some barely trained young girl over the phone about the semantics of a claim form OK rant over Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted August 24, 2009 Author Share Posted August 24, 2009 Thanks for the rant DA Very good advice, and I shall be sure to check it before I sign. It hadn't occurred to me to check for a lifetime cover, so I will be onto that. I can't remember for the life of me what the last company was that I used. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chucky Mama Posted September 2, 2009 Share Posted September 2, 2009 Claret, PLEASE PLEASE look at the small print.The single most important thing is lifelong cover for chronic illness because this is the area that most insurance companies fall down on badly. If you are claiming for such treatment, whatever your excess is, you will have to pay that at each policy anniversary anyway. But a lot of insurance companies will only cover a single condition for a year then exclude it Now what a year means is up to the company. It may mean a year or it may mean a policy year. So if your pet is ill the day before a policy anniversary you will be able to claim for one days treatment then that condition will be excluded. I have had insurance companies excluding ANY treatment for ANY leg condition if you have claimed on the repair of a minor wound, thus precluding ANY claim for say an RTA in years to come. CAVEAT EMPTOR I must say that of all the companies I ever crossed swords with ... and this I did on most days ... Pet Plan gave me and the client the least bother. PS Having your vet paid directly by the insurance company is great. I only ever did that with PetPlan because I knew, I just knew that I would spend weeks wrangling with anybody else. You don't know how ridiculous it feels arguing with some barely trained young girl over the phone about the semantics of a claim form OK rant over ...all good advice Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted September 2, 2009 Author Share Posted September 2, 2009 Thanks for the good advice, all - I am guilty of not having sorted it yet - been extra busy and had a horrendous head cold to top it all. I will deffo get it done before next week though and shall ask questions here if need be. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fluffyknickers Posted September 2, 2009 Share Posted September 2, 2009 This couldnt have come at a better time as my free plans I got with Yogy will soon end and I need to take up one that I will be paying for. The other day in the vets I mention this to the recpetionist and she said they cant reccomend but said she couldnt say strongly enough to make sure it was for life (assume she meant that if it developed, say diabetes, that it would always receive cover for diabetes). Now how I go about checking this with companies is another thing, as mentioned sometimes you just dont get the right help on the other end of the phone. Pet plan sounds good though! Michelle Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fluffyknickers Posted September 2, 2009 Share Posted September 2, 2009 wow thats a lot with petplan £34.00 a month! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chrisnrob Posted September 8, 2009 Share Posted September 8, 2009 We are with M&S for both our cats and they have been brilliant. They even paid mileage when we had to take them to a second referral vet. A vet I used to visit left practice to go and work for an insurance company and she recommended going with any company underwritten by AXA. M&S used to be but now aren't. Greenbee (part of John Lewis) currently are underwritten by AXA. That said, we didn't notice any change when M&S moved away from AXA - in fact, the level of service seemed to improve. Also, to reiterate what others have said about checking that the policy provides lifetime cover and not just for a set period (usually a year) or a set amount. As far as I know, there are only four companies that provide this: - PetPlan - M&S - Greenbee - One other that I can't remember the name of! There's a useful article on pet insurance at MoneySavingExpert http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/insurance/cut-pet-insurance-costs Rob Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted September 9, 2009 Author Share Posted September 9, 2009 Thanks for that Rob X *waves hello* Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chrisnrob Posted September 9, 2009 Share Posted September 9, 2009 *waves back* I wonder if we will ever meet up? Rob x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted September 9, 2009 Author Share Posted September 9, 2009 Have PMd you Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
