11 replies to this topic

[iancjc]

Hi all

about to acquire a new cat (very sweet bengal kitten) and we're looking at insurance options - never bothered last time as she was too bloody obstinate to get ill.

looking at the various policys they all all look the same for the same money so any experiences good or bad would be welcomed and any special features like a euthanasia clause for when I step in a puddle of piss.

many thanks

[chatterdog]

main thing to check out with pet insurance is that if the animal gets an illness that needs treatment for the remainder of its life e.g. heart tablets/kidney/liver treatment that you are covered for its life. A lot of insurance companies only cover for 12mths treatment and you cant claim for the same or related condition again. petplan cover for life so do the caravan club pet insurance.
I found out how expensive heart tablets are for a dog i had some years ago, the insurance paid for the first 12mths then it was down to me  for the next 6  years.

Im with the caravan club pet insurance now and they cover conditions for life

[tommytli]

we are with tesco pet insurance you get a lot for your money, dont know about claiming with them weve been lucky enough not too. oh and they are cheap!!

[nellas22]

I'm with Direct Line, and the monthly premiums are starting to go up now that my lovely choccie lab is eight.

Saying that, I'm just about to claim near enough £750 spent on her over the past month, so I don't mind in the long run, as I've probably got a bit more to claim over the next year.

Direct Line also only cover for 12 months treatment or up to £3,000 max for any one course of treatment.

[shirl]

I'm with Sainsburys and upto now they have been good,the Akita who we got in August and was 11 month's old has had a lump removed under his leg and is going to see a specialist about his hip's and they have just confirmed that they will be paying out,the quote we have had for the operation on his hip's is going to be  over £3000 and he is covered for life not just 12 month's,but they do a cheaper insurance that will only cover for 12month's so read very carefully.

[Northernlights]

I'm with Sainsburys and upto now they have been good,the Akita who we got in August and was 11 month's old has had a lump removed under his leg and is going to see a specialist about his hip's and they have just confirmed that they will be paying out,the quote we have had for the operation on his hip's is going to be  over £3000 and he is covered for life not just 12 month's,but they do a cheaper insurance that will only cover for 12month's so read very carefully.

We were with Sainsbury's until they jumped the prices up, this year they wanted an extra £150 to last and we hadn't made a claim.  In the end I went with AXA direct rather than with them under Sainsbury's and it cost me £80 less. (Also the cover is more extensive.)  Crazy!

[iancjc]

thanks for the opinions so far - better let M do the insurance buying as I'd go for the cheapest and look for a solution to an ongoing illness at the end of the insurance period.....

trouble is my solution would doubtless lead to a divorce and upset kids......


going to suss out the CC insurance I think.

[lauriesandra]

.......Long term illness is easily dealt with, outside of the scope of an insurance policy though, usually involves low tides at night time, hessian sacks, house bricks and the Thames!  

    

[coopey1]

we are with tesco pet insurance you get a lot for your money, dont know about claiming with them weve been lucky enough not too. oh and they are cheap!!

We WAS with Tesco, yes they are cheap and yes they do pay up quickly but,,,,,,and it is a big but,,,,

Our eldest Yorkie was diagnosed with a heart mumour, but was not serious enough to go on medication at the time. A year later and on a visit to Luxembourg we had to visit the local vet for the pet passport scheme and our return trip home.
The vet picked up on the heart mumour and advised us to see our vet on our return back home.

This we did.
The vet said the condition had worsened, but no need for medication and he would keep a monthly check on his condition. After the 3rd month, medication was recommended. So we claimed.

Tesco met the claim in full from July 06, but in April 07 we got a letter from Tesco saying that they would refuse to accept any more claims for vet bills regarding this illness. When I challenged the decision, they told me that Tesco paid out on claims from the 1st diagnosis (which the vet had put down as April06) and not from the 1st claim (July06). Therfore as I see it Tesco have robbed me of 3 months of insurance cover.

Our eldest Yorkie is still surviving and doing well on his medication but is now uninsured. The youngest Yorkie is insured with the RSPCA. So far (fingers crossed) we have not had to claim.

Would we use Tesco insurance again,,,,not in a million years.

[Lipton]

Sammy's insured with Petplan, he was covered for six weeks when we got him (and we have continued with it at £12 a month).
Good job he was insured as the bill so far is £1652 and rising every week. With half a stomach I don't know when it will end, good job they cover any treatment for life.

[marlot]

We were with M&S but they changed the cover and hiked the price, so we're now with the Caravan Club - which seems very good value.

Many pet policies are actually run by Axa (I believe that includes Tesco and Caravan Club), but the cover can vary.  Try to get life cover rather than just 12 months if you can.

[iancjc]

Thanks for all the responses   - think we went with Sainsburys and paid a premium for the cover to extend past 12 months.