Pet Insurance

[leelapops]

I am appalled! Just received renewal documents for Jack's (3-and-a-bit year old Border Collie) insurance-we have been with M & S for 2 years. The first year, his premium cost �10/month, the second year they upped it to �14.50/month and I only remained with them as they kept my premium a no-excess one. Anyway, they now want to charge �19.99 a MONTH! And there is now an excess in place for each claim. What a bl**dy rip-off! So I checked out Money Supermarket, and no insurer could really give me what I need for Jack: a good level of ongoing cover, with a low excess. Is it worth me insuring at such a high level? He is already gluten intolerant and has a flea allergy, so any treatment for that won't be covered, and is under control anyway, and I pay a separate fee per month anyway to cover his boosters, fleaing and worming. Would I be as well insuring at a lower level just to cover him in case he is hurt or becomes ill unexpectedly and we can't afford to pay thousands of pounds? Or remaining with M & S who should cover his existing problems, which are currently affordable nd manageable anyway? What a dilemma! I would love your advice as pet-owners. Lisa x

[ytrewq]

We had our renewal for Chesters M&S insurance this morning. Its gone up from 17.00 per month with no excess to 33.00 a month with 70.00 excess!! But because Chester is epileptic I doubt that anyone else would insure us. I'm surprised that they can take away the no excess for customers who already have it, but they must be able to. Can't really complain about M&S, they do pay the 275.00 per month for his tablets so I think we still get a good deal.

[daffidazey]

Hi sweetie! I would keep shopping around and see if you can get a better deal. I use Tesco for Murphy as my Mum used them to insure her Bulldog. He had to have on going medication and 4 operations. Mum said Tesco were brilliant. Not sure how much she paid per month, I pay �9.22 per month for Murphy.
https://uk1.tesco-insurance.co.uk/insurance/pet/PLB92583841566974879202/yourdetails.do;jsessionid=2830c10862543570397e

[wiggal]

Hey leela hun!

I pay �22 at the mo for Ashke each month with Animal friends insurance.
They have set prices and dont go by breed, location or pedigree which is good I think.

I have found though that they set up each policy as a different DD, and as you can imagine, with 9 policies that I have, if they bounce (which they often do, I get 9 lots of bank charges!)

I'm admin on a pets club on another site, and some one said to me that instead of going through a company to insure, each month they pay an amount in to a seperate account, she now has over �3,500 in the account for if her pets needed!

I thought this was a good idea and considered it alot, until I thought about when I first started doing it, if something happened and I only had a couple of hundred in there!

Dont think I have been helpful at all, but hope you and little Jack are ok!

:) xxx

[leelapops]

Hello lovely people, thank you for your answers :)
ytrewq, I absolutely know what you mean: you are definitely better sticking with them if Chester has an ongoing condition, as other companies probably will not accept any claims on it if you move to them. Thing is, they ARE really good aren't they? No real problems with claiming, and the Customer Services are great. I definitely think you are getting your moneys' worth is they are paying out on Chester's meds. Is he a cat or a dog?

Hey daffi darling, how are you? Actually, I had considered Tesco as when I went online their quote was reasonable: and we might get further benefits with Steve's staff card!! How is little Smurf-pants? Oh I just love him! Thanks for the link. I know More Than are meant to be pretty good too, they have been recommended by a couple of people. My friend's SBT has various conditions, and More Than have always been good with her.

wiggal, great to see you sweetie! How have you been? How is little Cleo? You know, I saw a gorgeous Samoyed in the park yesterday, smiling away, as they do, and I thought of you and the gorgeous Ashke! 9 policies, my word!! Can you get a loyalty card?! I think a previous discussion on Insurance led to Possibly Lankeela suggesting that putting money aside might me a better bet that insuring. But your concern is the same as mine! If he needed �2000 worth of treatment, and I had only started paying it in a couple of months previously, we would be stuck as stuck can be! Also, if any emergency occurred, I would be tempted to dip in and pay it back. At least his monthly insurance premiums have gone and I can't use them for something else!
You are always helpful hun, and very sweet!
Hope everyone is OK this wet and windy Thursday xxx

[ytrewq]

Chester is a st.bernard. Not the easiest of breeds to have epilepsy but on this new medication he is going really well and is almost 3 months fit free which is a record since he started having them last May.

[leelapops]

aww, ytrewq, I bet he is a big boy! So I understand what you mean. I am very glad his fits seem to be settling down a bit, a relief for you both!
Big cuddles to him from me, and a slightly nervous "hello" from Jack!!x

[persianlady]

The thing to look for with pet insurance is life cover. A lot of pet insurances seem cheaper , but they will only cover for 12 months for any condition. If your pet has an ongoing disease like diabetes or heart or kidney problems, then after 12 months you cannot claim again for that condition. As with all things, you get what you pay for. With M&S you are paying for the life cover, and the peace of mind that no matter what happens you are covered. Of course it depends on what you can afford. My advice would be if you can afford it stay with M&S

[leelapops]

persianlady, many thanks for your answer. I just know M & S are going to go up and up, and as we are already controlling Jack's existing conditions, there are other insurers who have no "time limit" on their policies too.

I will consider all the options, there is just such an array!

Thanks everyone x

[lankeela]

This company has been recommended on one of my dog groups, especially for people who have multiple pets.
Their premiums start at �5.18 a month for the bronze cover and they cover any illness for however long it lasts up to the maximum amount covered. They only do pet insurance.

http://www.healthy-pets.co.uk/
>>

[leelapops]

Thanks lankeela, I will check them out.

[thugulike]

Strongly recommend Tesco, they've been brilliant with meand paid up quickly without any questions.

[jd_here]

We have just had to have our Westie put down. In the 12 years we had him he had 2 large and 1 very large vets bills, the total of which didn't cover the cost of what the insurance would have cost over the 12 years. I would advise not to insure and take a chance on a healthy animal. JD

[leelapops]

Thanks thugulike, and jd, sorry for your loss.

[sheila17456]

sainsbury's wanted nearly �40 a month each for my two (sadly one has recently died) even though we had been with them for years i have now gone with E&L a very big difference

sheila

[jenellcas]

hi
I have 3 dogs , 2 are pedigrees, I insure mine with a company called healthy pets, which is a lifetime policy
but has a �50 excess,but that a side, they are brilliant
I have the gold policy, if you insure 1 dog you can have the 2nd one free etc,it works out that I pay �18 a month
for all 3 dogs that works out at �6 per dog
and they insure on going treatment if needed
it worth looking into it, hope this is of some help

[leelapops]

sheila, thank you very much, and I am sorry for your recent loss. �40 a month is ludicrous!!
jenellcas, thank you for your information and recommendation too. lankeela also suggested Healthy Pets, and when I have viewed their website it seems they are the best around.
On their Gold policy Jack will cost �10ish/month to insure. Far more manageable than �20!!

Lisa x

[campbellgrace]

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