Dog Insurance

[jennyjoan]

Just after getting Maxie groomed in vets.

Asked about insurance and was told to go for lifetime insurance with Pet plan.

Erm - have found Tesco insurance cheaper per month but no lifetime insurance mentioned - just pay as per sickness. Anybody care to enlighten me if this insurance is ok. don't remember Harvey's insurance being problematic but then again that was 12 years ago (when started).

[bednobs]

it all depends what you want! Do you want lifetime insurance, or don't you? Like all insurance, it's only useful if you actually need to use it.

[murraymints]

my friend has 2 dogs with tesco..no probs...how is wee maxie ?

[jennyjoan]

@bednobs - I don't understand "if you actually need it". Could you enlighten me a little thanks.

@ MM - Maxie is doing very well and beautiful compared to what he was like when I got him. A very very affectionate little dog and friends and siblings simply love him. Never leaves me out of his sight. Right now lying beside me in puter room when he should be out in "God's sunshine".

[bednobs]

Insurance is only worth the money you are paying if you need to use it (ie if the dog actually gets ill)

[murraymints]

ahhhh..how lovely Conne xx

[jennyjoan]

bednobs would you recommend - insurance paying per sickness.

[Islay]

It depends if he is a high risk breed or not.

I have 2 high risk dogs but they are young at the moment and I have taken precautions to ensure that the normally illness that would bother them is now minimal.

I will swap to a lifetime insurance in a few years when they are older.

[woofgang]

I stick with Petplan. They aren’t the cheapest but I have insured with them for more than 30 years, never touching wood had a problem an argument, anything...and they have paid out big time for some of our dogs.

[EDDIE51]

I do not have insurance for my dog. He has only needed treatment 3 times in 7 years. The vet is happy to accept payment by instalments if the bill is too high to pay all in one hit. I think most vets are the same.The last time he needed a vet, due to a cut foot, the bill was £150, the vet was happy to take 3 payments of £50 a month. I was paying £29 a month on an insurance policy.
You may be lucky and have an RSPCA or Blue Cross vet near you, if so treatment is free for those on a low income.

[woofgang]

treatments which my dogs have needed have cost thousands in the past.....

[ladybirder]

I looked at dog insurance for a friend and I remember John Lewis came out very well and she took it out and is very happy with it.
https://boughtbymany.com/news/article/john-lewis-pet-insurance-reviews/

[jennyjoan]

thanks ladybirder - looked at the link.

Sorry for being ignorant here but exactly what does "lifetime" cover mean.

Can't seem to get my head round that.

[ladybirder]

jj Lifetime Insurance Cover is explained here - with some warnings so read it all, it's not too long;-)
http://www.moneysupermarket.com/pet-insurance/lifetime-pet-insurance/

[jennyjoan]

thanks ladybirder - I had read that but none the wiser - sorry!

Maxie at the mo is only 2 years old and so far so good his health is good.

At the beginning when I got him he was pretty ill and I didn't have insurance because kept thinking he was going to die.

Vomiting everywhere, sucking blood from his groin and paws and extremely nervous, anxious and subservient, so was sorta ready to let him go - thank God he is still here tho and enjoying good health.

[jennyjoan]

PS - didn't bark for the first seven months either

[ladybirder]

For what it's worth my advice would be to insure him sooner rather than later as it gets more expensive the older he is and as you say he has no problems at the moment. Don't wait until he has. Lifetime cover sounds great if you can afford it. What breed is Maxie and is that breed prone to any particular illnesses? I paid 10 years' insurance for one of my dogs (a mutt) and never claimed a penny. Another (a pedigree) died of liver disease within a very short time of me taking him on (rescue as all my dogs) who I hadn't had time to insure, and cost me a fortune. So you never know what is going to happen. I like the peace of mind that comes with knowing my dog is covered.

[jennyjoan]

I too paid insurance annually for Harvey for 10 years and only used vets in his last year and even then some treatments were NOT covered so I had to cough up. He is a mix of bichon frise/schitzu and up to now he is well

[jennyjoan]

Sorry Ladybirder - shall I just get the annual insurance.

[Baldric]

Before Kim and Eddie, the two Dobies who turn up as Avatars, we had a Dobie/Shepherd Cross who lived to 14 years. In his later years he needed two operations for which he was insured. When I worked it out what the Insurance paid for the Ops was a lot less than the premiums we had paid over the years. We've not had Pet Insurance since.

[ladybirder]

Just been reading up on your breed jj and it seems they usually enjoy robust health. I can't make the choice for you but I don't see why you need the Lifetime insurance. The ordinary should do. You could consider putting an amount away each month in a separate Maxie Account instead of giving it to an insurance company. You may end up in pocket then.