Pet Cover

[Dagman]

Hi folks, I am trying to get pet care/insurance for my 7 month old collie. The trouble is that I find none of the policies clear. I am just after a simple one with none of the little tricky conditions they all tie you in knots with which raises my suspicions on how they'd interpret a claim. My ideal one would cover all vet costs for his lifetime and include his checkups, vaccines, accidents etc. Can anyone recommend a particular company and plan you have used and are more than happy with? Many thanks.

[smurfchops]

Why not put a certain amount away a month, say the same as the insurance company is quoting. Your collie is very unlikely not need any medication for years and you will have a nice little lump sum growing in the bank. And not the insurance company’s account.

[smurfchops]

‘Unlikely to need ‘

[bednobs]

i dont think what you want exists

[Dagman]

I'm not so sure either bednobs, was hoping there would be something out there. Local vets are very expensive with their own types of cover but again worded in such a way to be interpreted not to deliver. Maybe I'm being too cynical! Good idea smurfchops, it's how we paid for dogs we had in the past but with dogs and treatments being so expensive now, I don't know what would be best. Thanks anyways, maybe someone else has an suggestion?

[barry1010]

Only insure the unexpected - the illnesses and accidents.
You can and should budget for the routine vaccines and checkups.
If you can, keep at least £1k locked away and have this as excess on your insurance policy. Increase it every year. This should keep the monthly/annual payments down.
Only claim for expensive treatments, this will help keep insurance costs down in the long term when your dog is considered to be old. A history of claims could make an elderly dog's insurance horrendously expensive.

[Dagman]

Thanks barry1010, again a good idea. Perhaps I'm muddying the water by trying to get insurance and standard routine treatments together. We should have researched all this before getting him but he's here now and here to stay ;)

[Buenchico]

From the Money Saving Expert website (in relation to all policies):
"Your pet likely won't be covered for the following:
Routine injections such as flu, tetanus, parvovirus, annual boosters
Routine check-ups
Worming treatments
Anti-flea medications
Whelping costs"

Source (which is worth a read for the other information that it provides):
https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/insurance/cut-pet-insurance-costs/

[Buenchico]

If there's a branch of Vets4Pets near to you, it might be worth considering their 'Complete Care' pet health plans to cover routine treatments, alongside pet insurance.
https://www.vets4pets.com/pet-health-plans/complete-care-for-dogs/adult/

[TheChair]

Petplan. The only one that's there for pets rather than profit. They covered our diabetic cat's test and medication for 11 years.

[Buenchico]

>>> The only one that's there for pets rather than profit.

As Petplan is part of the biggest insurance company in the world, Allianz, I'm sure that they make plenty of profit!

However I do agree that they seem to have a very good reputation.

[barry1010]

PetPlan is also amongst the most expensive.

[Dagman]

Thanks all, some great input. We are visiting the vets today, see if they have a plan of their own. The petplan insurance came in at £25 and as Buenchico found, it appears policies covering everything seem non existent. We will just have to pay for routine stuff I suppose. If the vet can beat the petplan quote then all's good. Thanks.

[Paigntonian]

Smurf: An extremely sensible idea.

[Redhelen72]

Our Vet has a pet club - £16 a month for large dogs gets their monthly flea and worms tablets, yearly vaccinations, and 10% off any other treatments

We gave up on other insurances when the dogs started to get older and the price went through the roof

[MissTerious]

We have given up insuring. It's now a rip off and has posted all veterinary drugs sky high.

https://www.thisismoney.co.uk/money/bills/article-6298883/Watchdog-probes-rip-pet-cover-no-wonder-couple-charged-7-140-two-dogs.html

Save the amount of money you would pay out and get interest in it.

[MissTerious]

Has put, not posted!

[Dagman]

Yes Redhelen, it does seem that way when dogs get older, very unfair! Smurfchops suggestion is becoming front runner. It's all food for thought when the vet goes into sell mode. We'll see.

[Dagman]

Thanks Missterious, another strong suggestion.

[Peter Pedant]

dont do it
pay as the charge comes up
they never pay.... ever

[Peter Pedant]

Petplan never pay
the vet said about one
try claiming, they dont pay