Pet Insurance - is it worth it?

[squirtle]

My dogs Insurance is nearly coming to an end for the year and the premium has gone up from 13.89 a month to just over �18 a month. I have been shopping about looking for an alternative, however even though there are cheaper options...........having read the small print of what they will pay for and what they won't pay for................is it worth having?

I will also ask this question in the Pets section as not sure which category was best.

Thanks in advance.

[Ilovemypies]

I insured my little dog who died last year and never made a claim as the costs were always less than the excess the policy carried. However, my sister was so thankful her dog was insured when he was taken dreadfully ill and the costs were more than �2000.00......so it's a case of "do you feel lucky"....

[squirtle]

Thanks for your input 'Ilovemypies' I love my dog to bits and would hate not to be able to afford any treatment should he need it - its just hard trying to work out what they WILL pay for in the small print. I need to go back and read it again.

Any suggestions of who to insure with. I was with Buddies Gold Option but wonder now if I should try elsewhere.

[barry1010]

Have you looked at Tesco?
http://www.tescofinance.com/personal/finance/i nsurance/petins/index.jsp
You can keep the cost of any insurance down by having a high an excess as you can afford, so you only claim for the most expensive treatments.

[bubba28]

I think it's very worth while, my cat and dog have both run up large vet bill that the insurance covered. I would recommend Petplan, as I have never had any problems when making a claim with them.

[squirtle]

barry1010

Tesco were the ones I recently got a quote from and the premium was cheaper but it never mentioned Legal cos and they don't seem to be as descriptive as the one i did have with Buddies. I will just have to decipher the jargon.

Thanks Barry1010 for your reply. I guess I am looking for a company who won't try to wriggle out of paying...if there is such a thing.

[squirtle]

bubba28

You replied as i was typing,.

I will try Petplan thanks for replying.

[paraffin]

Hi squirtle:

It's a dilemma, isn't it? Over the years we've on occasions toyed with the idea, we've actually tried it a few times, but it's it's like any insurance: you might, or might not, eventually need it. It's like "how long's a piece of string?"

We presently have two dogs and two cats and none is insured, our logic being that on the assumption that one of them may be unlucky enough to need major surgery etc, the money we've "saved" per month by not insuring them will pay the bills - we hope!!

Not very scientific logic, I know, but as I've already indicated, it's all a bit of a gamble anyway, something akin to a game of russian roulette. You pays yer money and takes yer chance!
Or, as in our case, you don't(pay)!!

[woozer]

Currently my two cats and a dog are insured with Pet Plan but they seem very expensive compared to Tesco - however, Pet Plan is the only insurer my vet will send the bill to rather than making me pay first and reclaiming the money from the insurer. This was important to me as I have had a couple of four figure bills from vets. My vet used to offer this service to clients who had insurance with other companies but they tell me that they had to discontinue most of them because of the quibbling and non payment form the insurers. Mind you the vet s expensive too :-)

[Postdog]

I had two dogs, and couldn't really afford insurance for both.

However both have been to the vets for something every couple of years, and last Christmas, my Jack broke his leg and had to be put down because I couldn't afford the �1,500 needed to fix it. Had I been insured, different story.

It's like all insurance - you hope you will never need it, but glad when you do.

[squirtle]

Thanks everyone for taking the time to reply....

.....I would hate to lose my little friend due to money issues so I will keeping the insurance going. He is covered for Liable too in case he ever caused an accident.

I know its worth paying it out every month - i am just untrusting towards Insurance companies and whether they will avoid paying out if they get the chance by twisting things.