Pet Insurance

[AeryFairy]

We got our pet insurance renewal paperwork through the post today, and it's gone up again even though we've made no claims and nothing has changed. So we decided to shop around, and got a new quote from the people we already have insurance with. It was almost half what they are trying to charge us to renew (£6 a month for a new policy vs. £11 a month to renew), and it comes with a £30 supermarket gift certificate. We called them up and explained this, hoping to just renew at the lower price, but they told us the best they could do was a small discount (£10 a month) and we'd be better off cancelling and taking out a new policy. So we did. Seems weird that we had to do it that way, but we got the lower price (and the gift certificate) so I'm not complaining.

So, VV people... Do you insure your furry friends? How much does it cost you? Do you ever have problems like this?

 

[Mikkel]

I have insurance on both my dogs. In Agria. It cost me $130-140 a month. German Shepherd are one of the most expencive breeds to insure here in Norway.

I've had Vida for soon 9 years now, and haven't used it that much on her. But Noomi have had her injury and allergy that is expencive. And I can't switch company, as they won't cover those two things then. I'm not sure if I use Agria on the next dog.

I think prices is often set buy the breed, and not if you use it or not.

 

[SummerRain]

The vets I and family have spoken to have always recommended petplan (UK), who have a really good reputation for actually paying out as per your policy easily and basically keeping their word, but are also therefore one of the more expensive. For my cat it is about £10 a month, which lasts for life if you re-new annually and covers everything up to a certain amount (which you can choose).

Reputable dog breeders my family have bought from have also said the same thing. Petplan gets really good online reviews compared to other companies too.

Anyway that was basically why I choose petplan. Never had to use it myself yet though so no personal experience.

ETA: One reason for the difference might be that if you take out a new policy, the policy wont usually cover pre-existing conditions. But if you re-new a policy it will. The difference for the price could be to do with that... or just that they have a low price to entice people in, and most people wont shop around after that.

 

[AeryFairy]

I think prices is often set buy the breed, and not if you use it or not.

Thing is, it was for the exact same animal, with all the same information! I understand different prices for variations in breeds (some are more prone to certain medical conditions etc.), and higher prices for older pets etc., but this made very little sense.

ETA: One reason for the difference might be that if you take out a new policy, the policy wont usually cover pre-existing conditions. But if you re-new a policy it will. The difference for the price could be to do with that... or just that they have a low price to entice people in, and most people wont shop around after that.

I think you're right about the low price to pull people in. I doubt many people bat an eyelid at an extra £20 or so a year, but when they raise it by that every year, it adds up... If she had a condition already we wouldn't have cancelled, but she's perfectly healthy at the moment so it made sense to

Also, I've got no complaints about the actual cover - we had it for our last pet, and there were no problems with the payout. Plus, the cover is really comprehensive, and it includes a 24 hour freephone service for medical advice which I really like

 

[Calliegirl]

The pet insurance in the U.S. is awful, at least from everything I've seen and heard. I've never heard of anyone actually getting anything paid for except very small things that would have been cheaper to pay out of pocket. They have a huge list of exclusions they won't pay for. Any problems common to a breed are not covered (like hip dysplasia in large dogs), no preexisting conditions and pretty much everything is considered a preexisting condition.

 

[Mikkel]

Thing is, it was for the exact same animal, with all the same information! I understand different prices for variations in breeds (some are more prone to certain medical conditions etc.), and higher prices for older pets etc., but this made very little sense.

As I've understood on others that have contacted insurance companies after big raises in the payments, it seems like everyone is "punished" if there is a rise in injuries and/or illnesses in the breed. Since the risk of your dog or cat suddenly become higher in the company's mind. The sense is only from the insuranse company. They want to earn money. So I guess the owners of all the healthy animals have to take the cost of all the ill and injured ones.

 

[KLS52]

I signed up Benjamin for Trupanion pet insurance on the recommendation of my veterinarian.

 

[Scorpius]

The pet insurance in the U.S. is awful, at least from everything I've seen and heard. I've never heard of anyone actually getting anything paid for except very small things that would have been cheaper to pay out of pocket. They have a huge list of exclusions they won't pay for. Any problems common to a breed are not covered (like hip dysplasia in large dogs), no preexisting conditions and pretty much everything is considered a preexisting condition.

Some of them totally suck. VPI is one I cant think off off the top of my head that is big on the breed exclusions and being crappy about paying for certain services. I've seen Trupanion and Healthy Paws pet insurance companies cover large chunks (usually 90%) of massive vet bills ($3,000 surgeries for instance, they'll cover everything but the initial office visit) for people. Trupanion even offers pre-approvals for clients at my hospital so they know a treatment or surgery will be covered before it's even done.

 

[KLS52]

I could kick myself for not looking into insurance before Bratt broke his leg. And Stella, too. Now if she ends up needing treatment for whatever this aspiration issue is, it won't be covered because I already had her checked out.

 

[Calliegirl]

Some of them totally suck. VPI is one I cant think off off the top of my head that is big on the breed exclusions and being crappy about paying for certain services. I've seen Trupanion and Healthy Paws pet insurance companies cover large chunks (usually 90%) of massive vet bills ($3,000 surgeries for instance, they'll cover everything but the initial office visit) for people. Trupanion even offers pre-approvals for clients at my hospital so they know a treatment or surgery will be covered before it's even done.

Good to know that there are some out there that actually help.

 

[AeryFairy]

As I've understood on others that have contacted insurance companies after big raises in the payments, it seems like everyone is "punished" if there is a rise in injuries and/or illnesses in the breed. Since the risk of your dog or cat suddenly become higher in the company's mind. The sense is only from the insuranse company. They want to earn money. So I guess the owners of all the healthy animals have to take the cost of all the ill and injured ones.

Yeah, I understand that too - but the same company let us take out a new policy for our pet (with the same conditions) for half the cost of the old one. Makes zero sense, unless (as summer rain said) they were counting on people taking out the policy and then just accepting the increases.

I'll always make sure my pets are covered, though - ever since a perfectly healthy cat ate something funny in the garden and cost me £400