Hi all, Collecting our new pup Ziggy in 10 days and interested to know what others do about insurance as there are a vast array of options out there! What policy type did you choose and what payout levels? Thanks!
Good question! As Loki has only been with us 2 weeks, we're 2 weeks into our 4 weeks of free insurance so need to know what to get myself. I have no clue what good coverage is either x
One of which is under-writing your own cover. But you need to be sure that you can get hold of a few thousand in the unlikely event of a "major" emergency. If you can't, there's no need to read further, just concentrate on the more useful replies It's worth remembering that in a "major major major +++" emergency, insurance isn't a total solution anyway, because of the capped pay-out. I also read somewhere that the average claim size in the UK is about 750£. The really big claims (towards the top of the payout cap) must be very rare. Therefore smaller claims in the "hundreds" are probably more common, and enough to cover those expenses can quickly be saved over 2 or 3 years premiums. Anyway, we went the "self-insure" route. With the premium saved + the own risk/excess, we could afford to cover a single (insurance claim-qualifiable) vet bill of up to 390€ during year one, without costing more than an insurance policy. No claims came. We're just about to go in to year 2 and the corresponding new figure is 620€. Touch wood. We'll see how it goes. https://thelabradorforum.com/threads/how-much-cover.20064/#post-308006
I don't know where you are located, but I'm in Canada and we wanted a policy that would cover any potential hip/elbow issues (or any major surgery). Many policies will not cover even a hint of pre-existing conditions or hereditary issues (like hip issues) so you really have to do your research. I didn't end up going with our puppy plan insurer. My monthly premium is a bit high, but my plan covers almost everything with no limit. I did some calculations, and even if I saved the monthly amount I pay out for 10 years, plus the deductible, I would still barely cover one major surgery with savings.
Hi there, Are you in the UK? I'm with petplan, who are pretty good at paying out, I have the 4k covered for life, though think next time I might go for the 7k. My only gripe is that they limit the hydrotherapy to 10 sessions per condition, which makes no sense with a covered for life policy. My vet says that john Lewis insurance is also up there with the best in terms of a comprehensive policy and no quibble payouts. As @QuinnM15 says above, pre-existing conditions are a real issue - basically, once you pick your insurer you are generally stuck with them for life.
If you're in the uk go for a pet plan full life policy. My dog got lupus at 8 and they paid or a percentage out for his vet treatment for the next 8, years. The big things like hips and elbows are worth insuring for but the life policy covers a dogs illness for life. It was worth it for Doug. They always pay out too.
Do any of you mind me asking how much you pay for petplan? It was £60 something a month for Stanley to have full life cover up to £7000 which just seemed so expensive. We’re with Argos who have good reviews but I’d prefer to be with petplan. It just seems a bit unaffordable
What would someone say to this; Vet Fees £2,000 per condition per year and unlimited for the lifetime of your pet ??
I've got the 4k full life plan, it goes up roughly 10% per year, I'm now paying £38 per month just going into year 4. Considering I've claimed on it since day 1 - using up nearly the whole 4k allowance in the first year - and now averaging £800 - 1,200 in claims annually, I don't think it's bad. But knowing a CT scan with injections and vet consulation cost nearly 2k in year one, it concerns me, as @SwampDonkey says, that one year it won't be nearly enough if we need surgery for ED/HD, or god forbid, something new and horrible. I think 4 years ago when I got the 7k quote, it was about £40-45 a month... so their prices have gone up quite a bit - I suppose, probably reflective of all the treatments available.
My vet recommended Petplan and said they paid up without quibble. I initially took out accident only insurance with cover of up to £4K but after a year I upgraded to lifetime cover with £7k worth of cover. I just worried a lot of the time that if something major happened I didn't have appropriate cover. I got one month free and currently pay £41. (@JenBainbridge, when I upgraded from one off cover to lifetime cover the quote I was given was around £80. I knew this wasn't right as I'd had a lower quote when I was choosing a plan at the very beginning. I kept questioning the figures but was repeatedly told £80. I declined, rang back later to complain and was re-quoted the amount I now pay, £41. The guy was apparently new and didn't know his onions. This is a long winded way of saying, is it worth asking for another quote?)
For Charlie, I pay £72 a month. I have lifetime cover of £12,000 a year vet bills, and £2,000 complementary treatment. If Charlie lives to be 12 years old, I will have paid £10,368 in premiums (let's assume the premium rises with inflation but ignore the deflation of money). Before Charlie was 3 years old, Pet Plan paid: Over £20,000 for 2 cruciate operations plus rehab. Over £2,000 for diagnostics for knock on elbow joint problem. And since then: Over £2,000 for investigations into food intolerances and allergies. Over £3,000 for continuing treatment and check ups on joint problems. I'm up on the game.... I pay less for Betsy, £50 a month - same cover. I've claimed nothing. Assuming I continue to claim nothing for the rest of Betsy's life....I'm still up on the deal.
Hmm I may have to contact them to discuss again because I think the quote I got appears quite high. He’s 2 and we’ve never claimed on his insurance or anything and he has no pre-existing conditions. I’ll look into it - thanks everyone!
I have lifetime cover of £8k per year with Direct line. I pay about £28 per month. Harley has had an emergency spay due to pyometra £1200, investigations for food intolerance £700, X-rays and investigations on limp £750, gastrointestinal issues x 2 times £450 as well as other things such as bloods, cut paws etc. They have paid out every time with no issues at all, even when gastro issues came back. I also pay my vets £10 per month for a plan which covers all consultants fees, discounts on medications, free yearly health check, nail cutting and emergency consultations. In the first year and a half of Harley’s life we spent half our life at the vets, so have definitely benefited from having this too.
Hi troops, Thanks so much for your replies. I'm in the UK, Ziggy is our first dog and your responses are really very helpful. I got the feeling from the usual insurance comparison sites that there are a lot of cowboys out there and based on the recommendations on here we went for Petplan. Thanks again, Zigster and his hoomans
Be really careful here. At our very first vet check with Ella we mentioned that she seemed to be a bit itchy (it turned out to be nothing) and that was written into her notes by the vet. We were on a 6 week insurance plan provided by the breeder and changed to another insurance company before the end of the 6 weeks. No gap in cover right? A year later Ella got ringworm and we tried to claim our $800 on insurance only to find out that all skin complaints were excluded for life as they were pre-existing before we took out our policy. Apparently "appears a little itchy" on the vet notes was enough to show a pre-existing condition.
Had the same with finn. He came from rescue with white flakes in his fur. The vet found nothing but because it had been investigated, all skin conditions were excluded. Was paying about £28 per month, this year it has gone up to £35, with 20% excess because he was 8 when we took out the policy. However, he has developed arthritis, the initial xrays, etc., were £800ish and his painkillers are £80per month, so insurance has been well worth while. Have had no problems with claims, we are with Animal Friends on a lifetime policy and they have been very good.
I have lifetime cover with John Lewis for £7K. They were excellent when Tatze had to have an op to remove a tooth. I pay £38 a month. She’s five years old.
