The rising cost of pet insurance

Discussion in 'Labrador Chat' started by David, Nov 14, 2013.

  1. drjs@5

    drjs@5 Registered Users

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    Re: The rising cost of pet insurance

    I WAS going to be rude about insurance companies.
    Didn't want to offend ;D
     
  2. charlie

    charlie Registered Users

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    Re: The rising cost of pet insurance

    [quote author=drjs@5 link=topic=3285.msg35545#msg35545 date=1384465635]
    I WAS going to be rude about insurance companies.
    Didn't want to offend ;D
    [/quote]

    I wouldn't ;D
     
  3. lynnelogan

    lynnelogan Registered Users

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    Re: The rising cost of pet insurance

    i agree with you jac :)
    i have no claims on my squeaky clean driving :)... unfortunately my little fella was unlucky through no fault of his own..... :(
     
  4. Karen

    Karen Registered Users

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    Re: The rising cost of pet insurance

    Oh gosh Jac, so sorry to hear about your back and hips, and Helen too with her back. That's horrid, I can really sympathise. :(
     
  5. drjs@5

    drjs@5 Registered Users

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    Re: The rising cost of pet insurance

    I really don't have much problem with my back or my hip now that its shiny and metallic.
    Just if I am off work as a result of either, the insurance wont pay up for locum cover :(
    Insurers ::)
     
  6. Karen

    Karen Registered Users

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    Re: The rising cost of pet insurance

    [quote author=drjs@5 link=topic=3285.msg35669#msg35669 date=1384520958]
    I really don't have much problem with my back or my hip now that its shiny and metallic.
    Just if I am off work as a result of either, the insurance wont pay up for locum cover :(
    Insurers ::)
    [/quote]

    I love my shiny metallic hip too, it's changing my life! :)
     
  7. drjs@5

    drjs@5 Registered Users

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    Re: The rising cost of pet insurance

    [quote author=Karen link=topic=3285.msg35675#msg35675 date=1384521427]
    I love my shiny metallic hip too, it's changing my life! :)
    [/quote]
    ;D
    Best thing ever.
     
  8. charlie

    charlie Registered Users

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    Re: The rising cost of pet insurance

    Do they do shiny metallic bits for backs ;D
     
  9. drjs@5

    drjs@5 Registered Users

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    Re: The rising cost of pet insurance

    They sometimes do Helen, but needs to be worth the risk :-\
    I am protecting my back from future back problems by dog walking!
    I am convinced I am putting weight on coz I'm developing more muscles, nothing to do with eating a whole load of rubbish ;D
     
  10. charlie

    charlie Registered Users

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    Re: The rising cost of pet insurance

    Oh I think dog walking definitely helps and so does my GP and better than the alternatives :eek: No weight or muscles here and I have just eaten the biggest portion of fish and chips ;D
     
  11. drjs@5

    drjs@5 Registered Users

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    Re: The rising cost of pet insurance

    Mmmm....feeling peckish now....supper beckoning... ;D
     
  12. David

    David Registered Users

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    Re: The rising cost of pet insurance

    Dragging this thread back to topic ...... ::)

    I've just gone on comparethemarket.com and they came up with about 40 quotes all very similar. So can anyone see a problem with this logic.

    - Lady will not get insured anywhere else for ED except M&S at £720 per annum which is too expensive.
    - There is plenty of choice for a new policy covering everything else for a fraction of that price.
    - She will be insurable for maybe another 6 - 8 years.
    - So - take out a cheap and cheerful policy for a year then cancel and take out a new policy with someone else the next year and so on.
    - Put money aside into a fund for serious chronic stuff that might crop up in her later years.

    What do you think?
     
  13. charlie

    charlie Registered Users

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    Re: The rising cost of pet insurance

    Yep it's a nightmare for sure especially for you with Ladys' troubles.

    I personally would go for re-insuring every year and get the best deal you can and that time.

    I wonder if you could get a good quote with PetPlan, I phoned them and didn't bother with the website and you could just explain, they are very helpful indeed but you would need
    to re-insure with them every year to get the deals and keep the life time cover up, gotcha trapped every which way :mad:

    Just my thoughts David, I wish you well with it as obviously very important for Lady.
     
  14. JulieT

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    Re: The rising cost of pet insurance

    [quote author=David link=topic=3285.msg36728#msg36728 date=1385036834]
    So can anyone see a problem with this logic.

    - Lady will not get insured anywhere else for ED except M&S at £720 per annum which is too expensive.
    - There is plenty of choice for a new policy covering everything else for a fraction of that price.
    - She will be insurable for maybe another 6 - 8 years.
    - So - take out a cheap and cheerful policy for a year then cancel and take out a new policy with someone else the next year and so on.
    - Put money aside into a fund for serious chronic stuff that might crop up in her later years.

    What do you think?
    [/quote]

    I suppose it depends on what risk you feel that you want to protect yourself against. If another long term illness, then cheap and cheerful probably would only pay out a limited amount. If accidents, then cheap and cheerful might be fine. If just public liability then your house insurance might already cover you (maybe not if you shoot) or specialist public liability insurance might be cheaper.

    I think (I'm not sure I'm doing the right thing) I have insurance now against an unaffordable long term illness - so I take expensive insurance. As time goes by and I find out maybe Charlie isn't going to get ED/HD etc (fingers crossed), I think I might stop insuring and just put the money aside for the later years.
     
  15. charlie

    charlie Registered Users

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    Re: The rising cost of pet insurance

    I'm not sure any of know we are doing the right thing Julie. We stopped insuring Hattie about 2 years ago but she is 6 years now and I was worried that being 'middle aged' things could start to happen, although she is a very fit girl for now :( I know so many people that have stopped insuring and are now putting the money aside. If my premium goes up too much next year we will have a re-think.

    I think most of the cheap and cheerful insurance covers anything from £4K - £7K vet bills but worth checking.

    Insurance companies have us over a barrel, because we just don't know what can or will happen to our lovely dogs. Emotional blackmail I do believe :mad:
     
  16. David

    David Registered Users

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    Re: The rising cost of pet insurance

    Yes agree it's emotional blackmail AND they don't make it clear that the premiums baloon after year 1. The PL cover is important though, but that might be obtainable on it's own. I have cover for when she's working through the BASC anyway.

    I just can't do £720 this year in the knowledge that it will leap up again next year. I think I'm going to go for the annual one-off cover plus a fund that should cover most of the bases. The biggest risk is the ED reappearing in a few years time, which it will do of course in the form of arthritis.
     
  17. kateincornwall

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    Re: The rising cost of pet insurance

    I agree Helen, it is a form of blackmail and as you rightly say , the worries grow as out pets grow older . I have a cheap and cheerful for mine , pays out £4000 a year and only a £60 excess ,which is great but as our Vets charges are so low, we havent had to claim a penny yet ::)
    I worry terribly about broken limbs with Sam as he is a bit of a " act now think later " dog when it comes to leaping around , jumping off rocks etc . so will keep the insurance going for now xx
     
  18. charlie

    charlie Registered Users

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    Re: The rising cost of pet insurance

    Wow we certainly keep nutter Charlie insured as he NEVER thinks before acting and I am sure he will come a cropper in some way, shape or form :(
     

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