Hi, I am sorry if this has been asked before. I am sure it probably has. We got our wonderful pup Meg on Sunday and she is a delight. I want to get her Insurance right as have previous bad experiences in the past and suspect Turbo pup will need some fixing at some point So why is John Lewis Insurance cheaper on go-compare than if you buy it direct from them. Does it just mean they hike it up after the first year? Also is £4000 enough for vets fees per year? I am not pet owner who believes in very invasive treatment for an animal but I do want to be able to cover a reasonable amount of surgical intervention ! Thanks in advance and thanks for this site, I love it, Emma and Meg (will post some pictures soon )
Re: Insurance question I'm not an expert on insurance, £4000 of cover sounds pretty good. You say you're not keen on invasive procedures, but something as basic as diagnostic X-rays can be pretty expensive - I recently had my dogs hips and stifles X-rayed to diagnose hip dysplasia and they cost almost £1000. The only thing I can say is get a whole of life policy and stick with it. Also take it out ASAP, before and 4 weeks free that you may or may not have, because if you claim using the free trial, you're stuck with that company for life because you'll have a pre existing condition that won't be covered on a new policy.
Re: Insurance question [quote author=Edp link=topic=5345.msg67328#msg67328 date=1397116687] is £4000 enough for vets fees per year? I am not pet owner who believes in very invasive treatment for an animal but I do want to be able to cover a reasonable amount of surgical intervention [/quote] Hello! I think with insurance, it depends what kind of risk you are insuring against - and also where you live (which determines the cost of typical vet's bills). I decided that I was most worried about something that was very expensive, and decided to take £12,000 vet bill cover, and £2,000 other therapy cover. My boy ruptured his cruciate - which is the most common leg injury in largish dogs. The bills in London were astonishing. I got through the £2,000 in hydrotherapy and physiotherapy in no time. In terms of the surgery, the diagnostic alone with x-rays, came to approaching £2,000, then consultations with the surgeon were about £400, the operation itself nearly £3,000, follow up x-rays nearly £1,000, about £200 on prescriptions and drugs....and we've still got another 8 weeks of continuing consultations and so on through the recovery period.... It is fair to say I might have made different (ie cheaper) choices if I hadn't the insurance cover. I was very glad I didn't have to though. The premiums were expensive, but turned out a bargain buy. I wouldn't think that if I paid it for years and didn't claim. That's insurance for you though.
Re: Insurance question Personally I'd go for a higher amount, £4000 doesn't go far. As an example, my Pointer had a herniated disc in his neck last year due to a collision with another dog. He ended up being sent to a specialist neurologist at a vet teaching university who carried out several tests, bloods, x-rays and then an MRI to diagnose. Result was he needed urgent surgery, they carried out a ventral slot op the next day, he was kept in intensive care then onto the regular ward coming home 5 days later. All in all treatment came to just under an eye watering £5000. Thank goodness he was insured, all I paid was the £75 excess.
Re: Insurance question I've spent hours looks at insurance....what a mine field! I think I've finally settled on a policy that offers £12,000 vets fees on a lifetime policy and their excess is only £75 (as long as you choose not to reduce your premiums by 10%, and then you would have to pay £75 + 10% of the vets fee!). They were nearly half the price of one of the leading insurers and seem to offer comprehensive insurance. A lot of policies offer a decent amount of vets fees, ie £6,000 pa, but the condition will be excluded from your policy the following year. You really need to read the policy schedules for each quote you get very carefully. What worries me is the discounts that are given on-line, up to 35%, will be added to your policy the next year! Most insurance companies will not insure your puppy until they are 8 weeks old, and then they will not cover a condition for 14 days, so we are still going to have to rely on a couple of weeks free insurance from the breeder and cross your fingers that you don't need a vet for 14 days! I'm not sure if that helps!
Re: Insurance question Thanks all for your helpful input. It really is a minefield out there. I think I am going to opt for the £7500 Petplan option. They seem to be pretty all round acknowledged to be fair. I had some really bad experiences with E and L they will do anything to catch you out and wiggle out of a claim. Thanks again, Emma.
