Oh god! Might have to just stay with Argos then because the amount of things I’ve discussed with the vet (being the overprotective crazy mam I am) that there’s probably no part of him not with a pre-existing condition
Just remember if you have a 6 week free insurance which comes with your pup, that you start the new insurance two weeks before the free insurance finishes! You will not be covered for the first two weeks of your new insurance! I have used Pet Plan since 1984. I did briefly go to another company, but was soon back to Pet Plan.
To insure my three dogs here would cost around €650 per month and would exclude, among other things, hips, elbows, cancer and Leishmaniasis. So for me, it’s not worth it. I just make sure I have access to funds if I need them in an emergency. It makes me uncomfortable because I’d rather have insurance but that’s just how it is.
I don't have insurance for Jen (or the family felines). Our French insurance refused to pay any of the bills for her ED as it was excluded due to "hereditary or congenital" causes. Arriving back to the UK most insurers exclude anything elbow related although there are a couple who will ensure and cover as long as we go 2 years without any recourse to the vet and I do know of another that will cover if no treatment for 3 months. The average monthly payment is quoted to be around £40. My bills from the vet in the last 12 months (2 courses of cartrophen and 2 sore eyes) wouldn't have been repaid by the insurance due to the amount of excess exceeding the bill and our hydrotherapy sessions work out to pretty much the same as the cost of the annual insurance. We have savings if necessary and I just don't worry about it
I've decided to go with very basic insurance, that only covers for operations and accidents. The premium is very reasonable - €15 per month. Obviously, I have to pay normal vet bills myself, but I feel reassured that most major operations (including pre- and post-operative care) would be covered.