Dog insurance.

[kingrollo]

Just acquired a 5 year old chiawau /Jack Russell cross.
Got her from blue cross rescue (how much 😲 !)

She comes with 4 weeks pet plan insurance - last time I looked at dog insurance Petplan was significantly more expensive than other pet insurance......but also once I read about the other insurance found it was hardly worth the paper it was written on ....I can't for life of me remember why ......to save me hours of googling can anyone enlighten me ?

Or recommended decent dog insurance company ?

 

[Drago]

I've always self insured. Since I got Lemmy way back when I've set 25 quid aside each month.

Since that time I've saved £3800ish against £2000 spent when Lemmy fell ill with cancer.

Its a gamble of course, but for me it's paid off. During Bruce's redent annual health check the vet confided in me that more and more of his customers are doing the same.

 

[Aescott]

Conversely, our last dog had to go to the vet hospital for an emergency operation. Total cost was in excess of £10k, all paid by insurance.

Until we needed it, it was a waste of money. But when we did need it......

Guess it depends on your appetite for risk. Because, at the end of the day, if your pet needs treatment, you'll do it.

 

[Drago]

Indeed. I'm in the fortunate position that if my gamble were to fail Incould still afford to settle telephone number vets bills. I wouldn't be pleased, but ill always do what's right by my dogs and it wouldn't put a hole below my financial waterline.

So it comes down to "do you really lucky, punk? Well, do ya?"

 

[Mrs M]

We cancelled insurance for our cats, two months later Sam took ill and put to sleep, £900 bill.
Wee Ollie cat took ill a few weeks ago, similar bill covered by insurance,
Our dog Oscar broke a tooth last month and his Napo insurance covers dental, (which a lot don’t) so avoided another hefty bill.

 

[Drago]

Bear in mind Monsigneur Rollo that a 5 year old dog you've just started to insure is liable to cost a lot more than if you'd have the same dog from a puppy and insured it right from the start. Some time spent gathering quotes may be required.

 

[tom73]

We had 3 dogs and all needed life time meds at some point. In our 2rd dog's case that alone was £120 month. Along with scans , tests , dental work and one very complex ear operation (over £3000) Insurance covered it all. We'd not be without it for sure.
We've used pet plan from the start and never had a problem with them. They are helpful , claiming is easy and they pay out quickly. Which included paying back unused premium when our last dog died.
They may not be cheep but what you pay is what you get, what's covered is clear and up front. They also offer life time cover for conditions which as we've found is so worth it. Many others wont cover it on renewal. Our friend went with a cheeper one and once it stopped paying it cost them £5000 a year. Another thing to remember a lot of other insurance companies, pet insurance is just an added business area. Pet plan only do pets so are experts in the field and understand the market. They also understand owners and how to support them when it matters.

 

[Beebo]

Another thing to remember a lot other insurance companies, pet insurance is just an added business area. Pet plan only do pets so are experts in the field and understand the market. They also understand owners and how to support them when it matters.

It’s clever marketing.
Pet Plan is owned by Allianz. One of the largest insures in the world.
I would imagine pet plan is 0.5% of what they do.

 

[tom73]

It’s clever marketing.
Pet Plan is owned by Allianz. One of the largest insures in the world.
I would imagine pet plan is 0.5% of what they do.

I know it is it's not been an independent company since the mid 90's. But still it's still very much a stand alone business , it has always been just a pet insurance business. My point is it's not like Halifax bank who spotted a chance to make money, went into pet insurance. To make a bit of Money on the side then found it was a total different market. Then dumped owners and pets once they found no money in it.

 

[Bonefish Blues]

It’s clever marketing.
Pet Plan is owned by Allianz. One of the largest insures in the world.
I would imagine pet plan is 0.5% of what they do.

Drive away insurance. On a dog!

 

[fossyant]

Its a huge gamble. Weve not claimed but a colleague had two new pedigree kittens and after a few months, despite being house cats, one badly broke its back leg which needed £000's of treatment and surgeries. Its OK now though. They didnt have insurance.

 

[Bonefish Blues]

Its a huge gamble. Weve not claimed but a colleague had two new pedigree kittens and after a few months, despite being house cats, one badly broke its back leg which needed £000's of treatment and surgeries. Its OK now though. They didnt have insurance.

Agree, we self insure. I now know how much a doggy MRI costs...

 

[T4tomo]

Its a huge gamble. Weve not claimed but a colleague had two new pedigree kittens and after a few months, despite being house cats, one badly broke its back leg which needed £000's of treatment and surgeries. Its OK now though. They didnt have insurance.

y
In the old days one would have just taken the humane decision to put it down at that point.
I'm a farmer's son so have a slightly different outlook to some people on these things,This whole "its my fur baby" thing is weird to me.
Treat them well and give them a good life and a dignified death, but don't be spending £'000s on medical inventions for a pet.

 

[tom73]

y
In the old days one would have just taken the humane decision to put it down at that point.
I'm a farmer's son so have a slightly different outlook to some people on these things,This whole "its my fur baby" thing is weird to me.
Treat them well and give them a good life and a dignified death, but don't be spending £'000s on medical inventions for a pet.

Depends what you class as medical intervention. If is spending ££££ knowing it maybe not the best thing to do is one thing. But given even basic treatments can cost, over night admission and your looking at over £1000.
I don't feel comfortable having to put down any dog of mine because I can't afford one off treatments. Without insurance I'd have been left in that very position with my 3 dogs. Having to say good bye to them all when it was right thing to do is painful enough. But because I can't offer perfectly treatable conditions is another.

 

[ebikeerwidnes]

Just a note for owners of bigger dogs

When I had my Alsatian (GSD in metric) then I had insurance - partly for the 3rd party cover in case she caused a problem somehow

btu on about the 3rd or 4th year of it I re-read the policy document
and found that the previous year they had added a clause that excluded certain breeds from nearly all forms of cover
Including my dog's breed
But there had been no mention of this when it was renewed (I checked as I still had all the paperwork) anywhere except the full policy booklet which was many pages long and in small print

SO before you take it out you need to check it cover you dog in all details