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Cocker Specific Discussion => Health => Insurance => Topic started by: Sue H on September 16, 2005, 07:38:09 PM

Title: Insurance
Post by: Sue H on September 16, 2005, 07:38:09 PM
We have had Bramble insured through PetPlan ever since we got him as a puppy.

He is now just coming up to 3 years old, and I have been paying about 18.50 per month, only having had one small claim for a cyst on his paw when he was little.

I recently trawled the Internet to see what else was available, with no excess and no exclusion after 12 months treatment etc. and the best that I found was M & S who quoted me 10.65 p/m (would have been 10.24 with a 50.00 excess).  Sainsburys were 12.67 and MoreThan were 11.99.

I have therefore changed to M&S and wish I have done it earlier to be honest - so many other things demand your time but you need to get motivated really ...

I don't think there is any penalty for changing midstream so to speak, since we paid by DD anyway and not a whole year upfront, so if anyone has found anything better - let us all know !!  Any feedback on claims procedure etc would also be handy, and then maybe we can compile a useful reference to all Cocker owners, with age, postcode and pre-existing conditions as a reference for shopping around!!
Title: Insurance
Post by: Petra on September 19, 2005, 09:29:11 AM
Dillon's 6 week puppy insurance with PetPlan runs out this week, so I have been searching the net for good insurance - and M&S also came up best, they offered most protection for a very affordable price (Can't offhand remember cost - have it written down somewhere ..), so will be changing to M&S in the next few days... :)
Title: Insurance
Post by: lyn on September 19, 2005, 09:38:25 AM
i just kept the kc going it costs about £25 a month i didn't realise there was such a big difference in price i would also have to pay the first £50 and 10% of overall vet bill.now i think i will go and look at whats about starting with m&s.
thanks for posting you just may have saved me loads of money :)
Title: Insurance
Post by: John_n_Rach on September 19, 2005, 12:17:11 PM
Picked up a leaflet from M n S on sunday, Max's 6 weeks free insurance runs out this week also, looks very reasonable and most importantly, very good cover.  Anyone got experience of M n S insurance???
Title: Insurance
Post by: issey on September 19, 2005, 12:46:21 PM
we took out m&s insurance for Issey after reading loads of others , we opted for no excess too and think its £10.65 per month.

love
karen :)
Title: Insurance
Post by: Sue H on September 19, 2005, 07:24:51 PM
We have got our policy documents now from M & S and they are as good if not better than PetPlan for their cover and payments ...

I wrote to Petplan and they seem to have taken it on the chin - it does seem a shame that a reputable, long established firm like that gets undercut, but basically it is their fault for not getting the best underwriters and keeping ahead in the market - they probably rely too much on clots like me that just renew their insurance each year without looking into it (thinking - oh, they are all pretty much the same, and PP has got a good name ...)

I vote that we keep this thread going for the time being anyway - is there any way that we can judge whether, let's say, M & S suddenly get nasty when the dog gets to 7/9 years old and then the premiums shoot up pro rata  - if we could make up a sort of instant QuotaBoard, we could all put in our findings .... has to be someone out there better than me at this sort of stuff ....  ??

Title: Insurance
Post by: Petra on September 20, 2005, 07:47:08 AM
Last night a chap from PetPlan rang me to advise me that Dillons 6 weeks free insurance is about to run out and that I need to renew.   He started quoting me their top policy, with I think £50 excess for something like £30 per month.   Cut a long story short, when I mentioned that I could get it cheaper at M&S he got a bit panicky, as if he was desperate to sell me a policy there and then!! :huh:   After ratteling through all his policies, the then proceeded to tell me about their budget policy (which is not worth the paper it is written on) and that came to £15 per month with £50 excess but there was hardly any vet fee cover, and almost nothing in the way of loss, death, etc.... When I told him I could still get it cheaper elsewhere he got really stroppy and hung up on me :o   He seemed under sooo much pressure to get me to sign there and then...!

Anyway, M&S are going to give me a great level of cover, no excess for £14.30 per month, and I am happy with that!   They said the policy docs would be with me in 5 days - will see if they arrive!! ;)
Title: Insurance
Post by: suki1964 on September 20, 2005, 07:56:07 AM
Alfies renewal with Marks and Spencers came through last week. After claiming near on £700 in the past year I was getting worried about the premiums going up. Pleased to say no increase in cost but increases in the level of cover :) Alfies cover is £181 a year with no excess.

They have paid promptly, either direct to the vet or to us. The only "problem" I have had is never having enough claim forms
Title: Insurance
Post by: Mary on September 20, 2005, 08:40:33 AM
I've been with M&S since Lottie was a puppy.  Touch wood, I have not made a claim so cannot comment on the efficiency there.  My annual premium last year was cheaper than the previous year with increases in cover too.  This years has just come through the post this morning but didn't have time to open it before coming to work this morning.  Fingers crossed it's as good as previous years ;)
Title: Insurance
Post by: *Jay* on September 20, 2005, 02:52:13 PM
I have had to make three claims for Vegas this year from M&S all for the same condition. The first and third claim got paid within 7 days. We had a problem with the 2nd claim, which was the one that covered the op he had at the specialists and which I had to pay the vets direct :rolleyes: . It took them almost 3 months to pay up for that one but I think that might have been due to the stupid exclusion they put on his policy :angry:

But I still think its great cover for the price and the service bar that little hiccup has been really good.
Title: Insurance
Post by: Lottie on September 20, 2005, 03:21:53 PM
I have 3 dogs and 3 cats insured withdirect line - they have always paid up without problems.

I have heard (through a forum thread on a horsey website) that M&S gets the thumbs up from the vets perspective in terms of paying out.
Title: Insurance
Post by: Joelf on September 20, 2005, 04:32:01 PM
I have both dogs insured with Direct Line & so far they have paid up with no problem(I've only had one small claim for Domino though!!)
I've heard that the NFU are also quite good. ;)
Title: Insurance
Post by: taliska on September 20, 2005, 05:29:30 PM
Both ours are with E&L they have a number of different plans, and covers seems pretty good to me, can't comment on claims process tho as touch wood haven't had to make one.
Title: Insurance
Post by: isla on September 20, 2005, 05:40:24 PM
I went with MoreThan. There plan seemed pretty good and if you booked onlone you got three months free. Thre is a £75 excess though. Fortuantely no claims as yet (touch wood). I simply wanted it for piece of mind.
Title: Insurance
Post by: Cob-Web on September 20, 2005, 06:51:57 PM
After Molo's 6 weeks ran out - we took out a Direct Line policy - at that time the T & C's were similar to M & S but a cheaper premium.

When it came up for renewal after 12 months (and no claims), they sent a new policy with dfferent T & C's, and which excluded things that I would consider standard for policies, such as pre-op blood tests  <_<  Not only that, they increased the price, for the reduced cover  :angry:

So, we swapped to M & S, which was cheaper than the D Line quote - having avoided M & S last year as they had just been taken over by HSBC and I was full of doom and gloom about their future service  :rolleyes:

I am hopeful that if we ever have to claim, the service will be everything that we have been led to expect  :D
Title: Insurance
Post by: miche on September 20, 2005, 07:21:26 PM
Argos were pretty cheap for my collie, but they will not insure Mikey as he suffered with Giardia in the past although Direct Line insured him for just over £10 a month, they also give a discount for more than one pet.  Very interesting to hear about M&S though, will definately give them a try when insurance next due - especially if they reduce cover in the 2nd year.

It's a good idea to keep this thread running
Title: Insurance
Post by: Jan/Billy on September 20, 2005, 08:34:50 PM
Quote
After ratteling through all his policies, the then proceeded to tell me about their budget policy (which is not worth the paper it is written on) and that came to £15 per month with £50 excess but there was hardly any vet fee cover, and almost nothing in the way of loss, death, etc....
[snapback]146836[/snapback]


The petplan cover you mentionhere  is the one I have, i an intrigued as to why you think its not worth the paper its written on?? Am I missing something??  :huh:  :huh:  

Yes  you don't get anything should your pet die but to be honest that didn't bother me in the least.  I mean what would we do with the money?  they money you receive from the death of your pet? I am more interested in the things my pet gets whilst he is alive.


 £4k per year benefit, not per ilness which is essential  ;)  £250 boarding fees, £250 advertising and reward should he go missing. Plus £1m 3rd party ins.

I also receive free annual petsafe membership, which i like  :D .


I haven't shopped around to be honest. My vet recommended the policy when we got Bil as in his opinion it was the best on the market at the time. I haven't since looked elsewhere because at £15 per month i didn't think i would save much as theres not much revenue there in the first place to play around with.

I have claimed once and they were fantastic, if i move elsewhere other companies may not cover me for the illness which I originally claimed for??? Plus we now have behavioral problems....


Am I being ripped off??? If so perhaps it is worth me looking elsewhere???

Title: Insurance
Post by: Jan/Billy on September 20, 2005, 08:49:09 PM
ooohhh I looked at the M&S policy and it does look good  ;) , much cheaper. I then  looked a bit closer at the section which talked about vet cover and if it covered illnesses for life etc  and it said this:-


However, some policies automatically exclude cover for illnesses 12 months after their occurrence. Please check all policies carefully.


Don't get caught out on this!! It may be nothing of significance but you never know!
Title: Insurance
Post by: PennyB on September 20, 2005, 11:59:52 PM
Quote
Last night a chap from PetPlan rang me to advise me that Dillons 6 weeks free insurance is about to run out and that I need to renew.   He started quoting me their top policy, with I think £50 excess for something like £30 per month.   Cut a long story short, when I mentioned that I could get it cheaper at M&S he got a bit panicky, as if he was desperate to sell me a policy there and then!! :huh:   After ratteling through all his policies, the then proceeded to tell me about their budget policy (which is not worth the paper it is written on) and that came to £15 per month with £50 excess but there was hardly any vet fee cover, and almost nothing in the way of loss, death, etc.... When I told him I could still get it cheaper elsewhere he got really stroppy and hung up on me :o   He seemed under sooo much pressure to get me to sign there and then...!

Anyway, M&S are going to give me a great level of cover, no excess for £14.30 per month, and I am happy with that!   They said the policy docs would be with me in 5 days - will see if they arrive!! ;)
[snapback]146836[/snapback]

I have the Petplan budget policy and its been worth it as they paid out nearly 3000 without a quibble within the 1st 8 months of Wilf's life.


If you change to M&S when you're dog is older they are quite strict about exclusions as in say when Ruby was attacked by 2 staffies (unprovoked) and needed to go to the emergency vet M&S would put dog bite as an exclusion if I changed to them now (I knwo soemone this happened to). Yet we all know with the best will in the world we never know when our dogs may be attacked and injured. I wonder what sort of exclusion my cat would have for colliding with a greenhouse and slicing though his tendon (apart from further problems with his leg, which he doesn't have).

Title: Insurance
Post by: Petra on September 21, 2005, 10:59:10 AM
Oops, didn't mean to upset anyone - the way the PetPlan guy described it to me was that once the 4,000 was used up, that was it - there was no more, which worried me as I think 4,000 isn't very much - plus their premium was high even with excess....
I suppose they are all  much for much-ness whichever one you choose, it is all in the smallprint...
Title: Insurance
Post by: Jan/Billy on September 21, 2005, 11:19:28 AM
Quote
Oops, didn't mean to upset anyone - the way the PetPlan guy described it to me was that once the 4,000 was used up, that was it - there was no more, which worried me as I think 4,000 isn't very much - plus their premium was high even with excess....
I suppose they are all  much for much-ness whichever one you choose, it is all in the smallprint...
[snapback]147078[/snapback]


No don't worry you didn't upset me, perhaps my reply wasn't written so well. I thought you had discovered something bad about Petplan and i was a bit panicky!!

 :D
Title: Insurance
Post by: Babylonian on September 21, 2005, 11:32:12 AM
Jed is with M&S but for all things £ I always research via www.moneysavingexpert.com

- if you haven't heard of the site before, take a peep, I don't buy anything without researching via the site first  :)
Title: Insurance
Post by: PennyB on September 21, 2005, 01:14:53 PM
Quote
Oops, didn't mean to upset anyone - the way the PetPlan guy described it to me was that once the 4,000 was used up, that was it - there was no more, which worried me as I think 4,000 isn't very much - plus their premium was high even with excess....
I suppose they are all  much for much-ness whichever one you choose, it is all in the smallprint...
[snapback]147078[/snapback]

That's 4000 per year, and its only if you use up 4000 that year that you'll find you don't get any more that year (until the next year that is)! While I received 3000 from Petplan the other year when I renewed my policy the next year I have another 4000.
Title: Insurance
Post by: tiggerbabe on September 21, 2005, 03:12:15 PM
Just found this for anyone who is interested  ;)

http://www.petpalsdirect.com/landing01.html (http://www.petpalsdirect.com/landing01.html)

I am with E & L Insurance - but I can't remember exactly why I chose them, I think they were recommended to me by someone.
Title: Insurance
Post by: debbie321 on September 21, 2005, 03:43:54 PM
Have a look at this site www.healthy-pets.co.uk I have insured Ben on their Gold Plan and it costs £5.10 per month!  I have only had Ben for 3 1/2 weeks so not had to claim yet but the policy looks really good.

If anyone else has used them - let me know how you got on.

thanks

 Debbie (and Ben)
Title: Insurance
Post by: grahamturner on September 21, 2005, 04:48:46 PM
Quote
i just kept the kc going it costs about £25 a month i didn't realise there was such a big difference in price i would also have to pay the first £50 and 10% of overall vet bill.now i think i will go and look at whats about starting with m&s.
thanks for posting you just may have saved me loads of money :)
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i use more than £9 per month never had any problems but it is £70 excess :unsure:
Title: Insurance
Post by: PennyB on September 21, 2005, 05:01:57 PM
Quote
Have a look at this site www.healthy-pets.co.uk I have insured Ben on their Gold Plan and it costs £5.10 per month!  I have only had Ben for 3 1/2 weeks so not had to claim yet but the policy looks really good.

If anyone else has used them - let me know how you got on.

thanks

 Debbie (and Ben)
[snapback]147148[/snapback]

Had a look at its policy and wonder what this exclusion means:

"Preventative and elective Treatments, routine examinations and Treatment including but not limited to routine spaying or castration, whelping or kittening or to any treatment in connection with pregnancy or parturition. "

Apart from obviously excluding 'routine spaying or castration, whelping or kittening or to any treatment in connection with pregnancy or parturition' wonder what else it means by elective treatments (I assume the 'not limited to' means other conditions)
Title: Insurance
Post by: Cob-Web on September 21, 2005, 05:59:40 PM
Quote
Had a look at its policy and wonder what this exclusion means:

"Preventative and elective Treatments, routine examinations and Treatment including but not limited to routine spaying or castration, whelping or kittening or to any treatment in connection with pregnancy or parturition. "

This sounds like the same exclusion as Direct Line added - it seems to limit the cover to treatment or diagnosis of a specific condition and excludes "incidentals" like routine blood tests prior to an operation for instance  <_<

Having had a dog that needed treatment for cut paws on more than one occasion, these optional incidentals add up - and if they are recommended, its not easy to say no.
Title: Insurance
Post by: Sue H on September 21, 2005, 08:00:54 PM
To Isla and Jan/Billy - do look at the part of your insurance cover which says whether an ailment or treatment will be excluded if it lasts longer than 12 months - this means that if your doggy comes down with something one month before your renewal is due, they won't pay for it during the following year (or, indeed, ever again).

M & S cover gave 7,000 of Vet's bills and promised no exclusions if the condition was chronic ....

I don't care about death benefits/3rd party insurance, but as it happens, these were also as good if not better than PP ...

Think of it as your car insurance (except you can't just trade in your Cocker if things get tough!) and shop around - M & S, Sainsbury, Tesco, MoreThan ... whatever - make sure that there are no exclusions after 12 months of illness, and that there is either no excess or maybe a 50.00 excess if that makes any difference ...

I am going to be saving more than 8.00 per month for even better cover really, so why chuck that away - why just hand it over to PP just because ....??