Pet plan Life Cover

[paulsutt]

Hi
Just wondering if anyone had the above?

Although expensive we think this looks best cover. On going cover after 12 months for an ongoing condition..up to £12000 a year.

[Emilyoliver]

I think that's their top policy?  Quote for that for my puppy was somewhere around £50pm.  So i went for the middle life cover.  Probably would have taken this one if i didn'[t have two other dogs (one of which has a policy with Sainsbury's at nearly £80pm).  Will say that Pet Plan have been fantastic with claims made for my 12yo dog - it was a new policy and shortly after taking it out she had surgery + associated diagnostics which came to circa £3K.  No questions asked and paid promptly on two occasions. They are more expensive than many other companies, but I will stick with them with two dogs as my more recent service from Sainsbury's has been abysmal (unfortunately stuck with them for my 9yo dog).

[Patp]

Just a quick thought Paul, are you insured for all of the xrays that Baggins has just had?

If so, was it with Pet Plan?  It might be better to stay with who you are until you have completely established there is no further treatment (muscular) required as they might exclude it from any future claims.  Once explored and you can get confirmation that there are no issues then swap then.

Only thought of this because I was going to change from Sainsburys Insurance who were underwritten by AXA (now they are with somebody else) and my vet said to wait until Jinley had been spayed so they could give her a good check over due to the problems she has had with her eyes in the past.  Then to change insurances with a clean bill of health.

[MANDYANDALFIE]

I also have a Pet Plan policy for Alfie.  I've had two claims - one for anaemia when I'd only had him for a few days and the other for a road traffic accident where he suffered a broken leg.  Both claims have been settled promptly and with no fuss.  I think the monthly payments were only slightly more expensive than the alternatives that I looked at but I got 2 or 3 months free as they had an offer on when I took the policy out so they actually worked out slightly cheaper over the year.  I have been assured that the claims history will not affect the renewal premium due around April time so I plan to get a couple of comparable quotes but, if this proves to be the case, I doubt very much I would change.

[Emilyoliver]

Only thought of this because I was going to change from Sainsburys Insurance who were underwritten by AXA (now they are with somebody else)

I believe Sainsbury's are now underwritten by Allianz (who underwrite Petplan), so their service may improve.  The worst trouble i had with sainsbury's claims was just before the underwriter changed so wonder whether the issues were AXA.  I was quite surprised Ollie's premiums didn't escalate as I'd expected they would - renewal came after Allianz took over underwriting function.

[Mudmagnets]

Petplan life cover here too, £33.54 per month.

[JennyBee]

I have the medium cover from PetPlan - £42 a month and £7000 cover per year. Used it a LOT over the last year and a half and have never had one problem. They are really good and I highly recommend them, but they are expensive (and Brodie is only five!).

One thing I would look into with the higher cover is if you need to pay a percentage of the claim once your pet reaches a certain age, like you have to do with the cover I have.

[paulsutt]

Just a quick thought Paul, are you insured for all of the xrays that Baggins has just had?

If so, was it with Pet Plan?  It might be better to stay with who you are until you have completely established there is no further treatment (muscular) required as they might exclude it from any future claims.  Once explored and you can get confirmation that there are no issues then swap then.

Only thought of this because I was going to change from Sainsburys Insurance who were underwritten by AXA (now they are with somebody else) and my vet said to wait until Jinley had been spayed so they could give her a good check over due to the problems she has had with her eyes in the past.  Then to change insurances with a clean bill of health.

Hi..yes well hopefully!...we have been covered since Dec 14th so hopefully his blood tests and X-rays are covered - vet already has a claim form.

I must admit that we used to be with Tescos with Max and William and they were nothing but brilliant. Unfortunately though because of Max's eye surgery we didnt have enough cover (he should have had two lense replacements, which were very very expensive...ie over £5000) at least with this cover you are covered for a lot more.

Paul

[piph]

I have the medium cover from PetPlan - £42 a month and £7000 cover per year. Used it a LOT over the last year and a half and have never had one problem. They are really good and I highly recommend them, but they are expensive (and Brodie is only five!).

One thing I would look into with the higher cover is if you need to pay a percentage of the claim once your pet reaches a certain age, like you have to do with the cover I have.

Same here - only ever made the one claim for Ozzy when he was 4 months old and had to have his left eye removed - they paid up straight away, direct to the Willows where it was done.  We also claimed for our usual vets fees connected to the eye problem, which we had already paid, so that come straight to us.  The total was about £2,500 I think.

We insured Ozzy with Petplan as we were really pleased with them. Our last dog, a GR called Cassie had epilepsy, and, although I have never added up the amount they paid out over the 3 1/2 years she had it until she died, it was a huge amount, including specialist fees for a CT scan, and accompanying appointments.  By the time she died at aged 5 her medications alone were costing over £200 a month and that's not counting the cost of her regular vet trips and blood tests - they always paid out without a quibble. The monthly insurance premiums were under £40 by the time she died, but I'm sure they would have increased quite dramatically as she got older.  The cover was for around £5000 a year for each illness then, I think.  

We pay £32 a month for Ozzy now, although the cover is much higher of course.  If you can afford the higher premiums, I'd always recommend Petplan.

[Welsh cocker]

I have no experience of Pet plan cover but did have a lifetime cover through 'Vets Medicover' for my springer spaniel. I took the policy out when he was 8 yrs old, six months on he was diagnosed with Insulinoma (pancreas cancer). Without fuss they paid over £2500 that year for diagnosis and surgery. Unfortunately six months later it resurfaced (typical for this condition which us classed as incurable). During the last year of his life I was claiming £260 PER MONTH for his medication! Again, they paid the vet directly with no conditions. Our policy cost never increased. Unfortunately had passed away four months ago, but I would have no concerns in using the company again. They are web based and you pay a excess per condition. In oscars case all treatment cost us £130 ....and the £9 fee per claim form completion (but that was by the Vet rather than insurance company).
May be worth a look on the website?

[Cockertime Blues]

I think Petplan is one of the best (at least, according to Dogs Today magazine last year or so, it had the most positive feedback and least complaining persons insured).

That said we took it out a couple of years ago for 2 dogs (aged 2 and 7) for £40-odd per month for the middling but not the top lifetime cover.  After one year without any claims (never figured out how to claim and it's hard to provide total med history with rescues) our premiums went up by 25%, so we stopped it and are taking risk ourselves (which I'm certainly not recommending).  They were VERY pleasant and VERY accessible on phone though, which means a lot to me.

[paulsutt]

Thanks for the replies. Our vet recommends the life time cover..it seemed best bet although it is expensive..we are paying £34 a month at mo and that's for a 4 month old.

I would also recommend Tesco too, from our extensive experience with our much missed William and Max!

Paul

[paulsutt]

I have no experience of Pet plan cover but did have a lifetime cover through 'Vets Medicover' for my springer spaniel. I took the policy out when he was 8 yrs old, six months on he was diagnosed with Insulinoma (pancreas cancer). Without fuss they paid over £2500 that year for diagnosis and surgery. Unfortunately six months later it resurfaced (typical for this condition which us classed as incurable). During the last year of his life I was claiming £260 PER MONTH for his medication! Again, they paid the vet directly with no conditions. Our policy cost never increased. Unfortunately had passed away four months ago, but I would have no concerns in using the company again. They are web based and you pay a excess per condition. In oscars case all treatment cost us £130 ....and the £9 fee per claim form completion (but that was by the Vet rather than insurance company).
May be worth a look on the website?

I'm so sorry to hear about your boy. Max and William both had surgery in their last 18 months having lived healthy lives. Max my cocker was 14 and went virtually blind..he had lense replacement surgery but problem was with his retinas not the cataracts. This surgery cost £2500. William our big retriever had to have a growth removed and this was about £1000. Tescos paid both within a very short time.