Specialist Pet Insurance Company or Supermarket Insurance

[Darwin]

Just starting to look at Darwin insurance renewal.  We're with AXA, so think it might be time to move. As the insurance market is changing I'm trying to decide on a insurance company we can stay with instead of swapping every year.  I know the supermarket insurance is underwritten by large insurance houses  but what are the advantages/disadvantages of a specialist pet insurance company over  supermarket pet insurance?  Apart from Petplan what other specialist pet insurance companies are there ?

[Emilyoliver]

I think the potential issue with supermarket/ bank/ other insurance is that it's not their core business.  So in the event of a change in the market or it not being profitable, they may choose to withdraw the service.  In which case you may be left with having to shift insurer with all the attendant issues if your pet has been treated for any conditions in the past.  Think this happened with Lloyds?

With specialist insurance firms like Petplan, one would hope they are more likely to stay solvent (although no guarantees). 

Having said that, Allianz underwrites both Sainsbury's and Petplan and I've had no big issues with either - 2 dogs on Petplan, one on Sainsbury's.  (Sainsbury's changed underwiter when AXA withdrew from the pet insurance market - so it doesn't mean all supermarket companies are necessarily quick to withdraw their products when things change).

I think, though that many of the supermarket policies are often offered at very cheap rates upon first subscription, and seem so much cheaper than say Petplan.  However a few years on, they are often on a par with, if not more expensive than specialist companies as the initial low subs are designed to capture new clients.

Probably doesn't help.

[Robbie34]

You should get a lifetime policy so that your pet is fully covered for a long term illness.  I'm with John Lewis, and Henry was diagnosed with Epilepsy almost two years ago.  His medication costs £62.40 per month and has been paid for by John Lewis.  His premium only increased by about £40 this year.  He also had Pancreatitis the year before last, and I reckon John Lewis have paid almost two thousand pounds for his various claims, whereas I have paid about £800 in premiums.

[Patp]

I have also insured Jinley with Sainsbury's and as previously said I was going to swap them when they were underwritten by AXA but they changed to Allianz this year so I decided to stay with them.

I have not had a claim (thankfully), so I cant comment on that side of things, but I would like to think that they also look for the best underwriters for their customers hence the recent change.

[MIN]

I have just had Gemma's ( 3 yr old) renewal notice come. She is with Pets at Home. It has gone up this year by £1 per month to £19.99. For that we get £9000 per year cover, lifetime illness cover, dental cover,  amongst others. Also every year we get a £5 voucher to spend in store
Poppy is with tesco (can not change because of her age), £49 per month for £2000 cover, no life time cover nor frills and bells