Author Topic: First pet insurance help needed...  (Read 3917 times)

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Offline Mumof3

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First pet insurance help needed...
« on: September 30, 2016, 06:28:31 PM »
This is our first dog....
We are wanting insurance but it's confusing
What should I be looking for and how much?

Offline its.sme

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Re: First pet insurance help needed...
« Reply #1 on: September 30, 2016, 07:59:58 PM »
The best advise I can give is Lifetime cover, this means that any conditions are paid for, for your pups whole life and not just to a set amount.

Obviously go for what you can afford but bare in mind, vets bills do not take long to add up especially if needing specialist care.

It didn't take long for Bea to rack up a £5,000 vet bill ( she's totally worth it   :luv: :luv:)

Sharon.


Offline BobnDot

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Re: First pet insurance help needed...
« Reply #2 on: September 30, 2016, 08:56:09 PM »
First dog, that's brilliant  :lol:

As Sharon says, go for Lifetime cover with a limit of at least £5k per year although £7k or £10k should be considered given the high cost of some specialist treatments and the variation in cost of veterinary care across the country.

Keep in mind that any insurance product pushed by your vet will almost certainly be the best one….For your vet  ;) but may not be the best for you.

Have a good look through these Insurance pages to get some idea of the pitfalls that can lie in wait even with the biggest and most heavily advertised companies.

With some companies you'll get a small discount for paying the premium in one lump while others will allow monthly payments at no extra cost. Some companies give a discount for a second (or third, fourth, fifth) dogs as well.

To give you some idea, we've two cockers on £7k lifetime policies at a cost of around £200pa each but we live in North East Scotland where vet costs are somewhat lower than other areas of the country  :clapping:

Best of luck with your new dog and your hunt for a reasonable insurance provider.

Bob.

Offline Mumof3

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Re: First pet insurance help needed...
« Reply #3 on: October 11, 2016, 10:08:50 AM »
file:///C:/Users/stay_/AppData/Local/Microsoft/Windows/INetCache/IE/MPXUHMZ1/terms-and-conditions.pdf

Would you say the £4250 cover would be sufficient

Offline tenaille

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Re: First pet insurance help needed...
« Reply #4 on: October 11, 2016, 10:28:38 AM »
my friends spaniel needed an MRI scan a few weeks ago for a spinal problem, cost of MRI was £2500 , then add on to that another £2500+ for surgery. Doesn't take long to add up.  Personally I would go for a £7000 or more cover lifetime policy.
Some policies also give full European cover as well, useful for those of us who travel often with our dogs. Marthas policy is about £300 per year.

Offline Mumof3

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Re: First pet insurance help needed...
« Reply #5 on: October 11, 2016, 11:31:25 AM »
Looked a little more online and found the following:

Does anyone have any preferences out of these companies?

Sainsburys - £7500 cover - £23.01 per month
Healthy pets.co.uk - £7500 cover - £24.90 per month
Direct line - £8000 cover - £27.83 per month

From what I read this is a limit per condition

Offline Theo961

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Re: First pet insurance help needed...
« Reply #6 on: October 11, 2016, 11:43:49 AM »
I have not used any of the above so  can't really advise but may be worth a bit more research or trying one of the compare sites. I pay £18 per month for Reese and have £50 access, lifetime and 12k cover from an insurance I have used before with my other dogs and trust.

Offline Mumof3

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Re: First pet insurance help needed...
« Reply #7 on: October 11, 2016, 11:49:55 AM »
Who do you use Theo? I've used many compare websites but nothing cheaper than the prices above for the level of cover

Offline Theo961

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Re: First pet insurance help needed...
« Reply #8 on: October 11, 2016, 12:04:13 PM »
I use more than Reese is only 8 months so would be surprised if it's gone up that much, only thing I can think of is I maybe live in an area where vets prices may not be as much as some areas so could be cheaper.

Offline wendall

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Re: First pet insurance help needed...
« Reply #9 on: October 11, 2016, 01:10:44 PM »
Bought by many, is a more than product. I have both mine on theirs with lifetime cover up to £7000 and costs about £23 each a month...
Rosie,rest in peace my beautiful little girl, you will be in my heart forever. 2/2/12-24/10/12

Offline Patp

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Re: First pet insurance help needed...
« Reply #10 on: October 11, 2016, 01:24:22 PM »
It is very confusing!

All I can say is that I have been with Sainsbury's since I brought Jinley home 5 years ago and it has crept up and up - this year it is £35 per month.  Had a couple of claims, but the problem is now I have claimed I am probably stuck with them as you have to declare any ongoing conditions to new insurers.  Once the decision of her anal gland removal has been made I can then shop around as she will have no anal glands to exclude!!



Offline tenaille

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Re: First pet insurance help needed...
« Reply #11 on: October 11, 2016, 01:32:49 PM »
We used Argos for previous cocker and now Martha.  They have never quibbled a bill and have paid up quickly, telephone service has been very efficient and helpful. I have no connection with them except as a customer but would recommend without hesitation.

Offline Mumof3

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Re: First pet insurance help needed...
« Reply #12 on: October 11, 2016, 01:49:52 PM »
Went with more than premier through brought by many, works out at £21.29 a month with the £12,000 limit per condition which renews each year :)

Offline Theo961

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Re: First pet insurance help needed...
« Reply #13 on: October 11, 2016, 02:08:00 PM »
That sounds good. I have never had a problem,  they have always paid quickly and had very good service from the advice line when needed.  :D

Offline PennyB

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Re: First pet insurance help needed...
« Reply #14 on: October 11, 2016, 02:50:09 PM »
I currently have a for life/lifetime policy for my oldie girl - its a premium one and we have 12,000 plus it includes 2000 worth of dental treatment and even better there's only 1 excess for the year rather than per condition (morethan) - its served her well over the past 3 years and it costs less than I would've paid for a budget policy of £4000 claim have to pay an excess per condition plus 20% (due to her age) so I did well there
Friends of Hailey Park
Four Paws Animal Rescue (South Wales)

Cockers are just hooligans in cute clothing!