Pet Insurance

[emily230200]

I am looking to get Harry insured as our breeders free insurance runs out shortly.  I want to have a lifetime plan I think although I have looked at maximum benefit ie £7500 per condition.  Can anyone give me any ideas on what is better lifetime or maximum benefit, and elements of insurance you have that you think are valuble within a policy.

Also I am having trouble posting photos of my baby on the photo board, I must be being stupid but just cant work it out!!  I have opened account with photo bucket and downloaded photos to there but how do I get them on a post here???

Thanks

Em

[mooching]

IMO lifetime benefit is better.

I'm with PetPlan, as that's the only one my vets (and the specialists) round here will deal with direct. I'd always rather that the vet and insurance company dealt direct, rather than me having to pay first and then claim back.

[jann]

I would  definitely go for a lifetime policy. I am with Greenbee and they deal directly with my vet, they've been exceptionally quick with claims too 

[Liz F]

Hi
I have Diesel and Olli insured with Petplan lifetime policy - you get discount based on number of pets insured and my Vet deals direct with Petplan, so no need to pay upfront.

My previous dog Marcus (who passed 3 years ago) was covered to maximum benefit (DBI Dog Breeders Insurance) He developed a heart condition at the age of 2 and had to have ongoing medication and treatment.  Marcus was 13 years old when we lost him, the max benefit I had was £5,000, which bearing in mind medication cost was £65 a month + frequent X rays, other side effects of the heart condition which effected other organs.  £5,000 did not go very far and when it ran out (which did not take long) we had to cover costs and of course no other company would insure him for the condition. Had I been more informed I would have chosen a policy that covered as long as needed.

That is why I would definitely recommend lifetime policy that will cover condition for rest of life (which hopefully will be as long as Marcus)

Liz

[fizzyntiffy]

We're with AXA, £7000 per year and lifetime policy.  It's about £16 pm per dog.

[emily230200]

Thank you for your help and advice.  I have gone for a lifetime plan 7000 per year.   

[Petepreston]

Vets dealing direct with Petplan has been mentioned in this thread and I thought I'd mention what my vet-to-be has said on the matter as they are promoting Petplan as an option, though by no means pushing it. They told me that they have a direct line to Petplan via email, but do not accept payment from the insurer. So, if my little pup needs any treatment, I have to pay up and reclaim it. I was a little confused as to what their "direct" connection actually did, but the receptionist did also offer some odd answers to other questions so it may be just that she doesn't wuite know what's happeneing. In general.

I say vet-to-be because I haven't got my puppy yet but they were the better of the options based on friend's advice and a personal visit. I think it's important to see how they treat a potential new customer and I didn't like the brusque manner of the other place.

[JeffandAnnie]

I have lifetime with Argos, £7,000 per year (i.e. I can claim up to £7,000 p/a in total and if a condition continues to the next year I can can continue to claim for that until the £7,000 is reached for that year IYSWIM), and am very impressed, having made two large claims within a couple of months of starting the insurance. See my earlier thread.   

[GracieBear]

I'm just getting into this whole insurance business and I'm pretty sure that 'lifetime' is the best option. However, I'm confused about the vet-insurance payout bit. Following a link in another thread here (it's entitled 'defacto' or something like that) I found a comparison site where a lot of insurers claim to pay the vet directly, yet from what I've read here it's only Pet Plan. Is it only PetPlan that pay vets directly? And, if anyone knows, how do they deal with the excess that they charge if they pay the vet?

[Liz F]

Vets dealing direct with Petplan has been mentioned in this thread and I thought I'd mention what my vet-to-be has said on the matter as they are promoting Petplan as an option, though by no means pushing it. They told me that they have a direct line to Petplan via email, but do not accept payment from the insurer. So, if my little pup needs any treatment, I have to pay up and reclaim it. I was a little confused as to what their "direct" connection actually did, but the receptionist did also offer some odd answers to other questions so it may be just that she doesn't wuite know what's happeneing. In general.

I say vet-to-be because I haven't got my puppy yet but they were the better of the options based on friend's advice and a personal visit. I think it's important to see how they treat a potential new customer and I didn't like the brusque manner of the other place.

Im with Petplan and my vet deals direct with them, when ive had to claim, my vet  issues the claim to Petplan and Petplan pay the money direct to them -minus my excess if its the first claim for a condition my vet would then contact me to pay the excess,its only the excess payment ive ever paid to vet.
Liz

[PennyB]

Also I am having trouble posting photos of my baby on the photo board, I must be being stupid but just cant work it out!!  I have opened account with photo bucket and downloaded photos to there but how do I get them on a post here???

Thanks

Em

the last code in the box under the pic (sometimes you have to hover your mouse over to get it if you haven't requested the box of codes stays there - it will begin with - just copy it (highlight that section then either use your menu bar or press control+c) then paste into your thread when you open it on COL (again on menu bar use 'Paste' or press control+v)

[JeffandAnnie]

I'm with Argos and they pay my vet direct if I want them to.

[fizzyntiffy]

IME we had an emergency situation costing quite a few £££ and the insurance co & vet were happy to liaise with each other and I only paid my excess to the vet.

For smaller amounts, ie Tiffys ongoing dry eye, I paid for the creams, appt, tests etc over say 6 months then put a claim in and got a cheque back for the amount minus my excess.

[Nicola]

I think most, if not all, insurance companies will pay vets directly but not all vets will let you do this. My vet doesn't in any circumstances accept payment direct from the insurers no matter which company you're with, you have to settle the bill in full at the time of treatment, it doesn't matter if it's £50 or £1500.

Tilly's treatment since January has cost over £4000, the treatment she's had at Edinburgh Uni vet school I didn't have to pay for upfront as they will deal directly with the insurance company so all I do is give them the forms but the £2600 of treatment she's had at my own vet has all had to be paid for at the time and then I've claimed it back.

[fizzyntiffy]

Tilly's treatment since January has cost over £4000, the treatment she's had at Edinburgh Uni vet school I didn't have to pay for upfront as they will deal directly with the insurance company so all I do is give them the forms but the £2600 of treatment she's had at my own vet has all had to be paid for at the time and then I've claimed it back.

  blimey, glad my vets were happy to deal with the insurance co over the £6000!!!