Do premiums go up after a claim?

[pinkcarys]

Hi there,

Hello to you all! Long time no see I'm afraid due to some very human activities keeping us occupied.

Poor Griffin has had a rubbish week. He started limping on Wednesday morning so saw the vet that afternoon. She pulled out an evil grass seed 

He's been on antibiotics since but it came up as a big abcess and last night I was sure he'd need to go back to the vet. But when I bathed it (as advised by the vet) the blister ruptured and loads of yucky puss came out. Despite being rank, he seemed so much better so I called the vet again and explained and she said she was happy not to see him. Then, an hour later I phoned back up because the blister filled up again and he was limping. 

So, I just got back from taking him. She's keeping him there for a few hours and is going to cut the abscess open and clean it out and make sure there's no lurking grass seed left in it.

So, on to the question, she thinks it'll be about £200 on top of the £56 we've already paid. Our excess is £50 so we'd be able to claim £200 back. Do you know if it works like other insurance as in, will next years premiums go up by a staggering amount because we've claimed?

He's having the op anyway, that's not in question as I'd do anything to make him better. But we do need to think about the most economical way of doing it.

Thanks for the advice
Carys
xxxx

[Rhona W]

I've claimed once for Reuben and his policy didn't go up any more than Casper's. 

Hope Griffin feels better soon. 

[Eve]

In my experience more than likely I'm afraid. Check you policy they may allow a couple of claims before they increase the premiums.

[Nicola]

I've claimed a lot - like thousands - on my dogs' insurance over the last few years and it doesn't affect the premiums, it's not like car insurance etc. There are often 'standard' price hikes once you've been with a company for a year or two but unrelated to the number or value of claims. A couple of years ago in one year I claimed nothing for Tilly but well over £2000 for Rodaidh for his knee surgery but their premiums went up by the same amount the following year (and it wasn't much).

[Smudgesmum]

we've found that our premiums DO go up. It has happened twice with Oliver whereas Smudge's , who we hadn't claimed for have stayed the same .A big hike as well.

[Nicola]

we've found that our premiums DO go up. It has happened twice with Oliver whereas Smudge's , who we hadn't claimed for have stayed the same .A big hike as well.

Which company is that?? I've never heard of pet insurance going up based on claims but maybe I've been lucky with the companies I've used... If my premiums had gone up based on how much I've claimed I'd be bankrupt by now

[fizzyntiffy]

Good question.  When I put in a claim for Tiffs dry eye meds I asked my insurers the same thing as I was um-ing & ah-ing about claiming exactly because of that.  They said not neccessarily.  It was dependent on how many dogs of the same breed, same age, claimed for the same thing in the same year - and all that was taken into consideration on renewal, if that makes sense.

I'll let you know at the end of August 

[Smudgesmum]

we've found that our premiums DO go up. It has happened twice with Oliver whereas Smudge's , who we hadn't claimed for have stayed the same .A big hike as well.

h
Which company is that?? I've never heard of pet insurance going up based on claims but maybe I've been lucky with the companies I've used... If my premiums had gone up based on how much I've claimed I'd be bankrupt by now

excuse no capitals but I've had surgery on my shoulder,am in a sling for 6 weeks and life is a little difficult!

This was with morethan, ollie was castrated for medical reasons,he had an enlarged prostate and the vet recommended castration,morethan paid out no problems but when the new policy came through we queried the big hike in premiums and they said it was because of our claim ...!

[Jan/Billy]

Billys insurance with petplan never went up when i claimed 

[elaine.e]

William has been insured with NFU since he was a puppy and his premium barely went up at all last year despite claims totalling over £1,200 for his MRI Scan and other investigations relating to his back problem.

I think it depends on who you're insured with and the terms of your policy.

[JeffandAnnie]

Billys insurance with petplan never went up when i claimed 

But then Petplan charge so much they don't need to put their premiums up 

[PennyB]

In my experience more than likely I'm afraid. Check you policy they may allow a couple of claims before they increase the premiums.

Petplan and a lot of other insurance policies never do and I've claimed loads for some pets and nothing for others - pet insurance is different than household, car etc. they don't have a 'no claims' bonus or claims penalty

A lot of them just put up their premium for everyone and not just for those who use them

I'm with Nicola on that one as I'd be bankrupt too if they did this

[PennyB]

Good question.  When I put in a claim for Tiffs dry eye meds I asked my insurers the same thing as I was um-ing & ah-ing about claiming exactly because of that.  They said not neccessarily.  It was dependent on how many dogs of the same breed, same age, claimed for the same thing in the same year - and all that was taken into consideration on renewal, if that makes sense.

That's everyone who has a policy with them not just your dogs - its what all insurance companies do as its based on risk estimates (M&S decided a while back to up the premiums of male dogs whatever the breed and when people enquired it was because they were getting a lot of claims re dog fights)

Premiums will always go up anyway just as the cost of living goes up (but premiums probably won't go down even if that does though ) + vets will use increasingly more complex techniques which cost more money so they will take that into account

[JaspersMum]

I've claimed twice with Sainsburys for Jasper and no price increase

[Jan/Billy]

Billys insurance with petplan never went up when i claimed 

But then Petplan charge so much they don't need to put their premiums up 

I don't pay that much, about £22 a month I think 

Hope I'm not tempting fate here  , but I've found them superb. They've issued cheques to me on the same day they've received my claim form  Can't ask for any better service than that