We've had Bella insured since we got her - she's now four - and despite not claiming this last year, there's been a bit of a jump in premium (premiums and claims listed at the bottom of this post). We're with Crufts, who now have been absorbed into the Kennel Club, from what I can tell, and aren't insuring new claims. In view of the AXA thread, I'm thinking that they may well want to get rid of existing customers too.
Having read some of the threads here, I realise that at the moment this isn't a high premium at all, but considering that...
a) she's still young and the premiums are only going to increase, and
b) they've got us over a barrel as her pancreatitis, although now well managed, will never get insured with anyone else...
we are thinking of stopping the insurance and putting away £300 a year (increasing as she gets older) into a vet fee fund instead. In addition, I'd get the cheapest possible accident only (and 3rd party insurance) cover. We don't claim for the £50 odd quid visits that happen every so often for anal gland expression/ ear stuff etc as it is, as our excess is £50 plus 10%. Touching wood, her pancreatitis is now well managed as we know the triggers and early warning signs.
So my question is... does anyone else do this, and has it come back to bite you in the arse, so to speak?
The premiums and claims have been as follows:
2014 £338.04 pa
2013 £266 pa
2012 £205.45 pa
2011 £152.46 pa
2010 £144.10 pa
Claims:
Acute pancreatitis... Oct 2012 £509
Eating lots of chocolate... Oct 2010 £413
Grass seed removal from ear... Aug 2010 £161