Best Pet Insurance firm?

[sequenci]

I've heard that some are MUCH better than others! I'm looking to find out who's best (it's for a 6 month old cat btw!)

 

Thanks

[hightail]

In general, you get what you pay for but pet insurance is a real minefield because there are so many different types of cover. If you go to the insurance section of the reviews on this site you'll find one I wrote entitled "pet insurance, know what you're buying". After that, start the work online getting quotes because you'll know how to compare like with like.

 

It is worth asking your vet which insurers they will deal with direct. For those you will only have to pay the excess to your vet rather than paying the full amount and claiming it back yourself. However, if your vet hands you a leaflet with a 'discount code' on it don't be fooled into thinking it's for your benefit. There's no discount and you won't get the best deal. That code is for the vet to get their kickback.

[Bookworm]

Mine is with "Pets at Home" and I've had no complaints with them. They worked with my vet and paid up no problem when my dog got himself bitten on the shoulder and needed a pocketful of stitches.

[PhiltheBear]

Have a look at this http://www.petinsurancecompare.co.uk

It's a site that was set up by pet owners to let people compare the best pet insurance policies. It shows what the policy benefits are and doesn't quote premiums as they can vary so much depending on the breed/age/type of animal and whereabouts in the country you live.

 

Hope that helps.

[Stuartj]

Mine is with "Pets at Home" and I've had no complaints with them. They worked with my vet and paid up no problem when my dog got himself bitten on the shoulder and needed a pocketful of stitches.

 

I was using pets at home last year, but have found a better pet insurance deal through Healthy pets. Haven t had to claim through them yet tho touch wood!

[Witchywoman]

Personally I wouldn't insure a cat ever again. I have had several cats in my lifetime and none of them cost me much at all. The only one I did insure ended up costing me about £50 a month in premiums when he hit 14 and when I did make a couple of claims for abcesses I had to pay the excess of £75. The best thing is neuter your animal and keep you cat in at night as most accidents and fights are likely to happen at night when they go roaming. Insurance companies are constantly changing their terms and conditions so what you first end up with might not be the same in a year's time. If you go with anyone I would go for one like AXA who underwrite their own policies.

 

I would put some money away every month as an emergency fund.

[John Bonham]

Strangely enough Petplan with whom I insured my 3 dogs at £80 a month weaseled out of a claim by saying the paractitioner was not qualified, He was , then found another spurious reason not to pay out.

I changed to a cheaper insurance comapny working on the logic that if it is a big amount there should be cover and if not I have wasted less money. If I had banked the premiums there would be an illness fund of nearly £5,000 with accumulated interest should I ever need to pay anything. I am of the opinion that all insurance is now run by money grabbing induividuals who will avouid any payout if they can. It didnt use to be like that. I know because I worked in the industry. Long gone are the days of "my word is my bond" I am afraid. Now its just ill informed and ill educated telephonists who cannot be bothered to take calls or respond to emails but will get hold of your money of they can. Petplan still after nearly 4 months have not responded to a series of emails asking them to provide details of why they rejected the claim. What waste of money that was.

[Witchywoman]

Strangely enough Petplan with whom I insured my 3 dogs at £80 a month weaseled out of a claim by saying the paractitioner was not qualified, He was , then found another spurious reason not to pay out.

I changed to a cheaper insurance comapny working on the logic that if it is a big amount there should be cover and if not I have wasted less money. If I had banked the premiums there would be an illness fund of nearly £5,000 with accumulated interest should I ever need to pay anything. I am of the opinion that all insurance is now run by money grabbing induividuals who will avouid any payout if they can. It didnt use to be like that. I know because I worked in the industry. Long gone are the days of "my word is my bond" I am afraid. Now its just ill informed and ill educated telephonists who cannot be bothered to take calls or respond to emails but will get hold of your money of they can. Petplan still after nearly 4 months have not responded to a series of emails asking them to provide details of why they rejected the claim. What waste of money that was.

 

How annoying. I think you should make a report to the Insurance Ombudsman. That might make them take notice. What was the second reason for not paying?

[John Bonham]

It was a hydrotherapy claim and they said that the fact that the dog was going because he was overweight (he is a rescue) was not a medical issue. I supplied them with the General medical council definition of morbid obesity as a clinical medical condition and asked them if they disagreed with the GMC. That is the response I am waiting for. The Initial policy was written to include £750 for hydrotherapy PP have now reduced this amount to £200 by chainging their terms and conditions. I have spent over £100o with the hydrotherapy sessions and with excercise and a carefully planned diet, not the royal canin stuff the vet tried to push, weight has changed and fat has become muscle. He has not lost much weif=ght but the body dhape and stamina have altered considerably. Incidentally the referral to the hydrotherapist was from the vet as part of the treatment we were undergoing. Petplan refused to pay in spite of a letter in support from the vet and the invoices for over £1200. Their loss in a way because of they had paid out the miserable £200 that they would under their revised T and Cs they wou;ld have had a premium income this year of around £1000. What really gets my goat is that different people in the company told us different things and they simpky dont answer emails. A complete shower. In cidentally the emails are all routed to the head office in Germany as my machine grabs receipts for mail and track them.