Insurance for dogs (1 Viewer)

[Odd job]

Earlier this week I paid for next year's medical insurance for our dogs just over £1,200 for the year. Yesterday I received a letter confirming payment of a £1,750 vet bill. So glad we have the insurance.

 

[Val 3 dogs]

I'm glad you had the insurance too but IMO insurance is such a rip-off.
Whatever condition led to that bill will probably be excluded from any further claims and once your animal/s reach eight years of age they may well only be entitled to a percentage of any payout.
One can insure a young animal no problem but try starting an insurance for an older animal and they dont want to know.

 

[gus-lopez]

Earlier this week I paid for next year's medical insurance for our dogs just over £1,200 for the year. Yesterday I received a letter confirming payment of a £1,750 vet bill. So glad we have the insurance.

You wouldn't pay that for private Spanish healthcare for a couple here.

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[Derbyshire wanderer]

I gave up paying the insurance 6 years ago when the premium request was £49 a month on year 4 after starting at £17 a month for a chocolate labrador
When cancelling they offered to reduce to £40 a month but I still said no as any vet bills would have to exceed £545 including the excess to make it worthwhile.
I have just this last week had my first need of the vet and paid £895 for fairly major operation on her.
I am still well over £2000 better off.
Unless you are really unlucky, insurance is a waste of money imv

 

[pappajohn]

Vet bills would be far less expensive if there was no pet insurance available at all.... Or they wouldn't survive. .
I bet, with certainty, the op's insurers just paid the 17 hundred quid bill without question and vets know it.

 

[Odd job]

Dolly has had a bad year, the total bill for this year is close to £10,000
The dog we lost to cancer last year had over £12,000 paid by the insurance. I think it is good value. I hope I have just wasted this year's premium, bit if not I'm glad I have it.

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[Rosemary1]

I'm glad you had the insurance too but IMO insurance is such a rip-off.
Whatever condition led to that bill will probably be excluded from any further claims and once your animal/s reach eight years of age they may well only be entitled to a percentage of any payout.
One can insure a young animal no problem but try starting an insurance for an older animal and they dont want to know.

We insured our two until they were 8 then the premiums and excess shot through the roof and no new company seemed to want us withot paying a arm and leg for it and several exclusions.

Now as it happened Jerry went onto have a slipped disc which was very expensive (we did opt for the operation rather than the cage for months as had a better long term prognosis). Worked out by not paying the premiums for the 2 dogs we had actually just broke even

Jerry did then go on to need some expensive dental work this year - both dogs just need to live for another 3 years (unlikely) and we will be quids in!

 

[Val 3 dogs]

gus-lopez I contacted a Spanish pet insurance firm last year for a quote to insure my Mastin puppy.
"Oh, no problem" I was quoted €300.
The policy duly arrived complete with a 14 day cool off period.
It had two exclusions before we'd begun: getting a bitch spayed, which I was about to have done and operating on a dislocated patella (known in the horse world is a slipped stifle). The latter is a moderately common condition in gangly long-legged youngsters of both horses and dogs whilst they are growing before becoming well muscled. It apparently is particularly common in the Mastin breed.
I cancelled the policy immediately, as I could not afford the insurance and getting the bitch spayed too.
Subsequently the bitch was spayed at a cost of €220 , fortunately she has not suffered a dislocated patella.
IMO insurance companies are very happy to take your money but not nearly so keen to pay out.

 

[Nixdorfer]

We used to have insurance, never claimed and every year it went up and the last year almost doubled. The only way they would reduce the huge increases was by also reducing the cover.

Got to the point it just wasn't worth having. Dog is now 14 and have probably saved enough over the years not had it to still cover the bills despite needing physio for a bit of arthritis.

If we get another dog then would still consider having it, but when they get older and you probably need it most the cost become prohibitive. .

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[Coolcats]

I can recall a time when the vets was a simple affair and did not cost thousands once a dog has a condition that is life threatening and an operation that costs thousands to put right yet may only extend a dogs life by maybe a year or two (if that) I think I would have the dog put to sleep.

 

[Odd job]

We got the insurance after we had a £5,500 vet bill, before that we didn't have any. I know that over 20 years we saved money but the thought of another big bill is what made me get insurance. I did a lot of research before we got the insurance and we have lifetime cover, the excess goes up to 20% when they get to 9 years old.
Years ago there was little the average vet could do for a dog, now they have hospitals as well equipped as human hospitals, and it all costs. For her last operation Dolly had a consultant, an anesthatist and a nurse. None of that is cheap

 

[Coolcats]

We got the insurance after we had a £5,500 vet bill, before that we didn't have any. I know that over 20 years we saved money but the thought of another big bill is what made me get insurance. I did a lot of research before we got the insurance and we have lifetime cover, the excess goes up to 20% when they get to 9 years old.
Years ago there was little the average vet could do for a dog, now they have hospitals as well equipped as human hospitals, and it all costs. For her last operation Dolly had a consultant, an anesthatist and a nurse. None of that is cheap

This is another reason why I do not have a Dog, I would never be cruel to one but with bills as high as that i am pretty sure the Dog would have be put to sleep. Harsh but in some cases probably compassionate to the animal, but unthinkable to some owners who Love their animal.

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[Phill D]

I can recall a time when the vets was a simple affair and did not cost thousands once a dog has a condition that is life threatening and an operation that costs thousands to put right yet may only extend a dogs life by maybe a year or two (if that) I think I would have the dog put to sleep.

Its each of us to our own, and i believe i would do the right thing when the time comes.

2 years of a dogs life is a fair %age perhaps as much as 20% of their life thats quite a lot in the scheme of things.
I would willingly cough up to have my 2nd best friend ( Working Cocker Spaniel of 13yrs ) happy and healthy for another couple of years. As long as he has quality of life.

but I do agree pet insurance is a big cost particularly as they get older. you get loaded with higher excess and can also be required to pay as much as 20% of the remaining bill.

 

[Langtoftlad]

I do wonder if pet insurance has had an unfortunate effect of putting pets through much pain, discomfort & stress.
I'm not sure that it always benefits the animal.

 

[Val 3 dogs]

As has been said, each to their own. Veterinary science has made some amazing strides forward in recent years.
However I do wonder at some of the things I see on the internet and read about, young animals born with deformities requiring amputation or fitting with trolleys, surely euthenising is kinder?

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[Odd job]

I do wonder if pet insurance has had an unfortunate effect of putting pets through much pain, discomfort & stress.
I'm not sure that it always benefits the animal.

Dolly was in severe pain with a slipping knee cap, 3 months of test after the operation and now fully fit and chasing Albert around the house

 

[Langtoftlad]

Dolly bead in severe pain with a slipping knee cap, 3 months of test after the operation and now fully fit and chasing Albert around the house

Absolutely delighted.

 

[Otter Spotter]

We had a westie called Gem, she past away at 11years after costing Petplan over £26500 over those years, that’s £26500 we would not have been able to pay. She had a long term illness that Petplan kept paying for the treatment, So if anyone says Insurance is a rip off. Insurance is designed to protect against things that may never happen and if the6 don’t, you may feel it’s money wasted but it’s not, it gives you peace of mind and gets treatment sorted when you need it.

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[Coastal Cruiser.]

Probably had more from the insurance than we’ve paid over the last 12 years for our 3 Jacks.
We have had a few £2-3k claims plus smaller ones no issues with claims.

 

[PaulyP]

Bruce, a boxer, was ok and had just normal yearly Vets’s fees, however at 12 and a half years of age he collapsed whilst I was offshore, my wife got him to an animal hospital, I arrived home a couple of days later, went to pick him up and he was doped up to the eyeballs, took him to our vets who thought he had a possible brain tumour, to be sure he went for a brain scan, and it was confirmed, the scan cost a thousand pounds 15 years ago, I also had a £1500 bill for hospital.
He could have had further treatment which would have cost a fortune and may have given him a few more months, he was obviously suffering and nothing like the magnificent dog he had been, I had to make the choice to have him put to sleep.
We have never had insurance and in Bruce’s case the would not have covered him as he got old, when I think of the dogs we have had over our fifty years of marriage we have saved a fortune on insurance fees and apart from Bruce have been lucky to have had just normal vets fees, there’s always an excess to pay which the majority vets fees are just under.
We have had puppies which come with the first few months insurance cover, but never continued them, must have saved a lot over the years, over ever lost one dog whilst young, 8 year old, he was riddled with small tumours so became inoperable.
All our other dogs have lived to a good age, currently have a 13 year old Pug and Two French bulldogs at 3 and a half and 18 weeks old.

 

[TheBig1]

We paid £1200 this year to insure our 3 dogs. 2 had cancer operations and the 3rd dog had ongoing medication for her health issues. We are up on the deal

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[Val 3 dogs]

Petplan must have changed a great deal, back in the 90's I had an Arabian yearling colt with a foot injury, he received first class intensive veterinary care at Glasgow Equine Veterinary Hospital and made a complete recovery at this time he was not insured.
As a four year old I "broke". him in and he was ready to start his career as an Endurance horse. ( his sire and several of his siblings were champions in the sport).
I had intended to sell him but Petplan in their wisdom and despite xrays and veterinary reports deemed they knew better than some of Britains top equine vetrinary specialists.and put an exclusion on his previously injured leg.
It is not possible to sell a three legged Endurance horse so I kept him.
He died in his twenties never having had a days lameness in his life.
You may imagine how I feel about Petplan.

 

[TheBig1]

Petplan must have changed a great deal, back in the 90's I had an Arabian yearling colt with a foot injury, he received first class intensive veterinary care at Glasgow Equine Veterinary Hospital and made a complete recovery at this time he was not insured.
As a four year old I "broke". him in and he was ready to start his career as an Endurance horse. ( his sire and several of his siblings were champions in the sport).
I had intended to sell him but Petplan in their wisdom and despite xrays and veterinary reports deemed they knew better than some of Britains top equine vetrinary specialists.and put an exclusion on his previously injured leg.
It is not possible to sell a three legged Endurance horse so I kept him.
He died in his twenties never having had a days lameness in his life.
You may imagine how I feel about Petplan.

We have been with Petplan for many years and never had an issue with a claim. We spent years working in rescue and heard a multitude of stories about bad insurance companies, but only ever one or two about petplan. In fact we had a deal with petplan to issue 2 weeks free insurance for new homes. Never ever had a complaint from homes about the insurance which most took up. Other rescues had a deal with blue cross

 

[Val 3 dogs]

TheBig1 , pleased to hear it.
I no longer have horses to insure thank goodness. Which ever company, there was always the clause "sum insured or current market value", try proving that guaranteed bomb-proof grey welsh mountain pony that had safely taught dozens of kids to ride but now lay dead or dying was worth more than that the poor worm-ridden, unbroken, emaciated animal being sold for slaughter in the local market.
Bah! I was sickened by insurance companies many years ago.

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[BusyBuilder]

our pointer has been insured with Tesco for 7 years and never once had to claim , last year he had a stroke. They paid up, the vets bill but argued over the physio and it took us 4 months to get paid. They paid part of the bill because we had reached end of year so they said that was that new year now. The premium went up over double so we cancelled it.
We now put £100 a month into bank account to pay for vet bills. We call it George's pocket money fund.

 

[Landy Andy]

Over £60 per month for a five year old dog who has never had a medical procedure is a rip off and something I’m not willing to pay into.

 

[Langtoftlad]

We now put £100 a month into bank account to pay for vet bills. We call it George's pocket money fund.

Great idea - I do the same for Kerry [though not as much], from the beginning when the dog is young & healthy... at the very least, the balance will soften any vets bill, and at best you get all your money back in a decade plus.

Over £60 per month for a five year old dog who has never had a medical procedure is a rip off and something I’m not willing to pay into.

Obviously those that claim are very happy to have insurance - but there has to be many times those who need to pay in without claiming to cover those costs... and the insurance company's profit.

It's not uncommon for - how shall I put this - for a vet's "attitude and advice" to change when they know the client doesn't have insurance.

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[Phill D]

I guess it's one of those things...
Like

Do you carry a spare wheel..

 

[Phill D]

But a lot more expensive

 

[Langtoftlad]

1. I have car insurance because it's a legal necessity [and I couldn't afford any third party payout]
2. I have breakdown cover because I'm not mechanically minded [and it's very affordable]
3. I have a spare wheel because it came with the vehicle [but if it's needed, refer to the above]

I don't have pet insurance - but do have legal liability insurance [Dogs Trust].

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