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Silly question. How does Pet Insurance Work?
marieukxx
23-01-2012
I have pet insurance for my dog. I've never had to claim. She went to the vet for a problem a month ago and that cost £40. My excess is £70 so I know I have to pay the £70 first. I paid the £40.

Today about a month later the problem is either back or never went away. So if I have to keep going back to the vet for this until it's sorted will it be covered after £70 also taking into account my last visit?

I hope I explained that right lol.

It does cover recurring problems. I just wonedred how it works when you go and think it's sorted then have to have another appointment again and so on.
ejm
23-01-2012
The insurance co may argue that this is a 'new' problem rather than the existing one that has possibly come back, to get a further excess from you. It would depend on what your vet feels and puts on the claim form. If he feels that it is the same problem that hasn't been cleared then the original fee should be covered and you won't have to pay another excess. It's a minefield though and very much depends on the insurance co. It's the same with any insurance - you don't find out what you aren't covered for until you claim
marieukxx
23-01-2012
ahh thanks for that.
LoopyDog
23-01-2012
Bear in mind if you claim, your premiums will go up on renewal. We claimed £1600 for our hound's broken leg. Her insurance was £7 per month. It's now £30.
MarellaK
23-01-2012
Originally Posted by LoopyDog:
“Bear in mind if you claim, your premiums will go up on renewal. We claimed £1600 for our hound's broken leg. Her insurance was £7 per month. It's now £30.”

My premiums never went up with Petplan. I claimed quite large amounts when Tabitha was two, four and before she died, at sixteen. My premiums went up a lot when she turned 10 but that's the case for most pet policies.

However, my earlier claims were for limiting conditions - broken legs that were operated on and not expected to lead to long term problems. I suppose it would have been different if I was claiming for conditions that were likely to be recurrent.
Carlos_dfc
23-01-2012
[cynical]
Same as most other insurances.
You pay the ins. company money - then when you make a claim, they try to find a way to avoid paying out.
[/cynical]
LoopyDog
23-01-2012
Originally Posted by MarellaK:
“My premiums never went up with Petplan. I claimed quite large amounts when Tabitha was two, four and before she died, at sixteen. My premiums went up a lot when she turned 10 but that's the case for most pet policies.

However, my earlier claims were for limiting conditions - broken legs that were operated on and not expected to lead to long term problems. I suppose it would have been different if I was claiming for conditions that were likely to be recurrent.”

That's interesting. We're with Tesco. Might have to look into this properly.
cats_five
24-01-2012
The vets often handle the claim for you - make sure they know you have insurance.

And be very careful looking at cheap pet insurance. You often find that a chronic condition isn't covered after the first year.
ericos
28-01-2012
Originally Posted by LoopyDog:
“That's interesting. We're with Tesco. Might have to look into this properly.”

This tends to be normal with insurance from places like Tesco & Sainsbury's (I have used both). The premium is generally low the 1st (& maybe 2nd) year then goes up considerably. They hope that you will presume that its the going rate & you wont bother with the hassle of looking elsewhere, especially if you are paying by direct debit as you dont have to do a thing to just carry on as your are. I change insurers imediately if I think the increase is excessive & have saved a fortune doing so.
Both my brother & sister have done the same as have several friends.
ejm
28-01-2012
Originally Posted by ericos:
“This tends to be normal with insurance from places like Tesco & Sainsbury's (I have used both). The premium is generally low the 1st (& maybe 2nd) year then goes up considerably. They hope that you will presume that its the going rate & you wont bother with the hassle of looking elsewhere, especially if you are paying by direct debit as you dont have to do a thing to just carry on as your are. I change insurers imediately if I think the increase is excessive & have saved a fortune doing so.
Both my brother & sister have done the same as have several friends.”

....remember if you change insurers, you won't be covered for anything your pet has received treatment for. Risky strategy advising people to change pet insurers.

I agree that companies tend to give a good rate for the first couple of years, but don't believe that it is to save customers the hassle of DDs. It tends to increase dramatically, because they know you are extremely unlikely to change insurers if you have had to make a claim. It's a very profitable business, but necessary, I believe in today's world.
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