Pet insurance.

Hi guys, please don't scream at me, but I've yet to get my boy insured. I am struggling to find anything less than £30 a month ! I live at home with my parents, and keep my outgoings each month on bills to as minimal as possible .. I'm an IT Contractor at the moment but know that when I become a permanent member of staff I'll be taking a big drop in money ... which is ok .. as I'll have a safe job (in todays climate !) so I'm looking for insurance for my boy, nothing cheap and nasty but something affordable that will give him the best if he ever needs it ! All suggestions would be welcome from the both of us

I can't be of much help since I'm in a different country. Here is a link to some threads where the subject was discussed previously so there might be some usefull information there.

https://staffy-bull-terrier.niceboard.com/search?search_keywords=pet+insurance

Thanks j, I will check it out : )

I'm with animal friend

http://www.animalfriends.org.uk/

never had to make a claim though Xx

How exactly does it all work ... do you always have to pay up front no matter how high the fee, or does it go through insurance by default i.e you don't pay up front ?

You'll have an excess, ie anything under about £60 (thats mine) you have to pay for upfront, then you can claim.

Vets vary, some will make you pay straight away then you claim, others will claim on your behalf. Depends on the vet and the insurance. Hope that makes sense lol Xx

Yeah it kinda makes sense, I just wonder, if he went in for something that cost me say ... £400+ ad I don't actually have that spare in my pocket, what would the situation be then ?

I guess you'd either have to find the money, or borrow it. Some vets will let you pay in installments mine will if the bills over £1000 but I guess some are different.

If you claim benifits then you can get help there. Otherwise I suggest you put x amount of money away each week so that you have a saftey net Xx

Hmmn, see I'm struggling with understanding the point of insurance if youare expected to pa a hefty bill up front. only ask because when Monty went up the vet for his jabs, I spoke to a couple who have 2 EBT and the bitch needed some bone sugery .. spent about 4k all in all in treatment for her. I mean, who has that kind of money laying around ... I almost had to have surgery myself after I picked my jaw up off the floor lol

If you have a vet that you are comfortable with the best thing would be to ask them. This way there would be no surprises. You could also ask the vet for an insurance recommendation. Most of them will work with you because it's good for their business to do so.

Insurance will get you some of your money back and without it you pay the whole cost. Most companies won't cover prexisting conditions so it's best to get it when they are young and have not devolped health issues. The rates are usually cheaper for younger dogs and the premimums go up with age.

Most vets will also take credit cards. Depending on how fast the reimbursment is from the insurance company you could get the money back before the bill is due.

Maria. wrote:How exactly does it all work ... do you always have to pay up front no matter how high the fee, or does it go through insurance by default i.e you don't pay up front ?

All vets will tell you that you have to pay up front & then claim back from the insurers. However, most vets will do a direct claim from the bigger insurance company if the bill's going to be more than a couple of hundred pounds, but they'll normally charge you a small admin fee. My own vets will do a direct claim if the bill will be more than £300, and charge an admin fee of £20 to do so. However, if I really can't afford to pay the £300 then they'll do a direct claim anyway.......but then Dempsey's had treatment that's cost in excess of £5000 to date, so they've made a fair bit off me!

I use Sainsbury's top scheme which gives me £7500 per illness for life, and they charge £19 per month, even after the claims I've made! They have an excess of £75.

jstaff wrote:If you have a vet that you are comfortable with the best thing would be to ask them. This way there would be no surprises. You could also ask the vet for an insurance recommendation. Most of them will work with you because it's good for their business to do so.

Insurance will get you some of your money back and without it you pay the whole cost. Most companies won't cover prexisting conditions so it's best to get it when they are young and have not devolped health issues. The rates are usually cheaper for younger dogs and the premimums go up with age.

Most vets will also take credit cards. Depending on how fast the reimbursment is from the insurance company you could get the money back before the bill is due.

Thanks J, we've been with his vet for a few years with our parrot, I'll get up there and have a chat with them as soon as I can.

Caryll wrote:

Maria. wrote:How exactly does it all work ... do you always have to pay up front no matter how high the fee, or does it go through insurance by default i.e you don't pay up front ?

All vets will tell you that you have to pay up front & then claim back from the insurers. However, most vets will do a direct claim from the bigger insurance company if the bill's going to be more than a couple of hundred pounds, but they'll normally charge you a small admin fee. My own vets will do a direct claim if the bill will be more than £300, and charge an admin fee of £20 to do so. However, if I really can't afford to pay the £300 then they'll do a direct claim anyway.......but then Dempsey's had treatment that's cost in excess of £5000 to date, so they've made a fair bit off me!

I use Sainsbury's top scheme which gives me £7500 per illness for life, and they charge £19 per month, even after the claims I've made! They have an excess of £75.

That sounds pretty much what I'm after. I really do want him insured. I'm a 'what if' person so don't like taking these kind of risks!

Maria, you really do need insurance. Believe me, bullies are known for eating things they shouldn't & the resulting vets bills can be collossal. Dempsey's stomach operation costed over £2500!

Eeeeeek ! See this is not something I want to face with no insurance ! Gonna check out the suggested link now : )

janey wrote:

I'm with animal friend

http://www.animalfriends.org.uk/

never had to make a claim though Xx

Hey Janey my love, just checked out your pet insurance link and it seems very affordable, but I've read the documentation, and it seems alot of stuff isn't covered under insurance ?

It depends which cover you go with Xx

I've gone for superior .. still can't make head nor tail with the documentation though ! I guess I'm after cover for normal check up bills, and medication if needed, and basically the big bills if anything unfortunate were to happen ... x

Generally for normal check ups and basic meds you'll still have the excess to pay so you rarely claim for those anyways, but for more hefty bills its a must Xx

I think it's best I ring 'em ! Only because I'm a bit of a dafty Thanks x

I would, insurance can be, a little confusing

I can't insure all my pets as it would cost at least a couple of hundred a month. I keep a credit card empty in case of emergency.My dogs were insured when i used dog walkers but i noticed that the policy only covered dogs who were with their owner.I suppose you need to read the small print.