Pet insurance

Cheers Lynneallan,

I have just paid our Vet £70 for Propalin which lasts 3 months and by law cannot be extended beyond that period without re-examination. Before the vet can give a repeat our dog has to go in for an examination plus the medicine.

I can get the same online but a prescription must be included, and I cannot get the prescription on its own, so examination (£20), prescription (£15) online medicine (£25) totals £60 so not a lot in it.

The med is certainly cheaper online but the hoops you have to jump through to get that adds up in cost.

Luckily we only a need an occasional repeat prescription for our remaining dog supervised by the vet. If we wanted to buy it elsewhere there would be a prescription charge, we usually buy flea/worming treatment ourselves (cat and dog) if we see any on special offer. 

M, I think it varies from Vet to Vet. Our dogs have to be seen every six months, but we usually time it so they are in for something else. The flea treatment we use is via prescription, and this is included on the same prescription, so we only pay £15 for both items.

When we first used prescriptions they were actually free, no charge at all, but then I think Government got involved. We had a dog on three different tablets, two were seriously expensive from vets, third wasn't, but it saved us hundreds of pounds. If we just go in for a routine check for existing condition it's half usual consultation fee. I think we may be getting well looked after, if you get my drift, but down the years, with all our pets (including a horse) I think we possibly built the extension to the surgery!

They are wonderful though, we are lucky to have a therapy pool as part of the practice as well. Our lad has been using it recently.

Cautionary tale.

We know somebody who took on and re-homed a dog not so long ago. It was checked over by the vet before purchase. The new owners took out pet insurance. Within 4 months the dog was exhibiting distress and the owners took it to the vet.

To cut a long story short the insurers were landed with bill in excess of £5,000 and unfortunately the dog had to be put down.

I know quite a few people who don't believe in insuring their house contents. I also know what travesty a pure accident or unforeseen event can cause to people as a result of a serious fire or flood. 

There are plenty of people who have managed to get away with it but....

Personally I don't feel I'm getting away with it by not insuring our pets, basically I feel that pet ownership is a big responsibility and if I can't afford to look after them properly I shouldn't take them on. But that's a personal view and some feel more secure by taking up insurance. Lack of insurance for our home could run into a vast amount, worst case scenario, so that's another matter.

Not meant as a critique Brue. Just that these days there seems to be more and more people living at their maximum credit and some of these people tend to cut back on what used to be called essentials.

If people can afford a few thousand of pounds as vets fees then not taking out insurance will have been an economic decision based on their own circumstances Some people don't realise how much these fees costs and the post was mainly for those who won't have come across current costs.

That's ok, I didn't take it that way, understand what you are saying. 

Just a quick side-step here if I may. 

For the last couple of years we’ve over-wintered in Spain and Portugal, this year for 100 days. I checked my pet insurance and found my dog was only covered abroad for a couple of weeks. Fortunately I had only just renewed a few days earlier so cancelled it and shopped around for one that would cover her for illness and accident for the duration of our holiday. Saga don’t put a limit on but were quite a bit more expensive.

Red Pennant cover a pet for repatriation only so I wanted the full cover that she has at home. 

Nora

I understand where you are coming from Brian  It's personal choice and a bit of luck too. I have to say, we were grateful for our insurance last year when Lizzie had a saliva gland removed.  Total cost over £5000 for all the tests, scans and eventually the op.  She had other issues before this too with pancreatitis.

David

You need to be very careful checking cover when comparing quotes. I do not know what company came out cheapest on Go Compare but Tesco cover is from RSA who are a large and reputable company and should be one of the best if things go wrong and has a DEFAQTO 5 star rating. If an insurance does not have that then assume the worst.

You tend to get what you pay for and the cheapest is probably very basic with a large excess or the claims are dealt with on a very tight basis.

Always make sure that in the event of a long term illness that you do not get cover for this only until the end of that policy year but the policy gives continuous cover for that throughout the life of the pet as if that happens, the small saving on the premium can be wiped out many times over.