Is pet insurance a good idea?

Question

For the first time ever I'm able to afford insurance for my two dogs, both aged 8 years and 2 months, and have arranged cover with Tesco. They'll both be insured for just under £25 a month and on paper it's a very good deal, but is it? Really? Have you had any bad experiences that would put you off? I've always shied away from insurance because I didn't think it was worth it (and couldn't afford it in the past anyway) as there are so many exclusions, but a lot is also covered, so is it worth it? I know it's my decision, but different views on pet insurance would be appreciated.

Answer 1

Pet insurance is great to have if your dog comes down with a major illness, or is in an accident. You're right, there are a lot of exclusions and no ordinary care is covered. What a lot of people would rather do, is set aside a sum of money every month to be used in case of emergency. A lot of people find they have quite a nice sum by the end of their pet's life becaue they've never needed to use it, but if you do, it's there.

Answer 2

the Kennel club Crufts insurance is good, it costs from as little as £11.50 per month, there are no surcharges to pay for big breeds and the cover goes on until the dog dies. It doesn't finish at age 8 like a lot of them do.
My dog recently had to have major surgery that cost £3500, if I hadn't insured him I couldn't have afforded it. The company didn't quibble about the price they just paid up straight away. If you have an animal it is well worth considering.
dd

Answer 3

It depends how much money you have.

If your on a lowish income and can't afford to pay a monthly insurance payment then that counts it out.

If you earn so much that you could not only afford to pay for insurance but you could afford any vet treatment imaginable then it's a waste of cash as you may never need any serious treatment for your pet.

Only if your income is in-between those 2 and you can afford monthly insurance payments but not massive vet fees in the event of an accident or sudden illness is it worthwhile considering.

I fall into the last category.I have my pets insured as although I may never need it it gives me peace of mind.

There are lots of exclusions though so it REALLY pays to shop around and get lots of quotes.If they put your premiums up in the future don't be afraid to shop around again and then to switch companies.

Answer 4

my dogs are insured with Tesco and they have been very good let me explain something to show just how good.unfortunately i lost my beloved German Shepard in Nov last year the vets bill was £758.00 Tesco paid me £692.00 back they even sent me a sympathy card and suggested a good bereavement councillor if i was having trouble coming to terms with my dogs death i wouldn't use another insurance company they really was very good and made the sad loss a little easier with paying promptly also vets will do more for your dog if they know that they are insured and this is a fact

Answer 5

With all insurance, there are three possible situations:

1. You cannot afford the premiums.
2. You can afford the premiums, but not the potential costs of not being insured.
3. You can afford the potential costs of not being insured.

Insurance is a good idea only if option 2 is true.

Answer 6

its a very very very gud idea 2 get your pet insured i no more than any1 how important it is it dont cost that much a month dependending on the breed i had a beautiful rottie which i did not get insured and unfortunatley he ended up with diabetes he became very ill and ad 2 stay in hostiptal 4 a week it cost me and my fella 2 thousand and odd we was gutted he came out and 3weeks later had 2 be put 2 sleep he had a recurring pancreas infection which caused the diabetes it cost us another 250 pound and we didnt have a dog at the end ov it weve got out english bull insured now and it costs us a fiver a month

Answer 7

I used to think is it worth it but, I had my last dog 16years and didn't need it til he was about 14 1/2, then it really paid for itself. Because of that I've insured both my cats and my new dog! I may have to pay for years before I need it (hopefully!) but, considering my cousin has just been charged £120 for one vet visit and antibiotics....it soon adds up!

I think you've done the right thing especially as one of your dogs is getting to the age where you may not be able to insure him at all!

Hope you all stay healthy! :)

Answer 8

i really don't believe in insurance why don't you open a bank account as i did for the dogs and have that £25 a month put into that account and leave it there just for the dogs and vet bills and if you don't spend it because you don't need to for the dog i mean its a;always yours and not lost to someone else and then if you don't need it for vet bills look how much money you will save in a dogs life around £300 pounds a year and if the dog lIves to be ten £3,000 you will have saved think about i did and ive saved so much money my dogs are richer than me but its mine really and there if i need it for my dogs and dont have to beg to get it as insurance dont always pay up and they make you pay the first £60 anyway i think they are a load of rubbish myself but thats me

Answer 9

i think pet insurance is very good,we have PETPLAN,when i first got my puppy(she's a dogue de bordeaux) she was very expensive,and within 2 weeks she lost so much weight,and after her food,kept throwing up but would then ravage it back up again,like she was starving..i took her to the vets,he new immediately what it was,she had chewed a dummy and swallowed the end of it,and it had blocked her intestings,he operated that day(or she would have died) and she pulled through..only to go through the same thing again afew months later,swallowing some thing else,we had nothing but trouble with her,she was a night-mare..always at the vets,it would have cost a fortune if we werent insured,even long term illnesses they pay for treatment,so yes...i do think it's a good thing

Answer 10

I have had a few pet insurance policies over the past years. Living in NW London, veterinary fees are considered to be higher than in other parts of the UK, and the insurance companies have always tended to reflect this in their premiums. Also, I have always kept 'pure-bred' Yorkshire terriers and Siamese cats; the insurance companies seemed to reflect that in their premiums as well!

I started off with PetPlan back in the late '80s. They seemed fairly reasonable at the start but, year by year, the premiums crept up and the 'excess' increased. By the time my pets were nearing the ages of 12 and 14, the premiums had literally doubled!!! I think they referred to it as a 'high claims bonus' ... and yet none of my pets had been to the vet for any treatment whatsoever within years! Inevitably, I had to get rid of PetPlan. I found them unreasonable, uncaring, and unwilling to listen to my point of view. Of course, when my Siamese was 16 and diagnosed with liver trouble, I was unable to pay my vet's bills. All the money I had paid to PetPlan over the years, might as well have been poured down the drain. The same happened with my two previous Yorkies - Couldn't pay the doubled premiums and was left with vet's bills.

About 8 yrs ago, while shopping in Sainsburys, a rep from their PetCare insurance approached me. I was offered some extremely reasonable cover for my present Siamese cat. I suggested that this 'tempting' offer would cease to be so inexpensive in years to come. Oh no, he assured me this would never be the case ... which, of course, turned out to be EXACTLY the case! I have had no veterinary treatment for my cat during the course of the policy at all. Sainsburys tried to sell me a policy for my two dogs as well, but I declined. The year my cat reached the age of 10, the premium shot up. The excess was nearly £40 so, if I would have wanted a tube of skin cream or dental paste for him (£17 and £15) - the insurance wouldn't have paid for it. It wouldn't have paid for dental treatment either ... unless one called it 'gingivitis'! My latest (and final!) policy renewal arrived last month; it had rocketed from £13 per month to £30 ... with an excess of £50!!!

For nearly 8yrs I have thrown money down the drain yet again! I argued with Sainsburys; they offered to bring the monthly payments 'down' to £28 (with the £50 excess!) ... Sorry, this was beyond my capabilities. Now, the cat has no insurance, my present Yorkies never had insurance, and I still owe vet's fees. As other answerers have pointed out, I would have been better off paying in to a seperate bank account for these costs.

I shouldn't be saying this, but my vet is one of life's angels and has never cared about these fees in my particular case. However, this is hardly the point and I must pay him. Others are not so fortunate. Pet Insurance? - Your choice at the end of the day. To me - a bad choice. I have lost out and so, I feel, has my vet. Both PetPlan and Sainsburys have gained here.

Steer clear ... at all costs!!!