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• I am finding pet insurane a total minefield. There is so much small print. I am looking for a policy which will continue to run if your dog develops a long running illness. Some seem to run out after 12 months of treatment. can anyone give me advice. I am really having trouble.
  Moppy
• If you have a pet with an existing condition you will not find an insurance company willing to cover that existing condition. But if you do - PLEASE let me know.
  There are policies that cover ongoing conditions for life BUT only if the condition develops AFTER you take out the insurance.
  Many policies will only cover new conditions for one year (as mine did) so if you are shopping around, it's definitely worth paying a bit extra for the 'whole of life' cover.
  Most companies will still offer you insurance for new and unrelated conditions regardless - but will not cover the exsting condition.
  My cat's insurance expires in May - she developed a lifelong renal condition only weeks after the policy started. I've made numerous claims (totalling over Ј500 so far) for the special diet, tablets, regular blood tests (Ј50 per test), and the recent crisis which hospitalised her - but it all stops in May! Meanwhile I've built a little fund up for her - which is still an option for anyone else instead of buying pet insurance.
  I can (and will) still insure her, but the renal condition will be excluded.
  Vet bills can be horrendous so unless you put away a reasonable amount each month (Ј50?) you may not be able to afford that unexpected bill.
  By the way - my cat is back to her usual mischievous self now.
• ;D :[flash=200,200][/flash]
  Thanks for the advice. After ploughing through the small print of many major companies I decided to insure with Marks and Spencers. I chose their policy because it was a life policy. I feel they were better, because if my dog developed a life long condition they will pay out Ј2000 each year instead of it ending when the Ј2000 limit is reached. I found they were best value for this type of policy.
  What I will say is take care when looking for insurance. Do not go for the cheapest as they cover very little. Always read the small print. Ask for a copy of the policy before you sign up. Many have them on their websites, but you really have to look for the link.
  Moppy
• Hi
  Can anyone reccomend a good company for prt insurance? I would prefer a policy that gives 'unlimited' cover for vet fees as we possibly wouldn't be able to afford to pay for any ongoing treatment should the 'yearly or per condition limits' run out (if that makes sense?).
  I would also like to pay in monthly installments, should this need considering when recomending a company. Also interested in any special offers if booked online etc.
  I have already tried 'Healthy Pets' but due to an admin error on their behalf (they cancelled my DD several times and blamed me) they said I would have to now pay the yearly premium in full which I cannot afford in 1 lump sum!
  Thanks everyone!
• I would recommend pet plan
  https://www.petplan.co.uk/
  Well established company and recommended by lots of vets!
  Also very helpful and polite on the phone and even answer emails quickly!
• Need to sort out some pet insurance for my dog, recently gave her a home after being resuced, she is about 14 months old.
  Does anyone recommend a particular company??
  Going to try Direct Line and Tescos, but any other suggestions would be appreciated. :confused:
  Thanks
  Sarah
• I use Petplan. They are expensive but were one of only a couple around when I got my dogs. However, unlike most of the other companies they will insure an illness for life. This means that if, for example, your dog suffers from arthritis from an early age they will pay for the treatment for the lifetime of your dog with no yearly limit. A lot of the other companies only insure in the first policy year of illness and up to a maximum figure for that year. Our little dog suffered respiratory problems for his last three years and we were able to have it treated knowing he was insured.
• Marks and Spencers are very competitive and cover for life
  https://www6.marksandspencer.com/page...ome&Product=PI
• I am looking for Pet Insurance for my 8 year old Bearded Collie?
  Thanks
• I would recommend Pet Plan or More than
• People with pets should be able to tick a box on thier employment application forms which authorises the company to deduct PI in addition to tax & NI contributions.
  The goverment would then have a pot of PI to create the PHS, when our beloved creatures became ill we could simply take them to the vets & get them treated. Vets would then then be able to recoup costs from the pot of PI and we will all be happy with the new Pet Health Service!!
• I have just taken out the pet insurance with marks & spencers also. Very good policy and very reasonable priced.
  Thank you so much
• Im also with M&S (puppy is 9 months) and have made one claim so far which they paid direct to the vet with no hassle.
  My last dog was originally insured with Pet Plan untill the premiums went from Ј7 to Ј18 a month. After that hike we cancelled and put Ј10 a month away into a doggy fund. Even at only Ј120 a year we were mostly in credit so when he did get very ill and needed lots of treatment, most of the money was there saved from the years he didnt need any vet visits
  PetPlan quoted me Ј28 a month with Ј60 excess for my new pup So once again it looked like a puppy fund was going to be the way to go untill I found M&S - Ј17 and no excess. And hes insured for life and all illnesses are insured for the duration - not capped. The only negative I have heard about them is they can try and stick some stupid exclusions in the policy when its renewal time but your vet can usually intervine and get them removed. So atm Im happy with them but if need be will go back to having a puppy fund
• I wish I'd started a puppy fund
  Had a policy with E&L for 14 years. Ј17 a month. Never needed to claim a penny until recently.
  Vet bill came to Ј1300 and because my wee dog is over 8 the excess they deducted off the claim was Ј514
• Try National Farmers Union for me they were cheaper than PetPlan and also I only have a Ј25 excess. PS I am not a farmer even though I have cousins called Giles!
• We found Sainsbury's Pet Insurance to be the cheapest by far, AND also has the best levels of cover available (you can get reward points too)
• We were told that, as some of you have mentioned, not all policies payout for claims for an on-going complaint, eg exma, or artritis (please excuse the spelling). That's why we went for the one recommened by our vets : Pet Plan. I'm suprised none of your vets recomended this as they give you three months free if you get your pets vaccinated with them.
  I suppose they can guarantee the health of the pets as they have checked them over.
  Rubix
• mmmm E&L... read the small print from them very carefully.
  They stated that our cats were covered for up to Ј2000 of vets treatment each for the year.......but when one broke its leg and it cost nearly Ј1,500 they said that the Ј2000 was a maximum per year and each claim/condition was a maximum of Ј500 (then less the Ј50 excess) so that actually only paid out Ј450.
  Now with Pet Plan as recommended by the vets (who insures his own cats through them...strange as he is a vet!). Premium went up about Ј1 a month this year though for each cat.
• My partner is a Vet Nurse who also has considered all other insurance options (and how each is used typically at Vets) and Pet Plan came out the best in terms of paying out for claims. Not the cheapest, but it seems provides very good cover.