Insurance dilemna - opinions please

[Millys Mum]

Petplan - £9.84 (only 4k per year though)

If you call them you can get the cat plan for a little more, this gives 6k 

[Gill (sneakiefeline)]

The reason is I think , is that AXA can see you registered with M&S on their system cos they currently, I think still underwrite M&S, so they just passed the letter on.

When I asked them some questions on the phone before I moved they came up with the policys I had with M&S, and of course before that I was with Sainsburys who were also underwritten by them.

[Tiggy's Mum]

I think you have your answer then, M&S cant advise you on what AXA will do and looks like AXA will assess based on the actual claim. I do not think they will think twice about it to be honest 

That's the whole point - it was Axa that I wrote to and was supposedly communicating with but it came back on headed M&S paper!  Have just done a few quotes with all the insurers who do per year cover:

M&S - £9.49

Axa - £7.77

Halifax - £11.80

Petplan - £9.84 (only 4k per year though)

Pinnacle - £11.00

Think I might bite the bullet and switch him to Axa 

[Gill (sneakiefeline)]

but now my concern is that the letter saying what would and wouldn't be covered is from M&S!  The claims advisor I spoke to said that Axa couldn't send a letter as that's not how they underwrite anymore ie assessing previous claims and excluding certain things, she said they now assess each claim on an individual basis. 

I think you have your answer then, M&S cant advise you on what AXA will do and looks like AXA will assess based on the actual claim. I do not think they will think twice about it to be honest 

I am waiting for some unsuspecting company to affer me another credit card so I can keep it hidden away to pay the vets if a big bill happened cos like you I cant afford the bills either. I hadnt thought of this till someone posted this idea on Purrs and then as soon as the insurance coughs up can pay it off.

[Tiggy's Mum]

He saw lots of different vets including a heart specialist as I think the heart issues was the only suggestion put forwards.  My normal vet never saw him as he was always seen at the Hospital.  When he was given the all clear they didn't really say anything other than that his heart was normal.  I guess if there had been a suggestion that anything else was causing it they would have done more tests? 

You and Gill both make good points and have almost convinced me to switch but now my concern is that the letter saying what would and wouldn't be covered is from M&S!  The claims advisor I spoke to said that Axa couldn't send a letter as that's not how they underwrite anymore ie assessing previous claims and excluding certain things, she said they now assess each claim on an individual basis. 

I'm so indecisive and this is a really important decision as I can't afford big vets bills 

[Susanne (urbantigers)]

But the 'respiratory distress' was just the panting.  And that was investigated and there was found to be no health problem causing it.  Presumably the vet would have noted the symptom that he presented with (the panting) and investigated it accordingly.  If it was only his heart that was investigated, then I would assume from that that the vet didn't think anything else needed investigating.  If the vet didn't say that the 'respiratory distress' could be caused by something other than a heart problem, and didn't recommend any further investigation, I can't see how Axa could possibly claim it was related to any possible future respiratory problems.  And I wouldn't have thought your vet would say anything other than that.   Especially if a fair amount of time has lapsed (eg, say he is diagnosed with asthma in 5 years time.  Axa might say that the 'respiratory distress' originally investigated was actually asthma.  But given that he hadn't exprienced any respiratory distress or asthma symptoms in the meantime, and that asthma wasn't suggested when he was investigated first time around,and if your vet would be happy to say that s/he doesn't think there is a link, then I can't see there being a problem).  I would just go ahead and change.  But it might be wise first to have a chat with your vet about it all - what did s/he say when the heart tests were all negative?  Was she happy to accept that the panting was just a result of strenuous exercise and not indicative of anything sinister?

[Gill (sneakiefeline)]

Obviously its up to you but I suspect the vet will say nothing will be related to it in the future cos there is nothing wrong with Riley 

[Tiggy's Mum]

I haven't spoken to the vet, don't see the point really as how can they tell me whether a future (non existant at the moment) condition is or isn't linked to the panting?!

[Gill (sneakiefeline)]

What did your vet say when you asked?

[Tiggy's Mum]

All the tests showed his heart to be completely normal but from the insurance companies point of view I have claimed for 'respiratory distress' so whilst there isn't an exsisting condition as such if I ever tried to claim for respiratory problems the vet would have to state that the two were not connected.  I'm just worried that he'll suffer with some kind of respiratory condition that the vets can't categorically say is not linked to the panting. 

[Gill (sneakiefeline)]

Helen I thought your vet said there was nothing wrong with Riley and that being the case, I dont see any existing condition. To be honest I wouldnt have sent AXA any information at all and just moved him.

[Millys Mum]

Iv got the same thing, i want to move to petplan as i can get a good deal but the contract states they wont cover if they had symptoms before cover (aswell as a pre existing condition)  well mine all had a bug which gave them diarrhoea and vomiting, milly had gingivitis and spike had a rodent ulcer.
Iv decided to move them all and take the risk because i can see m&s only getting worse and more expensive. Petplan have been around years and dont behave like other companies have done.

When it comes to a real emergency which is when i will really need the insurance i dont want to be on the phone waiting to talk to a VN! If they hadnt changed underwriters i would have taken the price hike and shut up 

[Tiggy's Mum]

I haven't asked the vet but how would they know if it was linked or not until he actually gets something else wrong with him, they didn't really investigate anything other than his heart.  I do want to switch him to Axa but if I stayed with M&S he would be covered under any eventuality as he's been with them since he was a baby but with Axa there would always be that 'what if' at the back of my mind 

To make matters worse I sent the original letter to Axa as there was no email address, the head of claims emailed me back and asked for all his notes etc.  I then asked for the promise in writing that as long as the vet believed any future claim was in no way linked to the panting he'd be covered.  I then got a letter on M&S paper stating the above    It clearly said in the original letter sent to Axa themselves that I was currently with M&S and wanted to switch to Axa!  I think I'm leaning towards staying with M&S and was hoping others would say that's what they'd do too but now I'm not so sure!

[Rosella moggy]

I agree with Susanne for what it's worth.

[Susanne (urbantigers)]

Have you asked your vet whether s/he would be happy to say that any future respiratory problems have nothing to do with the panting that was investigated earlier?  I can't see there being a problem there tbh.  His panting was just normal kitten panting and you shouldn't be penalised for wanting to be sure.  As long as the vet is in agreement that there was no medical cause, then you should be ok in the future.

[Den]

I'm having EXACTLY the same problem. Only for Molly not Memphis. I noticed she runs oddly. The vet thought it could be hip dysplasia (very bad if it was). Got all the xrays sent off to an expert - the insurance form said lameness. Nothing was found. Her skelatal structure is excellant and they couldn't find a cause at all. I desperately want to switch her to AXA but I can't have them classing HD, lameness or any hip/leg related problem as pre-existing. As far as the vet is concerned there's nothing physically causing it/wrong with her.

I'm thinking of switching and pointing out that the xrays were taken for HD of which there was no sign (even by an expert). If she were to get a form of it later in life say that there was 0 sign of it when she was 1 year old.
The catch 22 is I want to see a horse chiropracter and a physio to see if it's muscular .. at the time of claiming we all strongly suspected it was her hips and the joints (which is nothing to do with muscles).

[Tiggy's Mum]

I'm currently with M&S insurance but due to the change in underwriters and ridiculous clauses being added I want to switch.  Lucas is no problem so will switch him to Axa but have claimed for Riley.

I emailed Axa asking whether his claim would be counted as pre-existing given the fact the tests showed his heart to be completely normal.  I faxed them a copy of his vet records and the conclusion was that if any future claim for 'respiratory distress' was made the vet would have to substansiate that the two conditions were not related.  An example she gave was that it could have been a seasonal allergy causing the panting.  He also had an infection in his foot (which I didn't claim for despite having NIL excess) but she has said that would not be treated as pre-existing as it was a local infection that responded to anti-biotics.

I'm in two minds now whether to switch, the chances are he will be fine but what if he has something respiratory then there is a possibility he might not be covered, I'm not switching to Axa to get a cheaper premium as I'll pay whatever it costs to get the best cover but really can't afford big vets bills should he develop a respiratory condition in the future.

What would you do? Is the 'new' M&S really that bad?