Pet insurance query.....

[berties mum]

The other thing Gill, is that the vet can't actually tell whether the infections are because the eye is blind - they just know she's getting a lot of them and because the eye is useless, it might as well come out. 

[Gill (sneakiefeline)]

I am sure it will be OK and I agree with your thinking cos I wouldnt have expected the eye to be a problem either.

[berties mum]

Yes Gill, she was blind when I had her and when I insured her - it's due to a kick in the head when she was very small and she came to me when she was eight, last year.

My thinking is that the blindness is pre-existing but if the eye becomes unhealthy, that isn't pre-existing because when I insured her, I knew she was blind but there was nothing wrong with her eye that would cause it to need removing - if that makes sense    When the vet told me she was blind (the previous owners hadn't told me - I worked it out when she started bumping into things), he said there was no reason she wouldn't live a normal life so he obviously didn't think at that stage that the eye would need removing either.

I might well ask the vet next time I'm there.  I could afford the op anyway, I would think, but it would be nice to be covered by the insurance.  He's usually quite helpful 

[Desley (booktigger)]

I think it would depend on how your vet fills the claim form in

[Gill (sneakiefeline)]

Ummmmmmmmm thats a good question and I dont know.

Was she blind when you insured her?

When asked about existing conditions or some such words , I said that Ducha only had three legs and they said he wouldnt be covered for that.....................well he hasnt got the leg , so what LOL.

I think really the question is now irrelevant cos she is insured and in your place I would ask the vet how much this would cost and start saving just incase.  If it happens then put a claim in and I suspect they will pay cos they dont know she is blind.

If you look at the questions on the claim form it leaves it quite open to vets how they answer things and suspect an answer would be given that did not stop a claim.

We need to remember that most vets put in so many claims on our behalf they are pretty expert at this 

However if you have a slush fund put away just incase, it will either pay the bill or give you some spare money for another rainy day. 

[berties mum]

Thanks Gill - no, I will definitely wait for Minnie's renewal before doing anything but just wanted to be prepared with some alternatives if it does go up.

One more question someone might be able to answer - as you may remember, Minnie is blind in one eye.  She's had a couple of minor infections in her blind eye recently and the vet hs suggested that the eye may become badly infected or ulcerated as she gets older and may need removing.  The insurance company are not aware that Minnie is blind as they've never asked, basically!  If the worst came to the worst and she needed the eye removing, does this count as  a pre-existing condition because she's blind and would I not be covered for the op?

[Rosella moggy]

I mentioned this thread to OH last night. Surprisingly he thinks we should renew Axa policy for Tom in August, even if it doubles. Even after almost 21 years, OH can still surprise me on occasion.

[Gill (sneakiefeline)]

Soemthing that you cant tell by getting a new quote is what the renewal of your existing policy will be, and the two could be vastly different. Likely that the renewal will be cheaper than a new quote, so dont think you are comparing like to like.

I dont think AXA will do an M&S cos its not in their interest and if they were to do that all cat insurances underwritten by them would also zoom up.

I would not go looking for new quotes until your AXA renewal comes in, then you can see if anyone else would offer better, and I suspect not.

I am drawn to these insurance threads too 

[Desley (booktigger)]

Excesses change when they hit 9, but premiums go up each year regardless.

[berties mum]

Ta Helen    My three are already with Axa ... I thought premiums went up once cats reached 9 though, which is why I was wondering if they'd still insure Minnie once she got to that age 

[Rosella moggy]

Tricky one R - Molly is £11 a month, and Zi would have been £14.50 (she is 17) but both are healthy, so no exclusions. What are Tom's exclusions?

Basically anything he has been treated for over past 18 years that can recurr I imagine (not specified anything as such) so Arthritis, anything connected with suspected minor stroke last summer, eye infections (recur from time to time), anything connected with his lumps (prob not a problem as suspect just fatty lumps from too much tuna in the past). That's all I can think of at the moment.

Not covering treatment related to stroke not that much of an issue really as (hate to say it but) vet says not much he could do really so cost wouldn't be the problem    Arthritis treatment is Metacam on and off which isn't that pricey.

I'm not keen on Petplan due to cost and high excess for Tom however I do understand the attraction of a company that specialises in pet insurance. I don't think Axa are that unreasonable tbh increasing cover from just under £10 to just over £17 per month.  Just under £10 p/mth for such good cover and £50 excess is very good; after all Tom will be 19 at the end of this year (fingers crossed).  However I have to weigh up:

the certain cost of say £17 p/mth and poss £50 excess p/a for insuring non excluded illnesses (most likely contender CRF or teeth at some point but who knows) versus

poss no cost or very high vet bills

Happily, whether or not Tom gets treatment if/when he needs it is not the issue coz wewould find the money, just whether it's worth the gamble of not having insurance. 

Me and OH will have the usual discussion when renewal time comes in August.  As usual OH will argue the no insurance route but this time I may agree as far as Tom is concerned.  I suspect it will end up a no brainer as I can't see Axa keeping the £50 excess for oldies for much longer 

[Tiggy's Mum]

AXA are excluding things for him tho, PP will cover after x amount of months has passed and theres no reoccurence

To be fair MM that's isn't that just in your case with regards diarrohea?  I think the thing Tom was excluded for with Axa was a stroke so I doubt PP would cover for that exclusion under any circumstances.  Axa have already written to me stating that Riley's foot infection will NOT be excluded so they are playing fair with regards previous health issues.

AXA doubling his current cost, thats surely a get them in policy similar to what M&S did.

Not really, Rosella paid £11 for him and now it will be £18 so firstly it's not doubled and secondly if the rise was for existing policyholders only then that would be underhand and a 'get them in policy'.  All 18 year olds get the same quote whether an existing or new customer.

Axa being an insurance company underwrite themselves so there's no danger of them doing an M&S on us by switching underwriters, this thread started as a result of an article about premiums going up accross the board so I don't think being with PP, Axa or indeed any insurance company is a guarantee that prices will remain static.  Oh and yes, I do work for Axa.... only joking 

[Desley (booktigger)]

Ah right. Prob worth changing then.

[Millys Mum]

AXA are excluding things for him tho, PP will cover after x amount of months has passed and theres no reoccurence

[Tiggy's Mum]

Don't forget that petplan have a cat policy that provides £6000 worth cover.

It doesn't give a quote for the 6k one on the interweb, for older cats though it only offered the 12 month policy - no choice whatsoever, combine that with having to pay a % of the claim and low 3k limit then I'd go with Axa any day for an oldie.

[Millys Mum]

How have your premiums been with them susanne? Thats the policy i'l be going with

[Susanne (urbantigers)]

Like Rosella I seem to be drawn to insurance threads   

Based on what you just said MM I did a dummy quote for 'Tommie2' with Petplan (18 year old male) which came out at £14, it will only allow you to have the 'pet value' policy which is 3k and the condition is only covered for 12 months which is obviously not a good thing!  Not only that but the excess is £40 plus 20% of the total bill.

I'm not on commission for Axa I promise but in comparison for £18 you get 7k per year, covered for life and a flat excess of just £50.

I then did a quote for 'Riley2' with petplan (1 yr old male) and it's £7 for pet value - ie 3k and only covered for 12 months, £11 for 4k per year - life cover and £17 for unlimited per year - life cover.  I'm not sure 4k would be enough for my peace of mind so would have to go for the unlimited one and when you've got more than one cat that's very expensive.

Don't forget that petplan have a cat policy that provides £6000 worth cover.

[Millys Mum]

AXA doubling his current cost, thats surely a get them in policy similar to what M&S did. I can see them doing exactly what M&S have done, bump everything up and screw everyone over. 
I dont want to change insurers only to get another nice double in renewal fees, Petplan are not much more than AXA for my lot on their 6k policy and havent been doubling premiums the last couple of years. Touch wood 

[Tiggy's Mum]

Like Rosella I seem to be drawn to insurance threads   

Based on what you just said MM I did a dummy quote for 'Tommie2' with Petplan (18 year old male) which came out at £14, it will only allow you to have the 'pet value' policy which is 3k and the condition is only covered for 12 months which is obviously not a good thing!  Not only that but the excess is £40 plus 20% of the total bill.

I'm not on commission for Axa I promise but in comparison for £18 you get 7k per year, covered for life and a flat excess of just £50.

I then did a quote for 'Riley2' with petplan (1 yr old male) and it's £7 for pet value - ie 3k and only covered for 12 months, £11 for 4k per year - life cover and £17 for unlimited per year - life cover.  I'm not sure 4k would be enough for my peace of mind so would have to go for the unlimited one and when you've got more than one cat that's very expensive.

[Millys Mum]

Oh dear. Just applied for an Axa quote for "Tommie2" with Tom's details and premium quoted is double the amount I pay now so not sure we'll renew this year bearing in mind the exclusions that already apply 

Thats what i thought they would do, they knew what M&S were planning and have got the poeple who left them, some of those wont be able to leave again as they will have claimed 
Im going to petplan then, wow, iv finally decided    they have been around for ages before all these other companies started offering cover and seem to be consistant

[Desley (booktigger)]

Tricky one R - Molly is £11 a month, and Zi would have been £14.50 (she is 17) but both are healthy, so no exclusions. What are Tom's exclusions?

[Rosella moggy]

Oh dear. Just applied for an Axa quote for "Tommie2" with Tom's details and premium quoted is double the amount I pay now so not sure we'll renew this year bearing in mind the exclusions that already apply 

[candyshandy]

I recently claimed twice on Sainsburys and its amazing each time I called to chase where the claim was up to a letter had been sent the day before

[Desley (booktigger)]

8 is still fine for most of hte bigger companies. I have Molly insured with Sainsbury's, they can be a bit slow to pay out, and did mess up Tiger's cancellation. I looked into insuring Zia (17) and it was only 48p cheaper per month to be with AXA. i wish I lived where Rosella does though, both Molly (15) and Zia were more than that, although I haven't looked into changing Molly. Sainsbury's do have a lesser cover, and their excess isn't as good, so now I have a cat with no health issues, maybe i should look into changing.

[Rosella moggy]

Why am I always drawn to insurance threads?  Yup Helen is right that Tom (18 last Christmas) has been insured with Axa since last August. Cost £9.81 per month and £50 excess.  Haven't had to claim yet so can't say how quick they pay up but no complaints with their admin people. They refunded the remiums I overpaid M&S when I switched coz I forgot to cancel DD. They were the underwriters on the M&S policy at the time altho M&S underwritten by someone else now.

Expecting a hefty increase in premiums on renewal 

BTW Minnie is just a wee babe at only 8

[Tiggy's Mum]

I just did a dummy quote for an 8 year old female with Axa and it's the same as the boys - £7.55 a month or £90 

[Tiggy's Mum]

Axa it is then    I think Rosella insured her 17 year old, Tom, with them with very reasonable premiums.  It's not the cheapest insurance around but it does have one of the highest levels of cover available - 7k per year for life.  I pay £7ish each for 1 yr 2 month old males living in the South East.

[berties mum]

Ta Helen    Had a bad experience with Sainsburys when Bert was insured with them - made a very straightforward claim for treatment for struvite crystals and it took five months to sort out  - so I've kind of been put off insuring with them now ....

[Tiggy's Mum]

I think with older cats I'd be looking for somewhere that doesn't charge the excess (usually £50) plus 20% of the claim.  I know Axa have a set excess of £50 regardless of age.  I'm sure Desley has her older cats insured with Sainsburys so they must be good too.

[berties mum]

MM, which companies for older cats would you recommend?  Minnie is eight now and her insurance will be up for renewal in the summer.

[Millys Mum]

Also keep age in mind, alot of companies would insure older cats.

[Den]

That's ok -  but it's not a stupid question at all 

[Rachel(Rachette)]

Thanks for that Den...i kinda thought it was a stupid question & that you would be able to change it....sorry i'm not usually this stupid honestly

[Den]

It depends. If your pet has an ongoing condition all insurance companies will exclude this condition if you switch - so they wont pay out for treatment. Thats why when your pet gets an ongoing condition you are in reality stuck with the one company as they will keep paying out if you renew your policy on time.

If your pet doesn't have a condition then yes you can switch to a better deal.

[Rachel(Rachette)]

You may of heard on the news today that pet insurance is due to & has already in some areas gone up huge amounts, due to more advanced equipment....i was wondering (possibly a really stupid question!!! ) but is it like anyother type of insurance where when your policy is due for renewal, can you shop around for a better deal?