Argos pet premium gone down

[Desley (booktigger)]

The irony there is I dont think i have ever knowingly adopted a poorly cat - I did know Mabel had sniffles and weeing issues, but no one suspected cancer. Molly did come here apparently on death's door, but is still going well 3 years later, and Zi supposedly had liver issues, which I dismissed a week after being here, and bloods proved I was right, so I can get healthy cats!! That said, I am tempted to keep Sam, but bloods have already showed a potential thyroid and liver prob, so insurance wouldnt be worth it.

[Millys Mum]

You do choose them tho Des   

[Desley (booktigger)]

I would definitely recommend AXA, they are good on the excess for oldies too, I used to be with Sainsbury's, and their excess was £50 up to a claim of £350, and then 15% of the total cost after that, AXA are a straight £50. I also have to say how lucky you are to have only had one high vet bill, I have only had cats of my own for 7 years and my vet has had thousands out of me.

[Millys Mum]

7k a year renewed every year, so you could spend it all on one illness or over 5, and again the following year. Thats what is known as cover for life 

[Susanne (urbantigers)]

But that is £7000 a year each year.  Few offer unlimited cover, and the premiums will be high for that.  I know petplan offer unlimited cover but the premiums are a lot higher than for their other policies.

[Kay and Penny]

Axa won't give me unlimited cover, though they go up to £7000 a year

I'll stick with the Tesco - although it offers only £4000 a year, it is cheap and so I guess that leaves more in the bank account just in case - I have had cats for 30 years and the biggest bill I ever had was for Trigger's original companion, Boycie, when he had to go to the Bristol Veterinary Hospital with FIP - that only cost £600 as there was little they could do for him

[Susanne (urbantigers)]

Trigger - Axa should give you cover.  Obviously it will exclude any pre-existing conditions but they do insure cats over 8.  I have got a quote for Jaffa and he's 11.  I am going to sign him up tonight.

[Kay and Penny]

I've done a bit of searching on the net, and it seems now Trigger is over 8 no company will give me unlimited cover. Russians are not known for health problems though, so I shall have to hope for the best. As there are no small animal specialists nearer than 50 miles away, and I don't have a car, a chronic illness would be a nightmare for me anyway, especially as Trigger hates to go in a car. I have to pay to have the vet come to me to give his vaccinations.

[Desley (booktigger)]

I wouldnt touch a policy that was £4k per condition, in case they were unlucky enough to develop a lifelong condition at a youngish age - thyroid, diabetes, CRF, heart problems, urinary issues, can all cost a lot to treat, and it doesn't matter if they are indoor only or nor, in fact, if they are obese, some of those are more likely. Another thing worth looking at is what the excess goes to when they hit 9, AXA seem to be the only people who dont put it up when tehy get older.

[Susanne (urbantigers)]

I can't envisage any condition which would take me over £4000 though - they are not going to have a road traffic accident - wouldn't you say that was a risk worth taking?

What you need to consider is any chronic diseases they may get which may need to be managed over several years.  Per condition cover doesn't usually get re-set to zero at the start of each year.  So once you've used up your £4000 you're on your own.   There are also lots of expensive tests that can be done these days - an MRI scan, for example, which would set you back about £2000.  My Magpie was an indoor cat but he died from a blood clot in his neck 3 years ago.  His vet fees were nearly £2000 and he was only at the vets for 5 hours before he died.  If he'd survived that first night, I think his treatment could well have gone over £4000 as he was going to have some very expensive injections to disperse the blood clot (£400 per injection and he would have needed several) but he deteriorated before they got a chance to give them.

Insurance is a bit of a lottery - do you pay more for more cover, or do you go for more basic cover that cost less and hope it's adequate.  Swings and roundabouts really.

ETA - Mosi's new Axa cover is £6.20 per month wit £50 excess and they will pay out £7000 per year.  He's a 3 year old pedigree.

[alisonandarchie]

Thats interesting my yearly premium is now £50.91 and excess £60

[Kay and Penny]

I can't envisage any condition which would take me over £4000 though - they are not going to have a road traffic accident - wouldn't you say that was a risk worth taking?

I find it difficult to justify spending over £20 for life cover for two cats who stay inside an enclosure and are not exposed to any serious infectious diseases

[Millys Mum]

Ah thats why, per condition isnt life cover

[Kay and Penny]

essential with additional cover

I shan't be quite sure what the terms are until I get the doccies - it's up to £4000 per conditional I think

[Millys Mum]

Indoor cats can be prone to other problems, eg bladder issues so im sure it balances things out 

£11.71 for 2 seems v.cheap for lifelong cover, which policy is it?

[Kay and Penny]

Argos has just quoted £8 on line for one cat, whereas with £100 excess Tesco quotes £11.71 for two, and that is with unlimited cover - and they are aged 8 and 6

it does annoy me though that no deduction is made for cats which are kept indoors or in an enclosure - the fact that they do not run the risk of a RTA ought to make a big difference

[alisonandarchie]

Got the renewal this morning and noticed the monthly premium has gone down by over £2 a month
Admittedly the excess has gone up £10 but still quite pleased as made two claims last year.