I am one week away from getting my first dog from a rescue centre and am looking at pet insurance. I have looked at Tesco, Argos, RSPCA and Petplan amongst others. They all seem to do the same thing but at different prices.
I am looking at going with Argos and would like to hear from anyone who has has success or failure with Argos, or recommend any others. Thanks in advance
I’ve always received good service from PetPlan and also from E&L.
There is quite a menu to choose from including paying an excess to keep the payments down. Be careful when the dog gets older (and more likely to need the vet) because many policies will reduce the amount they’ll pay to around 50%. Remember, insurance is a business.
How likely are you to need pet insurance? According to one provider of a popular pet insurance plan, over one-third of policy holders end up claiming on their policy at least once. And pet insurance isn’t necessarily an indulgence for owners who’ll pay anything to keep their pets healthy, say industry spokesmen. According to the latest figures, a good pet insurance policy can shield you from hefty vet fees if your pet requires medical care.
- £2500 for hip replacement for a typical dog
- £1,200 to set bones and care for a cat injured by a car
A good pet insurance policy will cover expenses in a number of different types of situations.
- Property damage by your pet
If rover gets loose and uproots the neighbor’s prize petunias, don’t despair. If your home insurance policy doesn’t cover the cost of replacement (some policies do), your pet insurance should. Some policies will cover damage done to your rented flat by your pet as well.
- Kennel fees if you fall ill
Who’ll take care of your pet if you end up hospitalised for any length of time? Most pet cover will pay for kennel fees or cattery fees to board your pet while you’re in hospital. That’s one less worry for you so you can concentrate on getting well.
- Advertising costs for a lost pet
Most pet insurance policies reimburse you the cost of printing Lost Pet posters and advertising expenses in case your best friends wanders off or is lost.
- Vet bills
The amount that your pet insurance will pay on vet bills varies and can depend upon many factors, and there can be many exclusions. If you own a pet that is prone to congenital conditions, you may find that those are excluded from cover, for instance, as will be most pre-existing conditions.
- Compensation for accidental loss or death of your pet
If your pet is lost or stolen, the policy may pay out a death benefit for burial or disposal, as well as replacement cost for the animal. While nothing compensates you for the loss of that particular pet, it can be an important benefit if your pet was an expensive breed that you’d like to replace eventually.
- Payment for holiday cancellation if your pet becomes ill
You may have travel insurance, but it’s not likely to pay out if you choose to stay home because your cat is ill. Pet insurance, on the other hand, can do exactly that.
How to Save On Pet Insurance
Like vet bills, the cost of pet insurance is rising steadily, but you can still find some excellent bargains. The key to getting value for money from pet insurance is to know what you need and to get it by shopping around. There are currently over 400 different pet policies on offer in the UK, and prices can vary by quite a lot. Shop online at insurance price comparison sites and get quotes from several different providers.
Don’t make the mistake of buying based on the cost of the premiums alone, though. Compare the benefits offered on the different policies to choose the one that’s the best fit for you, your pet and your budget.
Does renters insurance cover pet damage? eg. cat pee?
My cleaning people accidentally locked my cats in my bedroom and they subsequently peed on my bed, ruining the mattress and pillows. Will my renters insurance cover this kind of pet related damage? I use State Farm.
No sorry, damages your own pet does to your own stuff is not covered. It is specifically excluded in your renters policy. You can TRY to go after your cleaning people’s general liability policy but you would have to prove negligence. Did they KNOW the cats were in the room when they closed the door? Cats are notorious for hiding so they may not have known they were in there. Good luck to you.
When you get a new mattress, get a good mattress cover (they are waterproof & terrycloth on top) and do not feel funny. You don’t even know it is there. Your local mattress store should have them (they are about $65 but worth it – sorry I don’t remember the brand we got). They make them for pillows too. If your new mattress has a warranty, they may require you get a good mattress cover. I have one for my son who had accidents when he was younger & when we got our new mattress I got one for us too because I was pregnant.
It also keeps dust & dust mites from getting into the mattress.
Pet Insurance Cover
Medicare to cover PET for some dementia Dx.(Geriatrics): An article from: Internal Medicine News
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Should Medicare cover PET scans for Alzheimer's disease? (Pro & Con).: An article from: Family Practice News
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Pet owners are at serious risk of underestimating the time and expense that having a sick or injured pet can have on their lives as fees for vets are expected to continue to rise by 20 per cent over the next three years.
It has been estimated that 40 per cent of the cost of owning a dog goes towards unexpected vet’s visits and that only 12 per cent of the UK’s 13 million dog owners insure their pets.
According to financial research company Defaqto, pet insurance can be a minefield for owners and its complexity is deterring consumers from taking out cover.
It says, that because different insurers pay claims per year or per condition and place some limits on particular claims, consumers are confused as to which policies are best to take out.
A cat typically lives for 14 to 15 years and its care can cost as much as £9,500 in its lifetime. A dog lives for around 13 years and costs between £500 to £1,000 a year on average.
But, owners who are already paying a small fortune to look after their cat may be reluctant to purchase insurance, especially when annual premiums can be as high as £200 for those living in London.
And while pet insurance can save you a fortune should your cat or dog become seriously ill, it can also be massively restrictive.
Pet insurance should cover vets fees, treatment for long-term conditions, death by illness benefits, death by accident benefits, rewards and expenses for stolen or lost pets, and dental treatment.
But many policies are not as good as they can be. For example, some will allow you to claim for the same condition repeatedly, but there will be a limit on the total amount you can claim for each year.
Others will only allow you to claim once for each condition. Make sure the limit per claim is more than £5,000.
Buying pet insurance is much the same as buying home or motor insurance. You need to check what the excess is – that is the amount you will have to fork out for each claim.
Remember that the cheapest may not necessarily be the best since it may not cover claims likely to arise for your pet’s particular circumstances. The study warns that choosing the cheapest insurance may require the buyer to pay as much as 35 per cent of expensive treatments.
The best policy is one that covers your pet for its lifetime. Contracts renewed annually can exclude any condition experienced the year before and could also exclude your pet when it gets older. Also, some firms will not begin cover until the animal is six or eight weeks old.
In addition to ensuring that vets’ bills don’t send an owner into financial difficulty, pet insurance can provide other useful cover. For example, if a motorist crashes his car into a wall to avoid running over your cat, you could be covered for the expensive repair bill for the car – and the wall.
Also, if your dog attacks the postman and you find yourself in court, many policies offer useful legal advice and cover for legal fees. Legal liability for damage to anyone or their property caused by your pet is actually required by law if your dog is covered by the Dangerous Dogs Act.
Some policies offer to pay for kennels or boarding if you have to go into hospital, which could be a good idea for an elderly person living on their own. A few top-of-the-range schemes will also pay for holiday cancellation if your pet is sick or injured.
Most will pay for costs for advertising and a reward if your animal is lost, to varying degrees. Some will pay the purchase price of your pet if it dies or is stolen.
Pet insurance is to cover you for the unexpected. That means vaccinations, boosters, wormers, nail clipping, spraying and neutering will not be covered.
There is a wide range of pet insurance providers and polices will differ widely. Decide what level of cover you need and what you can afford due to your and your pets circumstances. The excess on your policy can range from £25 to £65.
Keep in mind dogs cost more than cats to insure, and you sometimes pay extra for pedigree pets and bigger dogs. More delicate breeds may cost more to insure with some companies. Premiums may vary according to where you live because vets’ bills tend to be higher in cities especially London.
Some insurers will have a maximum figure they are prepared to pay out in a year, others will pay out a maximum per claim for illness or accident. Think about your cover carefully, it could make a big difference.
About the Author:
Insurance Introducers provides articles based around insurance for UK residents.
I need a help in finding a good pet insurance for an older cat. I’ve been checking on the web but too much information and many won’t cover older cat. ASPCA covers older cat but it costs about $90/month if I pick a coverage for chronic and long term conditions which most likely that’s my cat need since he is old… Is there a better choice out there? Thank you for helping my boy live better and longer.
I know it is very confusing when shopping for pet insurance. There are too many information out there and cause a case of information overload.
No pet insurance are the same and you need to find one that tailors to your cat’s need. You have to be careful when choosing because some insurance company place a low cap on their reimbursement even though you are paying for higher premiums. Some will have low deductibles but will not cover much illness or low coverage for accidents and diagnosis. Many insurance companies will not cover pre existing conditions.
I cannot recommend one that stood out from the rest because what my cat needs might be different from what you need.
However, there is a site with a lot of good and useful reviews on the insurance available that you can look into.
How old is your pet? The best time to purchase a pet health insurance policy is when your pet is young. Most pet health problems happen in the last two years of your pet’s life. So, the younger your pet is, the better
Is your breed prone to medical problems? While policy premiums are generally not based on breed, certain hereditary conditions are excluded.
For instance, Persian cats are prone to polycystic kidney disease (PKD). You can still buy pet insurance for your Persian; just don’t be surprised if it fails to cover related issues (some pet insurance policies may cover this, so check with your provider to make sure before you buy).
Is your pet already sick? Most pet insurance providers won’t cover pre-existing conditions. However, if you can prove your pet had a condition that has been cured, that may be covered.
Can you choose your own veterinarian? For many pet owners, vet choice is key, and for good reason. Some pet insurance companies require you to use veterinarians on their own network. Others don’t. As always, check with your provider regarding your choice of veterinarian.
What is your pet’s lifestyle? If your dog or cat spends most of his time outdoors, that will increase his/her risk of illness or injury.
What is covered? Many pet owners purchase pet health insurance policies to protect themselves from the high cost of future medical problems. Others want regular pet care such as annual physical exams and routine checkups and cleanings.
Just be advised that most standard pet insurance policies cover catastrophic accidents and illnesses. Routine vet visits tend to come as add-ons and/or riders.
What State do you Live In? If you are searching on the internet for pet health insurance, you need to check this. Just because a provider does business online doesn’t mean it services your state.
Check The Insurance Company’s Track Record
Every state in the U.S. has an insurance commissioner. If the insurance company you are considering has had legal/ethical issues that should cause you concern, the insurance commissioner’s office in your state or province should know about it. Check with them before you buy.
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Your Guide to Understanding Pet Health Insurance
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The pet insurance industry is growing rapidly because for the first time many pet owners are searching for help to bridge the gap between the costs of delivering quality healthcare to their beloved pets and their ability to pay for it - particularly when an unexpected illness or injury occurs. With a dozen companies selling pet health insurance in the United States, finding the company and policy ...
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A guide to feline obedience teaches cat owners how to choose a cat, handle a cat, recognize normal cat behavior, end furniture clawing, handle a fussy eater, discourage biting and scratching, and more. ...
The saying goes that a dog is ‘man’s best friend’ – and as a nation we’re pretty fond of our cats, rabbits, hamsters and other pets too. Yet most pet owners simply aren’t aware of the strain their pets are putting on their finances.
According to PetPlan, one of the UK’s leading pet insurance companies, a dog owner will incur an average expense of £14,750 over a twelve year life span. Cat owners are only slightly better off – £14,230 spent on average. This includes food, vaccinations, medical costs and other essentials associated with owning a pet.
The main issue is that we simply don’t know whether our pet will live a healthy, trouble-free life and never have an accident, or whether it will have a serious accident or develop a chronic condition that requires long-term and expensive treatment. Veterinary science has developed in leaps and bounds in recent years, with increasingly sophisticated technology on offer for animals, to treat previously fatal conditions such as kidney failure and cancer – and of course such treatments come at a hefty price. This is where pet insurance steps in to reduce the financial risk you face by owning a pet.
The Best Way to Compare Pet Insurance
It is estimated that 98 percent of pet insurance claims are for veterinary fees. What’s more, 34 percent of policyholders make a claim every single year – so don’t simply think that pet insurance is a ‘just in case’ policy that requires little attention from yourself.
Each pet insurance policy you compare will be slightly different and the levels of cover and benefits included will be reflected in the premium you’re expected to pay. Look out for not just the monthly or annual cost, but any exclusions and clauses – it’s also best not to pile on unnecessary items of cover you’re never going to need and always compare like-for-like pet insurance policy’s to ensure you’re not being misled.
Then, when you have your best options, check the cover on offer and always read the small print. Exclusions commonly relate to partical deseases or conditions or any pre-existing conditions the pet may have. You should also compare clauses and statements regarding lifetime treatment costs and limited period treatment cover (where the insurer may only pay for the first 12 months of treatment). When you start to look for the best pet insurance for your animal, start with an online tool which allows you to compare different options.
If you do your research, you could secure a plan that will potentially save you hundreds of pounds in the long-run – and the heart-wrenching decisions to put your much loved pet down if they develop a disease you just can’t afford to have treated.
About the Author:
Harvey is passionate about getting you the best insurance deals possible.
Currently there are two types of pet insurance plans, each insurance plan is geared towards a specific need of the pet owner, the animal and the financial capacity of the owner.
A full breed dog might need more medical attention than another breed, especially at an older age and with the annual check up and injections. Pet medical insurance plans can provide several different insurance options and will ensure you will be able to provide the best medical care for your pet, for a monthly fee.
The two major USA pet insurance plans that are called the Superior VPI and the Standard VPI plan, both plans you can take your animal or pet to any veterinarian in any part of the world. Remember to keep the original bill and send it off to the insurance company, then the costs occurred will be repaid.
The Differences Between Pet Insurance Plans
There are some differences with the types of pet insurance plans as follows
1. The VPI Superior Insurance Plan.
This pet insurance plan offers coverage for any medical costs that you might have to pay for during the life of your pet such as annual check ups, vets visits, prescription medication, diagnostic testing and lab tests and X-rays. Basically, the insurance will repay anything that your vet might find necessary to keep your pet healthy. This insurance is available for both cats and dogs and will cost approx. $200 on an annual basis.
2. The VPI Standard Plan
The standard Pet insurance plan will covers all the basic procedures and costs for your pet, but you are expected to pay a higher portion of the amount of money yourself for every treatment that you can claim though your pet insurance.
Who Should Opt For These Pet Insurance Plans?
Any animal loving responsible pet owner should at least consider taking out a pet insurance plan for their cat or dog. og owners will be more interested in these type of plans as dogs are expectted to run up costs due to medical problems and need more visits to the vet during their life.
Reasons why you might need a pet insurance plan:
1. You don’t have to worry about not being able to pay the high medical bills that your pet could incur when it falls ill or has an accident.
2. You pay in monthly small amounts instead of a huge sum in one go, great for budgeting.
3. There is no need to worry if you leave your animal in the care of someone else when you go on holiday as they can take the pet to the vet and the bills will be covered still.
4. Owners of full breed dogs that see their dogs as an investment should consider insuring their animal as full breed dogs usually will need more trips to the vet.
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