I've always insured my dog's and I've used same company last 7 years the first 3 years with 2 cats then with our puppy 4 years ago... I had increase last year but felt ok not too bad £23:71 a month.
Oh the horror looking at this year's renewal. Just 5 weeks ago had claim paid me £66:59 in bank account. I realise the company needs a profit but how can you justify going from £279 a year to £659:83

Have found our insurance leaping up year by year, but have a breed & sadly a boy that can have severe problems. He has been with the same insurers since a pup, not changed as would come a cropper with existing issues. Have never had the nerve to cancel as it's 'manageable -just' monthly, than have the fear a bill should come in we'd struggle with. Realise (hopefully) that we're an exception, but hope this makes you feel better, we're paying just under £140 a month! Managed to get this down from £180, as where in the past it was 'one' package, it's now broken down (if that's the right word) so we can exclude foreign travel & kennelling!!

Self-insurance here, 4 dogs and each month the money an insurance company would have charged me I put on a separate bank account. I know many people who do the same. Even though it is a big sum to put away each month, I do it gladly as I'm not throwing it away.

Maybe the rip-off practices of insurance companies put people off and more owners these days turn to self-insurance, so the companies have to jack up the prices for those who remain to compensate...

During the years we had numbers, insurance wasn't viable!    Down to just 2 I took quotes for each and was horrified at what came back, especially as one of mine isn't a breed prone to 'problems'!!   I didn't want to BUY the company.    I think it's the excess that finishes me - of course set at what a normal uncomplicated vet visit would cost so you pay the monthly premium + the vet bills!!  

Insurance is not for me.  Although the intention has always been to run a separate account and feed it for vet bills, that never happened, but I still prefer to save (hah) on my own Bank account.   And we have been lucky over the years we had numbers, to have a vet who'd allow stage payments if we hit a bad patch - she knew we'd pay her before feeding ourselves

Just to add insurance, home/car is increasing year on year ...... so much for a no-claims bonus!

I'm putting amount into a separate pets savers account. Never claimed for one cat ever and pay currently �14 a month due for renewal 20/11...
I have a quote for my dog with pet plan which I might go with and pay the 3 months of tablets each year for skin condition. Complaint lodged with current company and no word for a week from. Renewal date 10/11  think they feel ill forget and swallow the increase nope making a stance. Pet plan have a good quote �23 a month so ill see how it fares.

The home insurance and heath insurance only a marginal increase. I've not claimed in 15 years re home insurance save for a cream carpet and bottle of red knocked over it...