Has any one heard of Pet Protect, if so what do you think of it? I am also looking into dog insurance, do you get a discount for two dogs or is it more than two only? Any suggestions greatly appreciated.

hi,
i am a vet nurse and the only 2 companies we recommend at work are pet plan and pet protect. one of the nurse i used to work with had her dog insured with pet protect and had no problems claiming off them. i have my own 2 insured with petplan works out cheaper for me and again i have had no problems claiming and my dog is on life long treatment, they have just renewed his policy and will continue to pay for his condition. i would strongly suggest staying away from the cheaper policies like direct line, tesco etc. these tend to be 12 month policies and we had no end of trouble trying to get them to pay to clients. they questioned every claim and wanted full breakdowns and took forever, which is not want you need when you are worried to death over a sick dog. some would not even pay for the full 12 months, if your dog unfortuanlty got sick 2 weeks before policy renewal some companies would only pay for this 2 week period then at renewal slap an exclusion on and refuse to pay any more! please read all the small print very carefully and if it says it is a life policy ask if they will cover a condition for life, some get round this by saying they will cover the dog for life but dont tell you that this means only the dog and a life long condition would not be covered. hope this makes sense!
kelly

Hi Kelly, have you (or anyone else) any experience with E & L (Equine and Livestock) pet insurance? I'm looking at them because they don't have a giant breed surcharge, they take older dogs and they give a 10% discount for mutliple animals. Not to mention tha fact that they are cheap!

Sharon, if you would like to e-mail me privately, I'll tell you what I know!
hanvaleroughcollies@yahoo.co.uk

Hi
I do know that they are the worst for paying out
be it horse or dog
I always advise people to stay away from e&l
there are posts on another site if you email me will point you in the right direction.

Thanks Val & Carolyn. Can either of you - or anyone else - suggest a good insurer that will acccept dogs of any age?

Hi Sharon - this firm will take on dogs upto 8 and then offer life cover. There is discount for multiple pets. No idea what level the premiums would be on older pets but on the pup they were extremely competitive and I even telephoned to make sure life cover for a condition means life cover - not that I'm paranoid or anything :D There is a maximum payout of £5000 in any year but I truly hope we'll never need that sort of money spending.

Pinnacle

Sara

I have to admit I have not claimed on the policy I have so cannot swear they are good at paying out but hope so !!

I was with E [$ L and lets just say we had a falling out]) I said I'd move somewhere else and was smugley told that 'no one else would take him he's over eight', ha well Sainsbury's did! I have had one claim which I really didn't think they would pay after my experience with E & L and they did, very promptly too I might add:D

Anita

Thanks Sara, I'll take a look at Pinnacle.

Hi sharon, same as Val!!!

Don't do it - like trying to get blood out of a stone to claim from E&L - they're not cheap for nothing

Jo and the Casblaidd Flatcoats

Thanks all - I will not be trying E & L! Not unless I become breed note correspondent Leigh :D.

hi sharon,
cant say anything good about e +l im afraid! i forgot to mention the pinnanle insurance, i am familiar with the vet to pet policy. it is fairly new so is very competitive but have not had many dealings with them, but it is a life policy which is good! with large breed dogs it is very important to have good life long cover, one practice i worked at a lady had 2 newfoundlands both on heart treatment and arthritis treatment, she would come in every month for treatment and it would literally be a couple of hundred pounds! cheaper premiums are not worth it if they skimp on cover especially with large breeds. i hope you find a suitable policy, i think petplan offer a discount (not sure how much but poss 10% or even 20%)for more than 3 animals
kelly

just out of interest do vets get some kind of commission promoting Pet plan or other insurance companies?

hi,
we certainly did not at the last 2 practices i have worked at! some times reps would come round and give us stuff like pens and mugs but that was about it. vets promote insurance as if a pet is insured then obviously cost is not an issue and they can give the best treatment which is not only good for the pet but also good for the vets pockets too!
kelly

I think that they must do. If you pick up a leaflet/application form for say Pet Plan from a vet's surgery there is always a reference number hand written somewhere on it. This number must relate back to that particular vet so that an incentive can be paid or why else is it there. Only the accounts department of a veterinary practise would know for sure.

I believe that's for record keeping so they know where it's come from - for statistics analysis. If you register via their website they ask how you heard about petplan (ie friend, vet etc).

Wendy

I am currently on a 6 week free insurance policy with the KC
that came with my pup. When it runs out I am going to be insuring with Pet Plan. It was the one that my Vet recommended to me, she said they were the only company that she had no hassle with. She also told me to go for the life cover. Some breeds more than others are at risk from a lifetime problem. Mine is a Boxer, they can suffer from all sorts! It is a few pounds more expensive than some but so worth it. :)
Ali

Ali,
That sounds like a wonderful idea. You know you're going to have her for her life, so avoid the bother and get her lifetime insurance :)

I'm just really jealous of you lot having insurance available in the UK :o I have liability insurance which is advised here in Germany, but there's no such thing as pet health ins. It started only about 5-7 years ago in some States, but not the backwaters region I was in. I think most States now have some type available, but not the plethora that you all have a choice of.
(grumbling enviously at the moment) :(

Hi Ali, I've used PetPlan in the past, and will use it for the young dogs. My problem is that I change my mind between insuring and not insuring, and have had a long period of not insuring. With the result that I have uninsured dogs of 10, 11, 14, 17 & 18. I've had a really expensive 2 year period at the vets and so am thinking about insuring again, but it isn't easy to find a company to take that lot on :-).

Does anyone know anything about DBI (Dog Breeders Insurance)?

Stacey x x x

Salem is insured at the mo with Teso but having read some of the problems people have expeienced with cheaper ins. companies I am thinking of changing it. We'll be getting a new pup in a few weeks and want a joint policy so what would you all recommend? I would like one that pays direct to the vet, pays out without wanting your inside leg measurement (!!) and is reasonably priced. I have looked at loads and have tried to compare them but end up going a bit boss eyed! :) Any suggestions?
Thanks
Sharon

Try Direct Line - that's who mine are insured with - they'll deal direct with the vet on claims (which I believe some won't) and I've never had a problem with them. Have had my lab insured with them for about four years and my GSD went onto my policy when I got her - not bad for price, depends what you're looking to pay. They've been great. My lab had to have a lumpectomy and they paid out no questions asked.
Good company all round - also have my house insured with them! :D

Like the others have said avoid E&L like the plague!

KirstyS
:)