I wonder if anybody is able to give advice on insurance. Our new flatcoat puppy has come with a month's free insurance from PetPlan and I know that our vet deals with them a lot. I need to make up my mind what I'm going to go for by the end of this month and I'm somewhat bemused by all the various options. I realise that I need to get lifetime cover but not sure what will be best. I would like to do some gundog training with him in time so that would need to be covered, although not immediately. A friend has her dog insured with Direct Line and is very satisfied with them.

Any tips from other people's personal experience would be gratefully received - many thanks!

I have Pet Plan with my dogs now (never clamied - fingers crossed) and with my last dog where I was claiming almost every month and they always paid up on time no quibble, they do a lifetime illness scheme and this is what sold it to me, lots of other schemes seem to do an illness up to a certain amount only.

I use Pet Plan for my crew. Costs an arm and a leg but I've found them to be very good. I wanted the lifetime cover too.
HTH

I am with Pet Plan too and wouldn't use anyone else.
My Belgian boy had epilepsy and on any other cover he would have used up his limit within a few months. With Pet Plan I was able to get him scanned and try all manner of medications to get him feeling better. At one stage his meds were about £300 per month. Would have had to seriously thought about putting him to sleep far sooner if I had any other cover.

I've been with pet plan before too (still am for horse) and never had any problems but they were very expensive! However I've just had my renewal for Bernese with M&S and it has almost doubled so I'm now back to shopping around as we have never (touch wood) claimed for her!

This tool lets you compare policies and its very useful!

i have all 4 danes (including 1 veteran) it costs me 135 a month and i have had it since january.
i have claimed 3 times in that time and ALL were paid out within 7 days of them processing it.

http://www.insureyourpet.co.uk/  is another comparison site.

Got mine with AXA, cost £164 for the year, dont know if it will go up next time as I took policy out in Oct and have just sent the 3rd claim in, total this year so far is over £1600. ouch :-(  but I've only paid the 3 excesses total £150
Chris

Just found I can't get AXA - breed not acceptable, or Lifelong - only insure up to age 5 (she is 5years 2 months), Pet plan will only give me their cheapest policy and that is more expensive than M&S. This is for a healthy 5 year old Bernese Mountain Dog with no pre existing conditions. Whatever insurance you choose, choose carefully - funny how the M&S one went up just at this time, when I can't get other policies!!! Good job it is a decent policy cause I may be stuck with it!

i am with m/s with 3 fcr but going to AXA when policy come to an end .

14 hounds with pet plan would never go ANYWHERE else.....claims monthly, never a quibble, cant fault them!

I'm with Tesco and they have been great, I've got their lifetime policy and they pay the vets direct and in good time.  They have also been very helpful whenever I have needed to contact them.

Healthy Pets (google it) will give you a quote on-line.

We had our jointly owned import with them at very reasonable cost, underwritten by AXA.

Thank you for all these helpful posts - looks like PetPlan is the tried and tested favourite.

I had the same problem with M&S and my BCs.  all three policies nearly doubled despite not being claimed upon.  Have gone to More than who are underwritten by the same people and well over half the price.

I went for  one insurer's who did not pay in full for an operation to Petplan and Im very happy to stay there, i personally think they are the best.

I moved from Petplan to More Than this week alot better deal for me with better cover as well

I have to be honest, having asked around at different vet practices, it does seem that vets like Petplan, because they don't have to wait for their money.  And, I think, at a time when you are worried about your dog, you don't want to be worried about cost, or about your vet pressing you for payment.

I am with More Than, and having had to claim unfortunately three times for three different things since september I can't fault them, for two setters and a border terrier I pay just over £50 a month which I think is very reasonable. My pup's free insurance with Petplan ran out today, but I knew that I wouldn't be staying with them; too expensive, but then I guess it depends on what you want from the policy, at the end of the day it is still cheaper than paying out vets fees for a sick uninsured pet.

Nicki xx