What's the best insurance company to use? Petplan? Who should be avoided? I've heard that Animal Friends are no good.

PetPlan isn't the cheapest but is the one most likely to payout when needed, so it's the most trusted by vets. That means they're usually happy to claim direct from the company, rather than the owner having to pay the vet and then reclaim for themselves, which often happens with some of the less reliable companies.

Avoid E&L.

Animal Friends can exclude whole bodily systems if there's one past condition, but they aren't the only ones to do this (for example, Remy's right hip arthritis isn't covered because his left hip arthritis/HD started on a previous policy, and his rhinitis isn't covered because he had bronchitis also on the last policy).  The excess jumps a fair bit at 8yrs too.

That said, I've not had any trouble with them beyond the exclusions and even then they're actually good about negotiating them - they excluded him for neurological poroblems after he had a vestibular-esque incident, but were happy to lift the exclusion if my vet wrote to them to explain that it was a one-off episode.  Likewise they've excluded his heart because it was tested re. lethargy years ago, but if I send in the more recent echo report stating that his heart is perfect (or was then, anyway) they'll lift that one, too.

Otherwise Petplan would be my choice if I could afford them - the initial premiums are more than some but they are known for not hiking the premiums up massively at renewal, and I can't fault them for the 10 years Soli was with them (they also let me carry on her original policy from her last owner, which I don't think many do.  And, they let me claim for her incontinence, which started years before I got her and had never been mentioned to them before.

Axa are fairly decently priced and plenty of people recommend them, they've covered everything for Saffi but have been a PITA for sending payment to the wrong people.  But, good excess - £75 set rate for both the dogs I have with them, who are 8 and nearly 10 (compared to AF, who would be £99 + 35% regardless of claim history).

Agree with Jeangenie - my vet will claim direct and not ask you for the money.  He is that sure that Petplan will pay up.  Good recommendations and Petplan would be my choice.

Yes, think PetPlan probably the best when you need it, however, you do pay for that. I've recently used Tesco and I was very impressed, they paid out well over £5,000 within a relatively short timescale. Vets claimed direct from Tesco. It's a monthly contract, you can't pay upfront which is something I sometimes like to do just to ensure payments are made for important bills, the cover isn't as high as PetPlan but then the monthly premiums aren't as high either. I would thoroughly recommend them based on my recent experience and indeed I am in the process of changing my other 5 dogs over to Tesco. But, bear in mind some medical conditions can be very costly very quickly, so you need to look at the long term when planning insurance.

If I had the money though, it would be Petplan ... if I had just 1 dog it would be that too, but ... as much as I'd like I cannot afford their premium for the number of dogs I have :-(

When I got my pup last year she came with the breeders insurance. Of course, pups are very time consuming and suddenly I realized that her insurance had run out. So I sat down one day with a list of all the companies that I knew did 'for life' cover and got quotes.
I really tied myself up in knots that day as I couldn't always find the bit that said 'for life', even if I knew they did it !
So, in the end I was so frustrated and there were 2 leaflets on my table that actually said the magic words 'for life', and they were Pet Plan and the Kennel Club. I got quotes from both and went with the cheapest that suited my needs - Kennel Club.
I haven't needed to claim and pup is 1 next month so we will see what happens when the next years price comes through. But I have learned from others problems that it must be 'for life'.

I'm with animal friends with my girl and had no problems so far, when I claimed it ended up conning to £1600 minus the first visits I played not knowing it was going to end up well past the excess. Your ment to fill in a form if treatment is going to be over a thousand first but we didn't know it was going to be, but we called them up and told them and they had no problem and said to attach a letter explaining that we didn't know how much it was going to cost as they didn't know what was wrong with her at first. They were also happy to pay me the amount I played over the excess and they payed the vet the rest of the bill that was due. They were also very helpfully on the phone when I called.

I picked them as the other ones that cover on going problems with no time limit or max condition limit were much more expensive, and other covers at the cheaper end had limits like you could only claim a condition for a year or only get a certain amount total for a condition. Which I guess for one off things wouldn't be a problem but with my luck I worrie lol.

I agree with Nikita. I am with animal friends and morethan( different animals of course) Was going to change all of my animals but two of them have had what animal friends describe as pre exsitising conditions.
Mia (dog) had an serious eye injury as a pup totally recovered and no problems but beacuse of that they wouldnt cover either eye !!! crazy she was spiked by a cat in one eye it cant affect the other but thats how the work. Same with Bentley cat he had a rta and broke his left leg now they wont cover either side so they have remained with more than. Other than that animal friends have been fine so far.

If I could affor 5 animals with pet plan thats who I would go with

Thanks for the replies. It seems Petplan is the best one to go for. I got quotes from AXA and Direct Line, which were around the same price (well, a bit cheaper). So I might as well go with Petplan.

My partner wants to 'self insure' as he doesn't like insurance companies, thinks they're a rip off, etc.

Hmm maybe I'll just tell him a white lie about the price ;)

Direct Line is also excellent.  They pay out quickly and with no quibbles and are cheaper than PetPLan, letting you pick and choose what you want from policies more as well.

I have nothing but praise for pet plan, they have had to pay out a lot for my cat yet still the renewal has stayed low and only one exclusion which he already had.

Petplan with no hesitation.

Have not had any issues with Animal Friends, my old boy who went to the bridge last September was diagnosed with Alzheimers & had expensive ongoing medication, they paid up with no problem at all, no queries, no fuss. Can understand the issue some have had with ongoing conditions, think many have this clause. Petplan are very very good but have to say had several of our dogs insured with them & the increase each year got to be ridiculous. Claimed from Petplan too tho with no hassle so I can only speak as I find

I have just received a renewal fom Marks & Spencer Insurance, I have had my dog with them for 2 years, I have never made a claim and they have just increased my monthly premium from £20.99 to £25.44 per month, I am looking elsewhere, just received a quote from John Lewis for better coverage, less cost, yet it is underwritten by the same company - Royal&Sun Alliance, anyone had any experience with John Lewis Insurance?

John Lewis: they were fine for the first year (apart from wanting a 12 month clinical history when claiming, which is a real pain, esp if you have moved in the last 12 months or have not actually owned the dog for 12 months) then hiked the premium on renewal so moved my business elsewhere.

Ive got 4 dogs with AXA and one with Petplan. Only ever claimed with Petplan and they have always paid up.

My lab is now nearly 8, has hip dysplasia and I claim for monthly anti-inflammatory tablets, joint supplements and hydro and his renewal just came through at £27 a month, only £1 a month more than last year.

Got Zuma (5 yr GSD) with AXA and made various claims totalling more than I have paid in
They have always paid straight to the Vets with no problems - touch wood- currently paying £26 a month

Think I might go with AXA. Their quote is £15.48 per mth, compared to Pet Plan who want £20.

Worth checking out who insures with both th two identified companies and their premium % increases year on year,
As AXA may seem more reasonable as they are currently cheaper but if they hike their premiums significantly year on year
you could soon be paying more per month than Pet Plan.