Hi All

I am wanting some information please on insurance policies, my boss at work is getting a westie puppy (looky sod) next month, he is currently looking at different insurance companies and asked me what i thought, i have got Hamish insured with petplan and they have been brilliant with him as he has had a lot of claims with his skin and not once have they questioned anything, they are currently paying for him to see a homeopathic vet which i know some insurance companies don't cover, i personnaly don't know much about the other insurers but know there have been many discussions on here previously, he has got quotes from Petplan who quoted 330 for unlimited cover with an 80 excess, M&S was 223 with 50 excess and covered for 7000 per year, Healthypets 95 with 50 excess cover 5000 per year, and Halifax 122 with 50 excess and 6000 per year, i have never heard of healthypets so don't know about them, he feels he doesn't need unlimited cover and thinks 5000 per year is enough cover but i said i would post on here to see if anybody else was with healthypets or halifax and see what they thought about them.
I said for him to make sure the illness was covered for life not just the year as he needs continuous care for illnesses especially with a westie incase he gets skin trouble like my boy, does anybody know if healthypets cover continually?

Thanks
Helen

I always thought a few grand cover would be enough but luckily I went for petplan unlimited cover because they have certainly paid out more than £5000 on one of my bitches!! I think everybody thinks they won't need unlimited and probably alot of the time they are right but there is always the chance that it will run into the thousands.  Petplan have so far paid out way more than I have paid in premiums as my bitch had an accident the day after I took out the insurance and they have paid up no questions asked. I know I have probably been lucky but from my personal experience they have been fantastic. I would always recommend paying abit more and getting unlimited cover but then my breed are known for having very high vet bills!! :-D

From many years of insuring I would say Petplan is by far the best but it is expensive and with 3 and a 4th dog about to arrive I just cannot afford the premiums.  So after looking at advice here and checking myself I went for M&S.  Had one claim with them (which is the only real measure of  a good insurance to my mind) and no problems.  With our new pup due I did a rough check and still M&S looking very competitive with excellent cover.

Louise

I do have to admit with 3 and another on the way it is VERY expensive. I was thinking about putting some by into a savings account each month rather than paying the premiums as my bitch is the only one we have had to claim for so far.

http://www.vip4u.co.uk/

The best idea is to consult a specialist broker with the precise needs of the owner, then they can advise which policy is best for that individual.