Posted: Thu Aug 14, 2008 12:45 pm Post subject: Who doesn't bother with insurance?
I am weighing up the pros and cons of getting a policy.
Asides the excess I'll pay I just can't see me claiming what I'll pay in annual premium and if i did my premium would be stonking the year after.
I know some of you have been really helped out by insurance and that's great but with hopefully a second dog on the way I'm leaning towards self-insuring rathr than pay £600 a year for a 'what if'.
I probably wouldn't risk making a claim for anything under £200 anyway as you still pay the excess and a small claim will affect your premium.
If we were hit with a big op or some ongoing medication then we can afford it - although if that changed I might start a policy.
But why line an insurance companies pockets?
Other than the 3rd party liability which is always good to have (and JohnW had pinted out is covered by some home insurances anyway)
I'm not sure if it's the right thing for us.
Who else doesn't bother and how have you reached this decision?
We've never insured a dog before we had Charlie and tbh the reason we did wasn't particularly the medical expense but more for if, God forbid, he ever got out and caused an accident or tripped someone up etc etc as in this day and age people are very quick to try and sue you.
But thank goodness we did cos we've claimed over £10,000 in vet's bills
Must admit I've been in the 'no insurance' camp but I was persuaded to get my GSD insured for the 3rd party aspect.
Of course I wanted it to be as cheap as possible so went with Tesco little realising that a skin allergy and then a hip problem would rear its head after 6 years.
They paid out for 1 year for the skin problem but of course that was ongoing so suffered the financial penalty for that (as well as the emotional one of trying to get to the bottom of it). The hip problem didn't last the year; unfortunately she died before the anniversary but that could have been a huge financial drain.
With Paddy, I've gone for lifetime cover with fairly generous annual limits. I just don't want to be in the position of having to decide between treatment or PTS on financial grounds only.
I've also come to realise that vets seem to have few qualms in charging as much as they can get away with. I can't afford to write them a blank cheque so have to acknowledge that insurance has a part to play.
I just don't think it's worth taking the risk any more.
It looks as though I'll be getting a rescue dog in the coming months. I'll insure him/her too, especially as it's likely to be another GSD!
I have Mojo and Cleo covered (Una is covered by GDBA) but none of my cats and other furries are insured. The amount I would be paying out each month would be ridiculous and would far exceed any annual vets bills.
My past dogs were not insured and yes I have been stung a couple of times, once was when Tara fell over at speed and ripped open her carpus joint, which in total cost me about £1500, but that's what Credit cards are for . If I had added up her annual premiums (had she been insured) it would have come to a whole lot more than that, I don't doubt.
I initially insured Mojo because I know that pedigree dogs are more prone to hereditary conditions than mongrels (which is what I had previously owned) and good job I did, as she was a classic example (ED at 14 months old ). I can't see me ever "not" having her insured now, just incase she needs major surgery at some point.
Cleo is insured for the same reason, although if after 2 years nothing untowards has cropped up health wise, I will probably cancel her policy and just put the money aside every month. I will do this with any successive dogs also, as I have no intentions of lining the pockets of the Insurance Companies forever .
Cleo is insured for the same reason, although if after 2 years nothing untowards has cropped up health wise, I will probably cancel her policy and just put the money aside every month. I will do this with any successive dogs also, as I have no intentions of lining the pockets of the Insurance Companies forever
I think that's where I'm at thought's wise. Maybe I should go one more year and then see
Basil has had oodles of vets trips but none of these I'd have claimed over the excess for. He's had a lump removed, but it was affordable and a lot less than a years premium.
We're covered 3rd party liability for him on home insurnace too.
I think really I'm just putting off wading through the squillions of different insurance options
£600 a year spund very high My 3 are with Direct Line and it costs me £35.73 per month. that is for the "essential" policy. To upgrade to the "advanced" policy would cost another £5 per month per dog
I'm at the same point.... we are using the free insurance for Pasco... then I need to look at it soon... like tonight soon!!!
We continued the Kennel Club Petplan last year at a cost of £250 ish, that has gone up to £280 something and will be about the same for Pasco. I've weighed up the pros and cons and still can't decide!
I've even considerd using the vets payment plan thingie, where by you pay them a monthly amount and they hold it as an account for you and deduct any bills you make through the year. This has the advantage of paying things like Vaccinations and things that come under the excess.
There are other far far more reasonable insurers who give good policys for both the dogs at the same cost as pet plans one policy! So I have no doubt I won't be using petplan at a cost of £60 a month!!!
I've had Hudson to the vet what maybe 8 times in the last year. Only once has that cost us over the excess and therefore a claimable amount.
But I guess you are insuring against that potential one horrible thing that could go wrong.
____________
All images posted by me on this or any other website remain copyright to me with all rights reserved
You cannot post new topics in this forum You cannot reply to topics in this forum You cannot edit your posts in this forum You cannot delete your posts in this forum You cannot vote in polls in this forum You cannot attach files in this forum You cannot download files in this forum
. If I had added up her annual premiums (had she been insured) it would have come to a whole lot more than that, I don't doubt.
). I can't see me ever "not" having her insured now, just incase she needs major surgery at some point.
.
My 3 are with Direct Line and it costs me £35.73 per month. that is for the "essential" policy. To upgrade to the "advanced" policy would cost another £5 per month per dog
