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Thinking about pet insurance, people with large bills please read!

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Connie

Connie

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Hi there!

Right, So, I am on a fairly low income, however as i live at home most of my income is "disposable income", meaning its mine to spend and not already allocated to bills etc.

Some of the vet bills apearing on the forum are beginning to get me worried, I have currently saved about £600 but it will be a long while before I have the amount insurance would cover me for.

I have got myself a quote from exotics direct. It has provided me with two quotes, one for £16.84 per month(for both piggies) This quote covers me for up to £2000 for the treatment of BOTH piggies in that year (not £2000 each)

Or there is an alternative which is £20.82 per month, Which covers each piggy for £2000 pounds.

As i plan to pay whichever i choose in a one off payment rather than installments (as i already have the money, so why not) My question is is it worth the extra money? How many of you have actually needed more than £2000 for two piggies in the space of a year? Obviously if some of you have, then i would seriously consider it, i was just wondering if people really thought i was worth the extra money?

Thanks guys. :)
 
I think it swings in roundabouts.

These last two years ive had the piggies i havent spent £2000 on all of them Thats 12 perminant piggies plus a few rescues. However, lately i have had some bad luck with them all, and if one is very ill suddenly then you may well run up a large bill. From June 2010 to June 2011 i think i probably spent about £300-400. But this year i think ive spent about £500-600 in the last couple of months. Its just how it goes i suppose. Amanda has had some bad luck with a lot of vet expenses this year, but it doesnt mean you will, or wont. And she had less piggies than me?

The question you need to ask yourself is. If you take out the cheaper one (£2000 for both - not each) if you needed any extra money in any way would you be able to find it. If so i would go for the cheaper and see how you get on. Problem with piggies is they dont get ill all that often, but when they do they can get quite ill quite quickly and need a lot of extra care (often more than cats/dogs at times).

Sorry I'm not a lot of help. All i can really say is i see people who have insured pets all their lives and never needed to use it, were as others have literally only just taken out the insurance and are claiming thousands because a pet has been in a RTA for example. There is no right or wrong at all.

x.
 
I think for amanda it was worth it at the time as cameo was spayed and I think there were complications and she became very ill and needed a lot of treatment. I'm sure amanda will be along shortly and tell you her experience.

So should something come out of the blue and you need treatment like xrays or an operation then the insurance would be a god send. But then again how about just keep savings? I don't know, it's something I'm still weighing up too, my concern is the loop holes in insurance, i just think it'd be justy my luck that something would crop up that isn't covered?
 
My total now at the vets in the last 2 years since July 2010 (6 pigs) is £2,000 maybe a bit more that's with Major Surgery and various diagnostic test's including bloodwork's, X-ray's and ultrasounds etc.
 
my vet, who i trust competely, says he doesn't actually like insurance policies. he always tells us to put the money away that we would spend on the policy and save it up that way. there are times that you may have a large bill, but you need to be really unlucky. most policies also state that you have to pay the first £60 or £70 approx before they will pay up. i personally pay the bills as and when they come in out of my savings - but it is completely upto each individual. also my vet is really good - we have used them for the past 35 yrs or so, he does try to keep the bills down as much as he can for me.
 
Cameo cost me over £2000 in the space of a few weeks. She is insured but they didn't pay out because it was as a result of an elective operation (ie I chose to have it done rather than it needed to be done) mallethead
 
ahh i stand corrected amanda! mallethead
Thought it was the other way around and they did pay out for you :(
In which case maybe it is better just to save money?
I mean what about if you deem an operation life saving but your insurer does not? What about if in Jo's case, they couldn't see the point of putting Patrick through that and deemed that elective too? Or would you need written confirmation from your vet? Bit confusing as you think you're doing the right thing and I'm sure all of us would do anything for our pets but maybe insurers don't see it like that?
Think I'll keep saving....:{
 
gogoguineas said:
ahh i stand corrected amanda! mallethead
Thought it was the other way around and they did pay out for you :(
In which case maybe it is better just to save money?
I mean what about if you deem an operation life saving but your insurer does not? What about if in Jo's case, they couldn't see the point of putting Patrick through that and deemed that elective too? Or would you need written confirmation from your vet? Bit confusing as you think you're doing the right thing and I'm sure all of us would do anything for our pets but maybe insurers don't see it like that?
Think I'll keep saving....:{
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If the vet deems it medically necessary then they to pay out as long as it isn't in the exclusions that they don't cover it, they didn't pay out for Amanda as she chose to have Cameo sprayed had she developed cyst's and needed to be spayed for medical reason's the insurance would have covered it.

Had Patrick been insured I believe the insurance would have covered his operation, it would be the vet himself who would decide if he could have the surgery and if or not it would be effective. I do think most vets, would have called to say Patrick needed PTS but thankfully for Patrick our vet was willing to try.
 
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I read somewhere it's actually better to just set up a bank account and put your own amount of money in every month, that way if you want pay the full amount you can put in as much as you want which helps with staying out of debt etc.

It's what i plan on doing when i get a job etc. i think it's because not all covers cover everything etc.
 
Yeah I think there's so many 'what if's' if you can save money instead it might be better, especially if you can get a good rate on a savings account, you may as well make a little interest instead of lining the insurers pocket, plus the additional you pay for paying in monthly installments if you don't pay for it all up front.

I don't think I'll be pursuing this one! Just in case! it's got me too worried!
 
My point is, If my boys develope kidney stones in 2 months time, (both of them) Theres no way i would be able to cover the vet cost.

But if i were to buy the insurance for the first year, and save up so i had the money saved for next year, then i would be safe.

I am still debating though. If it was an emergency i COULD be lent the money, but i really would rather not start borrowing at 18. :))
 
Connie said:
My point is, If my boys develope kidney stones in 2 months time, (both of them) Theres no way i would be able to cover the vet cost.

But if i were to buy the insurance for the first year, and save up so i had the money saved for next year, then i would be safe.

I am still debating though. If it was an emergency i COULD be lent the money, but i really would rather not start borrowing at 18. :))
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This is why mine are insured. There's no way I can afford to save anything like £2k a year but I can afford £16 a month. £2000 in a year is over £150 a month
 
My rabbits are insured but piggies are not, you can save up with your vets an pay money on the account and if you do this and need to pay more then you would have shown your first thought is your pets and any remainder the vet might do a payment plan for you
 
If you get housing or council tax benefit you would qualify for a payment from the pdsa towards a vets bill of over £40 - but they cant tell you how much they will contribute because it depends on their current funds and donations - if you insure with exotic direct there is a £50 excess and you will also have to pay the whole years premium due for that piggy if you pay monthly - ie at £7.60 per month if piggy had only been insured for 2 months you would have to pay the remainder of the years premium - £76.00 so if your vets bill was under £126 it wouldnt be worth claiming - our vets advise putting money aside each month - I have so far had to pay out £38 and £48 for 5 piggies over 2 years - the insurance has had to be cancelled purely because my landlord put up my rent by £50 a month this month and my sister has said she will help me pay any vets bills that arise and the receptionist at the vets has said that I can set up an account -
 
Thankyou TAN, As I'm living at home, I'm fairly sure i dont qualift for those, but its nice to know so i can hand it out as advice. :) (and I'm definatly sure my parents dont :( )

I would plan to pay the insurance as a lump sum, simply as i have the money saved and I'm abit haphazard with how much is in my current account verses how much is in my savings and often let the current run to £0 (as i have no overdraft) even thoough i know i will just transfer it from the savings when needed, so i would worry about having a monthly bill.

I am feeling more settled about the amount i have saved, as i know if it came to it my parents would help out (although to what monitary extent i am not sure) And I'm not sure if my local exotics vets do a payment plan (simply as i havnt actually had to visit yet) But i will ask if it ever gets to that point. And ofcourse, my savings will be a growing pot each month :D
 
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