Which pet insurer?

CaraMay

We are getting a new pedigree pup soon and would like basic insurance cover for him.

Can anyone recommend a reasonable but comprehensive provider / policy?

Pumpkinseeds

We've had our cats with Allianz for years. Comprehensive insurance, the vet gives us a form to sign and claims directly from them, which keeps things simple. We pay the first 100 euro of any claim and they cover the rest. It excludes vaccinations and neutering but I think they all do.

CaraMay

I just got a pm from this crowd asking for the business . <snip>
Is that permitted?

<snip>

Taltos

We use Allianz for our cats and dogs. Make sure you check into all of the various clauses though. For us and our policy we had a waiting period of 2 or 3 weeks from the policy start date where new conditions would not be covered. Basically as soon as you get your pet get a good policy - and pray nothing goes wrong during that period.

We also did some research ourselves on different providers and talked to our vet. Just going through the different options - excesses - limits etc.

All in all we are finding Allianz to be good for us, might not work for everyone though. But definitely if we didn't have it we would be in a world of hurt right now as both of our dogs have serious complaints that need constant treatment and care.

tk123

CaraMay wrote: »

snip

Asking for what business lol - there's only a few pet insurers! Allianz, Tesco and the other one we're not allowed talk about here- that's it I think? If you do a search you'll find loads of threads. I'm with Allianz and find them good - handy they way you can direct claim with some vets so you just pay the excess. Also handy they way you just sign and the vet fills everything out and sends it in - trust me if your pet is seriously ill or god forbid dies the last think you want to do is worry about filling in a paperwork!! Have you a vet lined up for the pup - give them a shout and see if they do direct claim. Our vet always has flyers with so many weeks free with Allianz.
What breed is the pup - some are not covered so that's another thing to check.

EDITed to add - my policy has gone up €20-30 each year which I'm more than happy with - we must have claimed almost 6k at this stage so money well spent!

fiounnalbe

I'd say Allianz too. We have 4 dogs, one was too old when we got him to insure, but the other 3 are insured, 2 with Allianz and 1 with a different insurance company which can't be mentioned here!!

Allianz is just so easy to deal with, mainly because the vet does it all and they are the most popular insurance company so the vets are well used to dealing with them, it makes every claim so much less stressful. Our one who isn't insured with Allianz (because I left my OH deal with the insuring, never again !!) thankfully we've only had to claim the once but it was almost physical torture!!

twomonkeys

Tesco are pulling out of the pet insurance business. No new policies being taken on and existing policies are being terminated when they come up for renewal.

Sam Kade

I'll probably get shot for saying this on pet insurance but I'll say it anyway
This is a difficult and delicate issue for those who love their pets as much as if they were children. From a practical and financial standpoint, however, there are many situations where we would incur significant medical expenses for humans where we would not do so for our pets. As an example, if your mother has terminal cancer and is in substantial pain, you would treat her in a hospital or hospice and manage the pain until she passed away. The daily cost of such medical treatment can be astronomical. If a pet was in the same situation, you would be more likely to make the difficult decision to put him to sleep to alleviate the pain and distress. From a practical standpoint, the medical costs for the pet in this situation would be substantially less and, therefore, insurance would not be as useful.

Millem

Sam Kade wrote: »

I'll probably get shot for saying this on pet insurance but I'll say it anyway
This is a difficult and delicate issue for those who love their pets as much as if they were children. From a practical and financial standpoint, however, there are many situations where we would incur significant medical expenses for humans where we would not do so for our pets. As an example, if your mother has terminal cancer and is in substantial pain, you would treat her in a hospital or hospice and manage the pain until she passed away. The daily cost of such medical treatment can be astronomical. If a pet was in the same situation, you would be more likely to make the difficult decision to put him to sleep to alleviate the pain and distress. From a practical standpoint, the medical costs for the pet in this situation would be substantially less and, therefore, insurance would not be as useful.

I don't really understand the last part of your post! Two of my dogs require daily medication and pet insurance is so handy of it! One of them justs get the medicine and doesn't need to see the vet for her condition. For one of her conditions her medicine is around €70 per month. Pet medications can be very expensive. They don't have generics so can be very dear especially if you have a big dog as a lot of dosage is based on weight!

Sam Kade

Millem wrote: »

I don't really understand the last part of your post! Two of my dogs require daily medication and pet insurance is so handy of it! One of them justs get the medicine and doesn't need to see the vet for her condition. For one of her conditions her medicine is around €70 per month. Pet medications can be very expensive. They don't have generics so can be very dear especially if you have a big dog as a lot of dosage is based on weight!

It's simple really pets are not humans so stop treating them as such.

tk123

Sam Kade wrote: »

It's simple really pets are not humans so stop treating them as such.

So what - don't treat their illnesses then?!

DBB

Sam Kade, I'm not too sure that you're familiar with the ethos of this forum (it's for pet lovers), nor that it's not just about putting your pet to sleep the moment it's diagnosed with a terminal illness.
What's more, it's hardly anyone else's business if an owner chooses to spend a blue fortune on their pets. One thing's for sure, if you want to criticise owners for this, this is not the right forum to do it in.
Now, back on topic please.
Do not reply to this post on thread.
Thanks,
DBB

CaraMay

Sam Kade wrote: »

It's simple really pets are not humans so stop treating them as such.

That's not related to my question

tazwaz

I've been with allianz with years and I find them excellent. It also helps that I pay my vet the €100 excess and she claims the rest from them with no problems ☺

Sam Kade

CaraMay wrote: »

That's not related to my question

What was the question, it seemed more like a statement to me.

andreac

Sam Kade wrote: »

What was the question, it seemed more like a statement to me.

Her question was what insurance company to use? How is that a statement?

Sam Kade

andreac wrote: »

Her question was what insurance company to use? How is that a statement?

I see, I didn't know that she was the op

CaraMay

Sam Kade wrote: »

What was the question, it seemed more like a statement to me.

You clearly don't understand English so

Sam Kade

CaraMay wrote: »

You clearly don't understand English so

Yeah, I suppose because I was quoting your post and didn't realiase you were the op it confirms that I clearly don't understand English.

DBB

Okay folks. This stops now.
Sam Kade, don't post in this thread again.

I will ask once again, and for the last time, that everyone gets back on topic now.
Do not reply to this post on thread.
Thanks,
DBB

Sam Kade

Ok

Millem

tazwaz wrote: »

I've been with allianz with years and I find them excellent. It also helps that I pay my vet the €100 excess and she claims the rest from them with no problems ☺

We are with Allianz too and fine them a pleasure to deal with. I just sign tge form and vet does everything for me. They have never kicked up a fuss (touch wood) on any of the claims.

boomerang

Have always found Allianz great to deal with and quick to settle. Couldn't recommend them more highly, actually.

tk123

My friend's OH had an argument with Alianz last year over something silly and said he was changing I urged him to NOT go with a certain company and he ignored me and did... Now that they actually have had to get some tests etc done he regrets his decision and wants to go back to Allianz! :rolleyes:

Knine

I'm with the company not allowed be mentioned. They have paid out a huge amount for our crossbreed. The premium never went up & they pay direct to the vet.

They are also cheaper then Allianz. So I say shop around!

sotisme

Can I ask why the company cant be mentioned? Just curious

tk123

sotisme wrote: »

Can I ask why the company cant be mentioned? Just curious

Well if you were getting great reviews you'd want everyone talking about you right? but if they were crap reviews.....

CaraMay

Knine would you please let me know the name of the company? Thanks

DBB

CaraMay wrote: »

Knine would you please let me know the name of the company? Thanks

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2056955319

;-)

harlser

I have to say. I have had my dog insured since he was a pup. Thinkinv hed be covered sbd save me money if something happened him.

I am insured with <snip> and when I had phoned asking about a claim they were very friendly..... not so good when you actually put in a claim. Stay away from this crowd. They will find any excuse going not to pay out. They had originally told me my claim was being paid and then found excuse after excuse not to pay. Basically ive wasted my money the last few years. Friends of mine have had no problems with other companies one with allianz and another with tesco.

best of luck with the new addition.

CaraMay wrote: »

We are getting a new pedigree pup soon and would like basic insurance cover for him.

Can anyone recommend a reasonable but comprehensive provider / policy?

DBB

Harlser, there have been multiple mentions in this thread of a pet insurance company that have forbidden their name to be used on this forum, I even posted a link to the sticky immediately above your post which asks people to refrain from discussing them.
So please don't discuss them!
Do not reply to this post on thread.
Thanks,
DBB

Frigga_92

Just to add my bit.
I never had pet insurance for any of my dogs. I didn't have pet insurance for my great dane who ended up being quite sick and I ended up having him put to sleep. Prior to him being put to sleep he was on a load of tablets, I think it was something like 3 different types of tablets and due to his size he was getting at least 2-3 of the 3 different tablets twice a day so it ended up being very expensive. Now obviously the expense was directly related to his size, he was 80kg therefore he needed way more than a terrier so that's why it was so expensive. I think for big dogs insurance is a must.

I now have 2 miniature dachshunds and I have them insured with Allianz. It's something like €38 a month for the both of them so nothing too extortionate. I did quite a bit of research on dachshunds before I got them and PRA and IVDD are quite common issues so I feel the insurance is definitely worth it for security.

misschoo

My dog is insured with Allianz - she was diagnosed with diabetes last year & subsequently developed diabetic related cataracts which she had surgery to remove them in January which was a sucess. She is 10 so as allianz only covered 65% of the cost of the surgery which amounted to €3500 so I had to pay €1200. It was money well spent though when I see her quality of life now. If I didn't have her insured I would never been able to afford the total cost & she would have gone blind. Allianz also cover 65% of her insulin & syringes which is great. So yes - definitely insure your dog!

anniehoo

I'm with Allianz too but have yet to use them yet but come highly recommended where I work. They are top of the list actually. It costs ~€9/mth to insure my cat and while I do get a substantial discount workwise I have seen time and time again the turmoil owners are put in when landed with a massive veterinary bill, especially surgical (that's why i have it) or need continuous expensive medical care.

I literally cannot understand why all pet owners don't have it.

I've now taken on an FIV positive cat that I will also insure for surgical reasons if they will allow him although I know medically he will probably be exempt. If they won't insure him I will put money aside, something I'm not great at though.

It is honestly inevitable at some stage in most of our pets lives they will need expensive veterinary care and it is beyond comforting to know that safety net is there if needed.

lazeedaisy

I have my 3 dogs insured with tesco.

My greyhound is with them since before she was 8 as she is now 11 so I have to stay with them and yes they wrote and it's now RSA who I will be insured with instead. so tesco are renewing as RSA.

I have been insuring all 3 since we got them, never had to claim, but would not sleep unless they were insured.

To messy to move for the other 2, happy for now tho,

harlser

just wondering why some companies ae allowed to be mentioned as in the above last few posts? Why only if they have nothing bad to say??! Surely itd make more sense if people were aware of the not so good companies, do they could stay away from them and save money?

DBB

harlser wrote: »

just wondering why some companies ae allowed to be mentioned as in the above last few posts? Why only if they have nothing bad to say??! Surely itd make more sense if people were aware of the not so good companies, do they could stay away from them and save money?

It happens sometimes that companies who receive bad reviews here, contact head office and threaten legal action.
The easiest way for boards.ie to deal with this, I suppose, is the path of least resistance. In other words, without having to spell it out, when a sticky appears asking people not to mention x company, it means there's been a threat of legal action.

harlser

Thanks. That would make sense I suppose. maybe people should just pick the companies that are being mentioned, it gives an idea as to if the companies do what they are supposed to. I know I definitely wont be staying with the company I had my dog insured with as they have basically just robbed me.

tk123

Well my friend heard back from their insurer - they're not accepting their claim(!). They're planning on going back to Allianz at the next renewal.

Raminahobbin

I'm with the company not allowed to be mentioned either, and have just had to put my first claim in recently. It took about 3 weeks to be settled once they got the forms. No problems with it, and am pretty happy so far.

lil'bug

My boy Bob got diabetes and had cataract surgery 7 weeks ago, I am insured with the insurance company who can't be named and I have nothing but good things to say
They covered the full cost of the surgery and a lot of the vet fees I got a cheque in the post a few weeks back for over 3 grand
I'd recommend everyone get pet insurance as it really is a life saver. I had to borrow the money from my mother in law to get the op done and I was worried I wouldn't be covered, all it took was a phone call and get my vet to fax his history and I was given the good news he was covered