Dog Insurance Advice

ace_irl

Hi Guys,

I have a White German Shepard called Bella. She's a rescue dog from the <snip> that I got in June 2012.

She's starting to get on in her years and I'm considering getting her insurance.

When we adopted her in 2012, she came with six weeks free insurance with allianz (nearly 100% sure it was them), however we had her for two weeks and she got very sick, after loads of tests, it turned out she was allergic to pretty much everything except pork and fish. She's been on special hypoallergenic food ever since and she's never had a recurring issue.

These tests cost roughly €800 at the time and I submited a claim to the insurance, which they refused to cover cause of some cooling off period. I never got her re-insured after that as at the time Allianz were the only company who would insure GSD due to the dangerous dogs act and I found them terrible to deal with.

So, long story short, I need some advice on possible insurers and how to go about insuring her now. Does her allergies count as a pre existing medical condition?

Does anyone have recommendations on who offers a good policy? The main thing I want insurance for is her hips as apparently that's an issue effecting GSD's and I'm happy to except that they will most likely not cover any allergy relating issues.

ace_irl

Sorry, one final thing, I tried to get a quote from one particular online insurer and they ask her date of birth, it is impossible for us to know when she was born as the <snip> had her listed at 2-3 years old in 2012, however our own vet felt she was younger 1-2 years old. Is it safe to use her date of adoption for this?

Toots

No, you need to use a DOB. I'm not sure how you'd go about figuring out what it is on an adopted dog. Insurance most likely won't cover her allergies as it's pre existing, and also AFAIK a lot don't give new policies to dogs over 8. I know when my dog turned 8, the excess increased to 35% of the claim value instead of the €100 or something it had been before.

cocker5

Ive been with Allianz since my cocker was 8 weeks old (now 12 years old) and i have to say they are the best on the market.

Ive claimed for all sorts of stuff and this year a HUGE amount for his Hip dysplasia issues and have never had a problem at all - got cheque back (less 35% due to his age as weel as €100 excess per issue) within two weeks.


Yes if you dog has pre existing conditions they wont be covered and anything related to them. they will request a full Vet history etc

What age is your dog? Many Insurers wont insure a dog over 7 i believe.

Manion

Hi

As part of the adoption process you would have had to get a dog license, what date of birth did you specify there?

Unfortunately, no pet insurance company will cover an existing condition and her allergies would count as a pre existing medical condition. Despite the cooling off period, your best long term bet would have been to stick with Allianz.

Additionally, a lot of insurance company wont take let you take out a new insurance policy on dogs over 7 years old. My our pet insurance applies a 35% reduction claim pay out once my dog went over 7 years.

cocker5

Toots wrote: »

No, you need to use a DOB. I'm not sure how you'd go about figuring out what it is on an adopted dog. Insurance most likely won't cover her allergies as it's pre existing, and also AFAIK a lot don't give new policies to dogs over 8. I know when my dog turned 8, the excess increased to 35% of the claim value instead of the €100 or something it had been before.

Not instead...... its 35% AFTER the 100 excess per claim thats how it work with allaniz

Manion

Off topic but with my insurer the excess is only applied once per year per condition. So for the reoccurring conditions I only get hit once. The 35% reduction is per claim.

ace_irl

Thanks for the replies guys, very helpful!

I think on her dog license it would have her adoption date, which is 8 June 2012, shes around 7-8 years old now!

I will try Allianz and see if there's any policy I can get on her, I don't mind a 35% excess, I have a savings account for her just in case she ever needs emergency surgery so I can either pay for it, or get a loan.

I've been a bit short sighted with her insurance, should have sorted it years ago!

Millem

I am someone who has costed Allianz a fortune over the years!!!
Be very careful though because if you are not 100% truthful they won't pay out. The will ask vet to send all of your dog's previous history before paying out any claim.

tk123

TBH I'd say it's too late now unless she has something like say a cut paw, eye infection, accident etc.

Allergies and any joint issues are pre-existing at this stage. I'm with Allianz and they've saved me 11-12k at this stage(!)

Manion

You should always get your dog insured if possible. Any number of conditions could develop and additionally it will provide you with a degree of liability protection as well.

mikka631

Always, always check what cover you get for what you pay. I insured my dog from just shortly after we brought him home in 2003. I don't remember what the premium was back then but in 2006 it was €192 per annum with an excess of €60.
Roll on until today where my premium is €440 per annum with an excess of €100 plus 35% of any other fees.
We never claimed anything over the 14 year period.
Poor old Samson had to be euthanized today and when checking the policy found out that death from illness for a dog over 8yrs old is not covered even though we had him insured from a puppy. If he had been hit by a car he was covered but not unfortunately dying from old age.
In a way we feel rather cheated that for 6 years we were paying increasing premiums with increasing excess for nothing. I know vets fees for illness or operations would have been covered but I think there should have been a reduction in the premium after 8 years old which I will take up with the financial services ombudsman.

boomerang

mikka631 wrote: »

In a way we feel rather cheated that for 6 years we were paying increasing premiums with increasing excess for nothing. I know vets fees for illness or operations would have been covered but I think there should have been a reduction in the premium after 8 years old which I will take up with the financial services ombudsman.

Mikka as your dog ages the risk of illness and disease increases. I believe that's why the premium increases year on year and why the 35% rule kicks in once they are classed as geriatric. You weren't cheated - you were incredibly fortunate that she didn't suffer injury or illness, RIP. Have been using pet insurance since 2002 and have never had a premium decrease at renewal whether I claimed or not. And yes the excess has gone up over the years, probably in line with inflation.

tk123

Ours actually decreased by €100 last year when the 35% kicked in... then his knee was bunched so dreading that letter in August o_O

boomerang

Wow! Josie's 35% kicked in on last renewal and there was no decrease in the premium!