Insurance

AmyMay

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Sorry in advance because I know this has been done to death. But. Insurance...

Daisy is now six years old and her insurance is due for renewal in March. I’m expecting premiums to be around £35-40 this time. I’m debating now whether to just self insure, but I’m really torn about it.

I know it’s hard to tell me what’s the right thing to do, but just thought I’d ask what others do once their dogs reach a certain age, and premiums start going up.

Thanks x
 

Red-1

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I stopped insuring Odin, but his had gone to £80 a month. I think he was 9. We had a year not insured but he died unexpectedly at 10. I would not have put him through any major treatment by that time though.

Hector was not insured when he had pancreatitis. Wish he had been, the insurance was under £20 a month and he needed over 1K in treatment.
 

SusieT

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self insure if you can afford around 4k vet bills without being too stretched, that allows for most small dog injuries, a broken leg etc- if you cant afford that but would want to treat any recoverable injuries I would continue insurance
 

SatansLittleHelper

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Friend of mine decided to self insure their dog after their premium went up. 4 months after they cancelled the insurance the dog was hit by a car and they faced a 3.5k vets bill and had to make the decision to put her to sleep because they simply couldn't afford it. The insurance would have paid out sadly. In 4 months they had saved £240 in their account which just about paid for the emergency consultation :(
 

Archangel

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My premiums are around £22 a month. Last year for renewal the insurer quoted £43 a month so I shopped around and used Topcashback and got back to £24 a month.

Dog is 10.

I wish insurers wouldn't try it on every year. They don't seem to care if you jump ship.
 

Smitty

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I ran a comparison check a couple of months ago for my 5yo terrier and Tesco insurance (which is underwritten by a large ins co but I forget which) came out at roughly £10.00 per month. It also covered more than my present insurance which is about £15.00 pm with Pet Friends.

I tend to take the view that they may not pay out anyway so stick to cheaper ones. I am in a position to pay the vet fees if necessary, within reason, though.
 

Pearlsasinger

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Only you know your financial situation but if you have access to enough money to pay a sizeable vet bill, either from savings or a cc, save your money. Last summer, I was quoted about £1500 for an op to remove a tumour from my Rottweiler. Sadly she couldn't be operated on successfully but the bill, which included a scan came to £800, the GA and pts and disposal. I didn't think that was extortionate.
 

skinnydipper

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Only you know your financial situation but if you have access to enough money to pay a sizeable vet bill, either from savings or a cc, save your money. Last summer, I was quoted about £1500 for an op to remove a tumour from my Rottweiler. Sadly she couldn't be operated on successfully but the bill, which included a scan came to £800, the GA and pts and disposal. I didn't think that was extortionate.

I think that is very reasonable PaS. Just over a year ago I paid £860 for removal of 2 carnassials o_O (Slab fractures from either roast venison strips or Yak milk treats. Lesson learned, no hard chews)

I have never insured but often wished I had.
 
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deb_l222

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I guess I've always been fairly lucky with the dogs and never faced an extortionate bill - the horses on the other hand.......................

I've never had the dogs insured, mainly because I've had lots of them and it would be ridiculous to be paying £50 or £60 per month x 3 or 4.

Biggest bill I've has was Willow's knee at 2K and Button had her cruciate repaired but my own vet did that, rather than an orthopeadic vet so it was £800. Willow might be facing other surgeries, if I can't keep a lid on things but she can't be insured anyway, what with her dodgy medical history.

Swings and roundabouts isn't it. I don't miss what I've never had and know I will have to stump up if the time came.
 

Aru

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Insurance for me is a personal choice thing. It comes down to finaces and how much you are willing to spend on a dog on a personal finaces point of view(most ppl have a limit but it varies from person to person)
what level of invasive precedures do you think your dog would a tolerate...how many are likely to require due to breed predispositions etc
and in the face of the likes of cancer how far would you be willing to pursue surgical and medical treatments.
Human level medicine is possible for dogs.. but it's very expensive and usually involves specialist hospitals in some cases.

Personally I insure my dog despite working as a vet simply because I don't want finances to make my medical decisions....I can hand her over to someone else and walk away without having to consider anything beyond I hope she behaves/pulls through.

Insurance in my mind is for anything that could financially cripple you. If you know your going to want and the dog tolerate the do everything approach then it's a good idea. This is the first animal Ive ever insured as it happens. I'm also quite happy to pursue full gold standard style care if mine ever does get sick or seriously injured and I know better then most how much that costs....and I also know she would tolerate hospitalisation etc like a champion as shes fine with crates and med procedures so that not an issue. I hope to never need it.

Personally I use a very high excess to bring the costs down as il only need it for the bills that will run into the thousands...where I am that's snake bites and emergency surgery, longterm hospitalisation level stuff....chronic conditions are pricey but at least its spread across paychecks not all at once!
I've debated accident and emergency only insurance as theres very few cancers I'd be willing to do chemo etc on outside of lympoma but thankfully shes not yet in the age bracket where choices need made as the cost of insurance rises....and at the moment the biggest risks are still just from her being an idiot and self inflicted injuries...and bloomin snakes. I hate snakes sigh. We have a list of the most venomous ones that live in my region...and I've already removed one from my garden.

Its mostly for peace of mind and to give options. I hope NEVER to get use out of my insurance company.

Unless you have access to an emergency fund or a credit card with a decent limit I would be wary of self insure as a immediate alternative. Though there are a lot more payment plan options final becoming to appear for vet bills...at least here in Australia anyways! Having access to funds does matter in emergency situatioms unfortunately.no one ever expects accidents to happen.Emergency hospitals and our of hours are also are the most expensive. Have a back up plan for if the worse happens..
 
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Broodle

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My 9yo and 10yo dogs are insured at just over £40 pcm each. One has a chronic condition that requires drugs that cost theiinsurance company about £40 per month, plus regular check ups on top. She has also had £1.5k (!) treatment over last 6 months for a nightmare ear infection. The other dog was recently diagnosed with a different chronic condition requiring lifelong expensive drugs, and a diagnosis bill of about £2k... Very glad of the insurance tbh!!!
 

AmyMay

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Thanks everyone for your thoughts. You’ve all raised some very valid points. I’m not really bothered about how much a month I pay in premiums (at present anyway), but equally could afford a high vet bill for a catastrophic event (please God it never happens). However as many point out, it’s peace of mind as much as anything having them insured, so I think you’ve helped me make my mind up to continue.

Many thanks x
 
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