Is BHS membership better than private insurance?

[FionaM12]

Reading another thread about the benefits of BHS membership got me thinking. I've never joined before, but would it be better than my existing insurance?

Mollie is 18 years old. I have her insured for accident/3rd party (NFU) but not for illness, due to her age. I don't want to join the BHS on top of my current insurance, as I'm on a low income and everything needs to be kept affordable. But would I get better cover by not renewing this year, but joining the BHS instead?

What are you covered for as a member please?

I expect I could work it all out by reading all the small print on the BHS site, but might get an unbiased, clearer and quicker answer here.

 

[Orangehorse]

If you are a BHS member you get Third Party and Personnal insurance and cover for you dealing with any horse and anyone riding your horse, but you horse is not covered for illness, injury, vets fees, death, etc.

Some insurance companies allow you to pick the cover you want, so I insure my horse with the NFU for death and vets fees, but not for Third Party as I am covered by being a BHS member.

Some insurance companies are "all in" and you don't get an option, just different levels of cover, which will include the Public Liability cover.

Public Liability/Third Party insurance is for if your horse causes an accident and you have to pay out to the injured party - e.g. got loose at a show and crashed into a car/person, escaped from a field and got onto the road and had an accident with a car.
The sort of things that can be very expensive!

 

[FionaM12]

Thanks Orangehorse, that gives me something to think about.

I don't think I can afford to cover her for illness at her age (even if I could find a company which would) but she is covered for accident. It might be worth looking at renewing her insurance just for accident and death, and joining the BHS for the rest.

 

[OWLIE185]

If you take out BHS Gold membership then you will get third party public liability cover of £10,000,000 (Ten million pounds) which is the amount required these days. (Many policies do not give this level of cover).

 

[Bertolie]

Thanks Orangehorse, that gives me something to think about.

I don't think I can afford to cover her for illness at her age (even if I could find a company which would) but she is covered for accident. It might be worth looking at renewing her insurance just for accident and death, and joining the BHS for the rest.

I have my soon-to-be 19 year old insured for full vets fees including illness with Petplan. They will insure for illness up to the horse's 25th birthday providing you take out insurance before their 20th birthday. I pay £422 per year (£35 per month)for him. I have him insured for vets fees and death but I have public liability with BHS.