Older dog insurance - what amount per condition is reasonable??

[tobiano1984]

Another year, another insurance swap. I swapped from Animal Friends to Tesco last year as AF added the 20% co-payment due to my dog turning 8. So went with Tesco as no copayment, but after no claims the policy has gone up by over 50%. With Tesco she is insured for £7500 per condition cover level.

So now the options look like as follows (without spending £££ per month):

back to Animal Friends, £10k annual/£4k per condition, 20% copayment

Lifetime Pet Cover - £6k limit per annum overall, 20% copayment lifetime cover (supposed to be good for older dogs with ongoing issues).

Petplan - as recommended by every vet I know - but as a new customer they will only give essential cover which is £3k per condition, limited to annual. 20% copayment.

All have low excesses under £100.

But my concern is the level of cover, is £3k enough? I have luckily never had a significant doggie vet bill, only ever a few £100 for false alarm x-rays or a bit of metacam and antibiotics. My dog is a very healthy 9yo mongrel (Lurcher), doesn't have any issues at the moment. As an older dog I'm not going to be having bionic limbs attached or anything like that, but would want to be covered for fractures, tumours etc. I have no idea how much such things cost? I just never want to be in the position of having to make a decision based on money.

Thanks!

 

[angrybird1]

I just cancelled mine with healthy pets as they put the premium up to over 1000 a year for a 11 year old.
Just bear in mind that who ever you go with the premium will shoot up as your dog gets older.
My decision was made by thinking about how much treatment I would put a dog of her age through.

 

[satinbaze]

My oldie is with lifetime pet cover, due to the cancer risk with flatcoats I went for maximum cover. They have been brilliant for 2 claims in 12 months. I would highly recommend

 

[tobiano1984]

My oldie is with lifetime pet cover, due to the cancer risk with flatcoats I went for maximum cover. They have been brilliant for 2 claims in 12 months. I would highly recommend

Oh interesting, they do look good and very reasonable but not one I've heard of much!

 

[TheresaW]

Aled is 12 in January. He is insured with Tesco, but OH’s cousins pay it. (Aled was their Dads dog). It is due for renewal now, and the premium has gone up a lot. They asked us if we wanted them to continue insuring him, or they would help cover any big bills should they arise. We decided given his age, that we wouldn’t put him through anything major, and I mentioned the veteran insurance I have for the older horses. They spoke to Tesco, and he is covered now for injuries, 3rd party liability at a much more reasonable cost.

 

[SusieT]

Just checking you know that if your dog has ever sniffed, coughed, vomited, limped etc and its on his record that will be excluded every time you move insureres as they exclude all pre existing conditions they can tie to anything prior?
At his age you need to find a policy and stick with it tbh. I'd want 5-6k minimum cover if I was considering chemo etc otherwise would cope with 4k lifetime.

 

[tobiano1984]

Just checking you know that if your dog has ever sniffed, coughed, vomited, limped etc and its on his record that will be excluded every time you move insureres as they exclude all pre existing conditions they can tie to anything prior?
At his age you need to find a policy and stick with it tbh. I'd want 5-6k minimum cover if I was considering chemo etc otherwise would cope with 4k lifetime.

Luckily she's got a pretty blemish free vet record. I would love to stay with an insurer but when Tesco nearly doubled it after no claims it's just not practical. I think I'll go with Lifetime as 6k pa should cover most things that I'd put an older dog through.