Pet Plan renewal/excess

[Birker2020]

I took the dog to the vet a few weeks ago following acute lameness. The vet diagnosed possible ligament strain but wanted to x-ray her as she was quite lame. We agreed as she was insured with Pet Plan and at this point we'd had her insured nearly 10yrs. We had never claimed before.

The vets receptionist said we could pay a one off £40 for the vets to do the leg work and get their get recoverable costs off the insurance company, otherwise we could pay the vets directly and then claim our money back through Pet Plan. We chose the former as money is quite tight at the moment.

We paid the excess of £115 plus the £40 one off fee to the vets.

Summer had xrays and the claim went over the 1k mark. She also attended a follow up appointment some weeks later during which time her policy had renewed.

My partner (for some strange reason) paid the vets straight away whilst we were at the vets surgery for the follow up treatment. He then tried to claim the full amount (£151.28) back from Pet Plan.

They have sent him an email stating that as the policy has renewed there is an additional excess to pay (which has increased to £125) and therefore they would only reimburse him £26.28.

I rang earluer to query this and they said that when a policy renews there is an additional excess. I said that was ridiculous as the claim is open for 12 months from the time the claim was first started and once the original excess was paid, as far as we were concerned that was that.

Can this be right? Has this happened to you?

We have a load of physio we've not even been billed for yet by a friend who it was confirmed by Pet Plan had the necessary credentials so we were abke to use her. We hope we won't be charged another excess for that too.

 

[Sandstone1]

Yes unfortunately the excess has to be paid again once the policy renews. I have had this before.

 

[Birker2020]

Yes unfortunately the excess has to be paid again once the policy renews. I have had this before.

I've never heard of this. This doesn't happen with horse policies. I wonder why dogs are different?

So if you didn't bother renewing with them you wouldn't have to pay another excess?

So to that end what incentive would there be to stay with them and not to shop around for an alternative and possibly cheaper insurer?

We won't renew with them next year.

 

[Sandstone1]

I've never heard of this. This doesn't happen with horse policies. I wonder why dogs are different.

So if you didn't bother renewing with them you wouldn't have to pay another excess?

So to that end what incentive would there be to stay with them and not to shop around for an alternative insurer?

Because you would not get cover for the original illness as it would be a pre existing condition. Mine have covered for life policies though so as long as I pay the premium and the yearly excess they will be covered for life. If you dont renew with them they wont continue to pay for the condition.

 

[MurphysMinder]

Yes , unfortunately it’s normal . My younger heeler is having ongoing physio after surgery in 2021. I have just paid excess for the 3rd time !

 

[MurphysMinder]

I've never heard of this. This doesn't happen with horse policies. I wonder why dogs are different?

So if you didn't bother renewing with them you wouldn't have to pay another excess?

So to that end what incentive would there be to stay with them and not to shop around for an alternative and possibly cheaper insurer?

We won't renew with them next year.

Unless it’s changed recently, you don’t get lifetime cover with horse policies. People stay because if you change all pre existing conditions will be excluded.

 

[rara007]

Yes, an excess per policy year is normal.

 

[blackcob]

I work in pet insurance and an excess per policy year (and almost always per condition) is normal I’m afraid, it’s just unfortunate timing that yours has renewed during a course of treatment. You won’t have to pay another excess for this condition now until the next policy year.