Insurance - any views/advice?

[ajs]

Does anyone insure their cats?

I never have - and my cats (all moggies to date) thankfully have always been very healthy.

The two cats I have just adopted (my first ever pedigree cats) came with 6 weeks insurance from Petplan, provided by the breed rescue. In 6 weeks I will be asked if I want to continue it. As yet I have no idea how much it will cost but the breeder of the cats has recommended it.

Has anyone any experience or views?

[dandysmom]

For years I never had it, as I was as fortunate as you that mine had always been healthy. But when Leia had a bout of cystitis last year, I was mildly appalled at the vet fees; coincidentally I got a flyer in the mail about pet insurance, and decided to get it. The annual premium was less than the vet fees for one trip/medication, etc. I hope she's never sick again, but it's worth it to me for peace of mind!

[Grete]

I would honestly say, get your pets insured. They can be healthy most of their lives but then as they get older, problems can start cropping up or as we all know, accidents happen.

My late girl Squeak was insured when she came to me (my mother had done it when she owned squeak and continued to pay for it so she would be covered).

Squeak developed Diabetes and the vet fees were astronomical and I couldn't imagine having to make the decision to rehome her or have her PTS because I couldn't afford it and would have gotten myself into awful debt. The insurance company covered her costs for the rest of her life which sadly was only 2 more years but it made sure those 2 years were good for her.

We covered Bubbles with Petplan (as they are my vets preferred insurers) since she was 6 months old and never had to claim until recently (she's 8 now). Again, it was necessary treatment and it would have been difficult to find the full amount. Petplan paid the fees (minus the excess) with absolutely no quibble and I was really pleased with their service.

Fizz came with 6 weeks free insurance (yay thanks Smudgely) and we continued it when it was up, I just wouldn't dream of not now.

They have lots of different levels of cover and I think it's pretty reasonable.

Sorry if that all sounds like an advert lol but I just don't know how I would have coped without it.

Anyway, hope that helps ;) Feel free to PM me for more info.

[ajs]

Thanks Grete. Your post sounds very much like the breeder of the kittens talking as it is just what she said. I asked her if she had had cause to use it and she gave me the details.

I will certainly give it serious consideration. Provided the monthly payment is not extortionate then I think there is no reason why I shouldn't and I may well be very thankful that I did in later years.

[Soupie]

I would also insure my cats for peace of mind. When I got portia this year I insured her as I wasn't earning a great deal and didn't want to be in a position where vet treatment could not be funded. Hers costs about £6.50 a month for a 14 year old moggie and Quando's costs £7.80 a month but he is a young pedigree cat.

I am so glad I got Q insured as within 4 months of having him he has had £400 of treatment for IBD and a nasty infection. Very well worth it in my opinion ;)

[Tink]

i have a question..
is it like human insurance where they won't cover you if you already have a medical condition. i don't have extra money now and kuan yin is very young..but what if she develops something? is it like human medical insurance in the US where that would raise your premium or not get you covered at all?
sorry, may be a dumb question...

[dandysmom]

Not a dumb question at all! None of us knows everything. Since you're in the States also I'm attaching a link to the insurance I have. I have the Primary Plan with ASPCA.
http://www.aspcapetinsurance.com/

[Grete]

As far as I am aware (and from american friends who I talk to) pet insurance seems to be a new-ish thing in the states?

Most places over here will start cover without question on any cat under 7 years of age as long as there have been no major illnesses, cats have been vaccinated etc etc. I think they will still unsure cats who have been ill or required treatment in the past but the premium will usually go up.

Lots of different plans as well - cheaper ones that will only cover an ongoing illness for 12 months max and others that cost a little more that will pay out for life of the cat.

We have a medium level for life policy for my two and I think we pay 12 pounds a month for Bubbles and 11 for Fizz. We get a slight 2nd pet discount for Fizz which is nice.

I also have them both on a 'Gold' scheme at their vets where I pay an amount per month and it covers all their boosters, twice a year programme injections + spot ons, all their worming and twice a year check-ups. You also get a 10% discount on any treatment and food so it all works out quite nicely. Is a much less painful way of finding a lump sum twice a year for everything. I don't know how many vets do this but I feel it's a great idea.

[dandysmom]

As far as I am aware (and from american friends who I talk to) pet insurance seems to be a new-ish thing in the states?

Most places over here will start cover without question on any cat under 7 years of age as long as there have been no major illnesses, cats have been vaccinated etc etc. I think they will still unsure cats who have been ill or required treatment in the past but the premium will usually go up.

Lots of different plans as well - cheaper ones that will only cover an ongoing illness for 12 months max and others that cost a little more that will pay out for life of the cat.

We have a medium level for life policy for my two and I think we pay 12 pounds a month for Bubbles and 11 for Fizz. We get a slight 2nd pet discount for Fizz which is nice.

I also have them both on a 'Gold' scheme at their vets where I pay an amount per month and it covers all their boosters, twice a year programme injections + spot ons, all their worming and twice a year check-ups. You also get a 10% discount on any treatment and food so it all works out quite nicely. Is a much less painful way of finding a lump sum twice a year for everything. I don't know how many vets do this but I feel it's a great idea.

You're right. Grete; I had never heard of it, even at my vets. It's only become well known in the last few years. I'm pleased with the plan I have, and just hope I never need to use it!

[Kay]

As a breeder all my kittens go with the 6 weeks pet plan insurance and the majority of new owners have carried this on afterwards. Several people I have known that have had to make a claim have said how quick and easy petplan settled.
I would definitely recommend them but I have no experience of any other pet insurance company. I think the reason they are so good is because they only insure pets and are therefore specialists in that field. A lot of the other insurance companies do it as a sideline.

[Tinker]

So far I haven't had any cats insured. I will have to decide if I should insure the kittens when we get them.
I doubt if any company would insure Tinker at the age of 19.

Over the years, assuming most policies cost about £6 a month, we would have paid out roughly £3500 in premiums for the cats we have had. Most of the cats we have had have been fairly healthy, but even with one accident prone walking disaster area of a cat our vets bills haven't amounted to anything like that. In his 14 year life Bobby had a road accident leading to removal of his eye and a few days stay at the vets, numerous abscesses caused by being beaten up by a neighbouring cat, a heart murmur, a few kidney infections (and more blood tests than I can remember) skin cancer resulting in the removal of an ear and another stay at the vets, cystitis (10pm dash to the emergency vets for that one), high blood pressure requiring daily medication for the rest of his life (which was only a month). I think he used up all his nine lives!

[Grete]

I think with any type of insurance, if you look at it retrospectively, it never seems worth it unless you've had to claim ;)

You pay just in case something were to happen. Some people are disciplined enough to put an amount of money a month into an account, to be used only for vets bills but I'm not one of them hehe. I also can't afford 2-300 quid in one go which is what I would have had to do for Bubbles' treatment or else decide not to treat her and watch her suffer. So for me it's a no brainer. I can pay the monthly premiums and know they are covered.

When my diabetic cat Squeak was with us I think we amassed over 2K in vets bills. It could have been much more had she lived longer.

[charliebubs]

I have all my cats insured and I wouldn't be without it. It's been a lifesaver when they have been ill and the vets fees have been excessive.

It is a "just in case" thing - but like anything in life you never know what is going to happen and I'd rather be safe than sorry.