Insurance Query

[Firestick]

So, our puppy is just 12 weeks old and upon collection almost 4 weeks ago, we were lucky to receice 4 weeks free insurance from PetPlan.

The insurance expires Monday (assume midnight) and I had a couple of quotes ready to take out on Monday. I wasn't favouring PetPlan, as I was disappointed in the hard sell, but hadn't ruled them out.

Today, he collapsed and we rushed him to the vet, who then sent us onto the pet hospital. He's settled, but early diagnosis is possibly something ingested, perhaps pesticide from the fields around us. he's permitted out and has been on a lead. Anyway, we shall see,

Estimate so far is £700.

I panicked, not trusting the free insurance, so rang PetPlan and advised of the pending claim, plus decided to cover him with them from expiry on Monday. OI felt somewhat forced to do so, as a new insurer would no doubt see this as a pre-existing condition.

Do you think PetPlan will be happy to cover the claim as it occurred during their policy and do you think they will cover it ongoing, as it straddles the two policies?

Any pointers, advice or opinion welcome.

[moorx]

I can't advise whether Petplan will cover it (but I should have thought so) but I would recommend Petplan for dog insurance anyway.

We started our policies for Sam and Jet whippets the same way as yours (continuing a free policy from the rescue centre in our case) but we have been glad of it in the 7 years since. Both our whippets have chronic conditions requiring regular vet treatment, which has all been covered (excluding excess of course). I've always found Petplan very approachable and helpful when you contact them.

Hope your pup soon recovers.

[Firestick]

moorx said:

I can't advise whether Petplan will cover it (but I should have thought so) but I would recommend Petplan for dog insurance anyway.

We started our policies for Sam and Jet whippet the same way as yours (continuing a free policy from the rescue centre in our case) but we have been glad of it in the 7 years since. Both our whippets have chronic conditions requiring regular vet treatment, which has all been covered (excluding excess of course). I've always found Petplan very approachable and helpful when you contact them.

Hope your pup soon recovers.

PetPal were my first choice, having needed them for two previous dogs and significant treatments to both.

I just found their sales team really poor, bordering on aggressive and certainly unprofessional, which is why I would have gone elsewhere this time.

Edited by Firestick on Saturday 14th September 21:00

[spookly]

No idea whether they'll cover it, but sounds like they should.

I've never used PetPlan due to the ridiculous quotes that I've always had from them. Not just slightly, but stupidly more expensive than others for the same cover. I haven't had an issue claiming from any of the insurers that I have used, but I haven't used any of the really 'bottom of the market' type companies.

IIRC PetPlan are underwritten by Allianz, and so are Sainsbury's and Coop. So you can get similar levels of service/cover cheaper with the same underwriter.

[Firestick]

If they cover him for this claim - he was released tonight, so the treatment ended before the free expiry - I will cancel the new policy, as I agree, their cover more recently comes at an uncompetitive cost.

[rscott]

It's worth checking on claim limits - some policies have a whole life limit, others an annual limit.