Pet Insurance - Medibank Or Petplan?

[Ruby Tuesday]

Hi everyone,

Looking for some advice please. I would like to take out insurance for my dog and would like to know whether medibank or petplan is better based on your experiances?

Standard trips to the vet/antibiotics etc arent my concern - I would like to be covered for unforseen illness and injury (my dog has proven ro attrack illness and accident in her three years!), and would like peace of mind if anything major ever comes up.

they are both similar in terms of their content so I am looking for peoples experience in deadling with them and being looked after.

Thanks so much

[Jetty]

I am with Pet Insurance Australia (PIA) and they were quick and easy with the set up of the insurance and everything. I have not made a claim tho.

[laeral]

I am with Pet Insurance Australia (PIA) and they were quick and easy with the set up of the insurance and everything. I have not made a claim tho.

X 2

I made a $1200 claim just one month after signing up. No hassle or fuss, cheque came in the mail a few weeks later.

[Starkehre]

x 3 PIA

[JaxD]

Hi

I've also been looking at pet insurance in quite a lot of detail as we'll be getting our new puppy 2 weeks on Sunday! (Can't wait!). It looks to me like the main differences are that Petplan cover your pet for a condition for life whereas the others (Medibank, PIA and all the others underwritten by Hollard) will only cover it in the policy year that it is diagnosed. However, it looks like Petplan only covers 65% of the vet bill (less excess, obviously) once your pet reaches 10 years of age whereas Medibank et al still cover at 100% (less excess) for the life of your pet.

So I think you need to weigh up the risks of your dog getting an chronic problem like diabetes or a heart condition needing ongoing care vs needing 100% cover when he/she is a 'senior'.. In my opinion, I'm more likely (obviously one never knows, but more likely) to need more cover when my dog is older so I've chosen to go with Medibank.. (mainly over PIA cos it has $1000 tick paralysis benefit vs $500). I've also heard bad reviews for Petplan regarding their administration and customer service..

Just my thoughts on the subject..

Love Jax

[ridgiemum]

I am with Petplan, I have claimed once for a viral infection for my ridgeback Holly only paid the $100 excess, they paid the rest no problems.

[ellz]

Something that may influence the decision. Check with any prospective employer about what should happen if your animal passes away.

One of my puppy people had pet insurance for his ACD puppy with Medibank Private. It was costing him around $30 per month. Sadly, due to genetic issues, his puppy had to be euthanased and he was unable to cancel the pet insurance so he has been locked into paying a policy for a dog that is no longer alive. AND the policy didn't pay anything out towards the health care of his puppy either. He has pretty much been paying for nothing. He is trying to negotiate a transfer of the policy to his new puppy but they aren't looking favourably at it at the present time.

So read all the fine print before you sign up.

[labsrule]

x 4 PIA - I initially took out insurance for my Lab pup with with Petplan, but after reading their Product Disclosure booklet and found that they have reduced coverage (65%) when dogs reach 10 years of age (or 7 years of age for Selected Breeds), I cancelled the policy and took out a policy with PIA instead as they have 100% coverage for dogs 9 years and over I was not happy about PetPlan's reduced coverage for aging dogs as there is more likelihood of a dog getting ill and possibly requiring expensive veterinary treatments as they get older and I would like peace of mind of 100% insurance cover if this happened to my new dog when he ages. This area of coverage is very important to me as I incurred some pretty hefty veterinary bills last year for my beautiful 10 year old black lab boy who had an emergency operation at a Vet Specialist Centre and subsequent Cancer diagnosis, followed by Chemotherapy and I lost him in September

Also with PetPlan I opted for the Supreme Cover which has a $2000 benefit for death by illness/accident, however, this benefit is not paid if your dog reaches 10 years of age or older and dies from illness I have also heard/read some horror stories about PetPlan's delay in processing claims and handling general administration and it took them over two weeks to issue my Policy paperwork, and even after I cancelled my policy, I received another set of policy paperwork from them ;) . PIA issued my Policy in a week and I have heard nothing but good things about the expedient processing of claims/handling general administration etc.

[pinky11]

another PIA happy customer

[Ruby Tuesday]

Thanks so much everyone, it should be such an easy decision but so many different factors to consider!

Looks as thoguh PIA is the way to go though!

Really appreciate all your feedback, thanks again!

[sandra64]

PIA here as well

[Red Fox]

I'm with PIA too

[OSoSwift]

I am with Petplan, had no problems so far.

One question

If your dog has an old age related problem and some companies only pay it in the policy year it occurs and not afterwards, wouldn't you end up worse off than a policy where they pay a lesser percentage but the problem is covered for potentially many years?

My old dog has been on heart medications for nearly 3 years. If he was insured with the first provider I would only have been covered for anything to do with his heart for one policy year. If I was with a company that paid a smaller percentage I would have recieved less per claim, but be covered for 3 years?

I am right in my thinking of way off the mark?

[Lally]

Please note -

Most pet insurers are underwritten by the same outfit - Holland Insurance, with whom I'm in conflict. I've copied my post of late January in case you missed it.

After a traumatic experience with one my last Cavaliers, whom I adored, and who cost me many, many, thousands of dollars in treatment, I decided to insure my last girl. Unfortunately, this was after a near-death experience in June, 2006, when the Lort Smith Animal hospital in Melbourne miraculously treated her and saved her life from struvite bladder stones and an almost uncontrollable high temperature due to a concomitant staph infection. Of course, I told the insurer, RSPCA, about this pre-condition. However, and this is something which everyone who's contemplating pet insurance should understand, the underwriter for nearly every policy, no matter who offers it, is the same - Hollard Insurance. There is just not enough competition in this field in Australia, in my opinion. I'm currently in dispute with the insurer and I think that the best way to inform you of my problems is to quote my last letter to them:

"I refer to the Special Policy Conditions outlined in the Certificate of Insurance invoice which I recently received, viz.,

Specific Exclusions:

All Renal conditions and any claim that arises either directly or indirectly from

these conditions.

As there are no indications that Purdy has suffered from any renal dysfunction I would be grateful to know on what basis this has been determined. I would also welcome your advising me of the name/s of your technical adviser/s.

This is not the first time that Purdy's policy has been arbitrarily, in my view, encumbered. At the last renewal, you excluded 'bladder stones'. Whereas I had advised you at the time of purchase that Purdy had once suffered from struvite bladder stones, she later showed signs of developing oxalate stones. Two vets confirmed to me that one sort of bladder stone had no correlation with the other, however you made no distinction. I verbally questioned this and was informed that the matter would be further considered. However, no explanation was forthcoming.

Currently, when Purdy visits the vet for any reason, her urine is automatically tested. Recently, a slight rise in protein levels was indicated. Further tests to ascertain cause included a blood test to examine her kidneys. This test proved negative - her kidneys were functioning very well. I presume, though, that this is the basis on which you've now excluded 'all renal conditions.'

I note, particularly, from your information page on the internet, which I read closely before taking out insurance:

Life Time Cover -once insured cover may be renewed for life with no reduction of benefits or exclusions added.

It is my opinion that Purdy's insurance cover, more expensive than most others but which I accepted as a way of contributing to the RSPCA, is not providing the cover and support which it claimed. I have not before heard of an insurer restricting its cover, annually, unless fraud or deceit was proven. Of course, it's now too late for me to switch to another provider, so I am doubly disadvantaged.

In early October, Purdy was diagnosed with an enlarged heart. This is despite her breeder's organising annual check-ups for mitral valve disease, luxating patella and eye problems in his dogs. None of Purdy's siblings, are similarly afflicted, and I trust that I can rely on this policy's not being changed, yet again, in response to this serious illness.

However, I noted that the first claim for her X-Ray and medications took longer to be reimbursed, i.e. the insurance cheque was not sent until after the policy's annual renewal date. I assume that this was to reduce the cost to you of claims during the 2009/2010 period?

I will be pleased to receive your reply at your earliest convenience. Thank you."

As you can see, I'm not a happy camper. I have received no reply at all, but I will take the matter up further with the insurance Ombudsman if Hollard continues to shirk its obligations to cover my very sick girl.

My advice is to be very cautious about pet insurance. I would not be without it, that's true, unless one's prepared to euthanase one's dog when he or she becomes seriously ill, which I never would. But unless you're prepared to stand up for your dog's and your rights pet insurance can be a financial trap.

One good thing about this policy is that there are no additional impositions due to age. However, there is every indication that the underwriter will, allegedly, try to shrug off its obligations if it deems it necessary.

[OSoSwift]

Sorry you are going through this, Insurance is supposed to ease our stress, not increase it!

Hope you get it sorted soon.

Petplan is underwritten by Aliianz.

[grace]

I put in a claim with Pet Plan three months ago and am still waiting on my cheque. Will not be insuring with them again.

[Erny]

Something that may influence the decision. Check with any prospective employer about what should happen if your animal passes away.

One of my puppy people had pet insurance for his ACD puppy with Medibank Private. It was costing him around $30 per month. Sadly, due to genetic issues, his puppy had to be euthanased and he was unable to cancel the pet insurance so he has been locked into paying a policy for a dog that is no longer alive. AND the policy didn't pay anything out towards the health care of his puppy either. He has pretty much been paying for nothing. He is trying to negotiate a transfer of the policy to his new puppy but they aren't looking favourably at it at the present time.

So read all the fine print before you sign up.

Gosh. I thought the obligation to continue paying (if opting to pay monthly) for the 12 month period was only if the insurance had paid out on a claim in that period. I'd be seriously thinking about speaking to the insurance ombudsman regardless of insurance 'fine print' if that was me.

Edited February 5, 2010 by Erny

[Erny]

x 4 PIA - I initially took out insurance for my Lab pup with with Petplan, but after reading their Product Disclosure booklet and found that they have reduced coverage (65%) when dogs reach 10 years of age (or 7 years of age for Selected Breeds), I cancelled the policy and took out a policy with PIA instead as they have 100% coverage for dogs 9 years and over I was not happy about PetPlan's reduced coverage for aging dogs as there is more likelihood of a dog getting ill and possibly requiring expensive veterinary treatments as they get older and I would like peace of mind of 100% insurance cover if this happened to my new dog when he ages. This area of coverage is very important to me as I incurred some pretty hefty veterinary bills last year for my beautiful 10 year old black lab boy who had an emergency operation at a Vet Specialist Centre and subsequent Cancer diagnosis, followed by Chemotherapy and I lost him in September

Also with PetPlan I opted for the Supreme Cover which has a $2000 benefit for death by illness/accident, however, this benefit is not paid if your dog reaches 10 years of age or older and dies from illness :D I have also heard/read some horror stories about PetPlan's delay in processing claims and handling general administration and it took them over two weeks to issue my Policy paperwork, and even after I cancelled my policy, I received another set of policy paperwork from them . PIA issued my Policy in a week and I have heard nothing but good things about the expedient processing of claims/handling general administration etc.

I'll bear this in mind for the next time around in insuring an animal. Thanks for that feed back, Labsrule. I had a bit of difficulty in getting my claims approved and paid with PetPlan, but I thought I might have been a 'one-off'.

[megan_]

x 4 PIA - I initially took out insurance for my Lab pup with with Petplan, but after reading their Product Disclosure booklet and found that they have reduced coverage (65%) when dogs reach 10 years of age (or 7 years of age for Selected Breeds), I cancelled the policy and took out a policy with PIA instead as they have 100% coverage for dogs 9 years and over

YEs. But if your dog is diagnosed when it is 10 and it lives to be 15 (possible in the small breed that I have) you will only be covered for the one year of treatment? With PetPlan, you'll be covered for life (at 65% - which would land up paying out a lot more).

PetPlan have an issue at the mometn due to a new systems implementation. Once they catch up they should be right (I hope!).

[ellz]

Something that may influence the decision. Check with any prospective employer about what should happen if your animal passes away.

One of my puppy people had pet insurance for his ACD puppy with Medibank Private. It was costing him around $30 per month. Sadly, due to genetic issues, his puppy had to be euthanased and he was unable to cancel the pet insurance so he has been locked into paying a policy for a dog that is no longer alive. AND the policy didn't pay anything out towards the health care of his puppy either. He has pretty much been paying for nothing. He is trying to negotiate a transfer of the policy to his new puppy but they aren't looking favourably at it at the present time.

So read all the fine print before you sign up.

Gosh. I thought the obligation to continue paying (if opting to pay monthly) for the 12 month period was only if the insurance had paid out on a claim in that period. I'd be seriously thinking about speaking to the insurance ombudsman regardless of insurance 'fine print' if that was me.

He's working on it I believe.

The puppy had some very severe hereditary defects which are apparently known in the breed and that is why nothing was ever paid out on....his treatments weren't covered by the insurance.