Pet Insurance

[rexiam]

After all our Vet bills of last year I have been thinking we really need to get some pet insurance.

I wanted to know who out there has it? Who do you go through and are you happy with them?

[laeral]

I am with Pet Insurance Australia.

I have made one claim that went through no problems. very happy with them

[newfsie]

Medibank Private.I get a discount, because we are also members. I have not made a claim, but my friends with newfs have.......One was for a hip replacement, no issues and the dog is still covered. They do check for pre-existing conditions and do not cover for them. I only have mine covered for the major stuff and not the little incidentals, that makes the monthly payment a lot less. I pay $52.00/month for three large dogs

[16Paws]

I use medibank private as well and have made a claim. We were very happy with the speed and amount refunded. I get a member discount and multi-pet discount.

There are a number of topics on insurance already

Edited March 8, 2010 by 16Paws

[Red Fox]

Also with PIA

We have the full accident and illness cover with a $100 excess (and 100% claim back after excess). It cost me $35 per month.

I'm very happy with them. The first claim I made (around a year ago) was in my account within 3 days! The second one I lodged mid Feb but received a letter to say they had a backlog of claims over the Christmas period and allow 3 weeks for processing. I rang last Tuesday to check up on it and was told -No, my claim had not been processed yet but would I like them to push it ahead for me? I said yes and money was in my account by Friday morning

[Sticks1977]

I am also with Pet Insurance Australia.

Fraser was covered with PIA and I took out the policy in late July, he became ill in mid-September and his policy was only 'active' for 2 weeks due to the 30 day waiting period.

PIA paid out the claim in full (minus the excess) and the total bill came up to $7,500 for 2.5 days in the Animal Emergency Centre. When I received the final invoice from PIA the last line printed was "we are so very sorry for your loss"... coming from an insurance company, that's pretty rare I feel.

I am now with PIA again for Henry and took out the cover when he was 8 weeks of age. I went for the highest plan ($500 excess) and it costs me just over $178 for the entire year.

[Jetty]

Also with PIA

We have the full accident and illness cover with a $100 excess (and 100% claim back after excess). It cost me $35 per month.

Ditto

[SchnauzerBoy]

Just signed up with Medibank for our 2 with accident and illness protection.

Seems to be pretty good coverage... hope never to have to make a claim, but it is there just in case!

[Boronia]

If you go to http://www.petsure.com.au/ they have 12 different pet insurances listed.

They are all owned by the same underwriter (I think I have that right) but the costs are different with each of the companies listed

If you click on each of them you will find that most have a section that will give you a quote on-line.

[OSoSwift]

I have Petplan with $100 excess.

Have only made a couple of small claims, all good so far.

I am not covered for flea/Heartworm products etc. I have cover for Accident and injury $415 each per year for the Whippets.

[rexiam]

Thanks for the input everyone

[Chocolate]

I have a friend with Petplan. First claim for kennel cough they paid. 2nd claim was for a puncture wound in the dogs foot. They have full accident and illness cover but the claim was put in last Sep/Oct and has still not been paid. She rang and asked them about it and they said they were not going to pay. Considering the dog is fully covered and it was without doubt some kind of accident from another dog or sharp object I can't see any possible reason to refuse payment. The dog was treated by the vet.

[Jetty]

I have a friend with Petplan. First claim for kennel cough they paid. 2nd claim was for a puncture wound in the dogs foot. They have full accident and illness cover but the claim was put in last Sep/Oct and has still not been paid. She rang and asked them about it and they said they were not going to pay. Considering the dog is fully covered and it was without doubt some kind of accident from another dog or sharp object I can't see any possible reason to refuse payment. The dog was treated by the vet.

I have heard bad things about them too. I was going to go with them orignally but decided against it. Stear safe of them rexiam

[Sayreovi]

I am with PIA as well.

I had been looking at doing it for ages and had heard really good things about PIA.

As yet (thankfully) I haven't had to make a claim but I have the highest cover on both dogs (15k with $500 excess) so my opinion may change!

[ninahartland]

I'm with Medibank Private. Haven't had to make a claim yet so don't know what they're like at paying up.

I pay just under $120 per month for 4 with $200 excess. Think it's called silver cover.

[D & D]

I have a friend with Petplan. First claim for kennel cough they paid. 2nd claim was for a puncture wound in the dogs foot. They have full accident and illness cover but the claim was put in last Sep/Oct and has still not been paid. She rang and asked them about it and they said they were not going to pay. Considering the dog is fully covered and it was without doubt some kind of accident from another dog or sharp object I can't see any possible reason to refuse payment. The dog was treated by the vet.

I have heard bad things about them too. I was going to go with them orignally but decided against it. Stear safe of them rexiam

I was with them, never had to claim though. Premium went up by $100 in 12 months, with a few breed specific exclusions thrown in.

I looked around and am now with Prosure. I did a few on-line quotes, there's was cheaper (with better benefits than some). Most are underwritten by Hollard.

[Kaffy Magee]

Im with PIA too. Mainly because I did my research here on DOL and found them to be the best. Im just wondering though for those who are with them too, did you get the vet to fill out the cruciate report and send it in(within 14 days) to be covered for cruciate damage from the get go (rather than wait 6 months to be covered). I did as bullmastiffs are prone to doing cruciates but I havent heard anything back. I'll give them a ring tomorrow to find out if its covered but just thought I would ask anyone else whos done it.

Shame they dont have a a deal like Petplan though for new puppy buyers, get 6 weeks free insurance.

Edited March 9, 2010 by Kaffy Magee

[Kaffy Magee]

Resamith, My vet did the report while I was there which of course was all clear and then I sent it to the Insurance company. I just havent heard from the insurance company to say they have recieved it.

They send you a form for the vet to fill out (doesnt matter what breed you have) if you want immediate coverage for cruciate damage otherwise you can wait 6 months and then you become covered. I know of too many BMs that have done their cruciate and I thought If I wait the 6 months out, I bet one of mine will do it and I'll be kicking myself,lol.

[disorder]

I'm going to be lazy and ask here....

Snot had a compressed disc a few months back and needed spinal surgery.

The vet said there is a very small percentage (like 5%) that it could happen again down the line but to a different disc.

Would this be considered a pre-existing condition if it was to happen again but to a different disc, or if he had any other spinal issues in the future, does anybody know?

To everybody that doesn't have pet insurance, I'd definitely recommend it. I never bothered because I was always under the impression that if something did go wrong with my dog I would always be able to scrape together some emergency monies to cover it, that's what credit cards are for! Not frickin' THOUSANDS and Thousands of dollars though! gah..

[Staff'n'Toller]

I'm going to be lazy and ask here....

Snot had a compressed disc a few months back and needed spinal surgery.

The vet said there is a very small percentage (like 5%) that it could happen again down the line but to a different disc.

Would this be considered a pre-existing condition if it was to happen again but to a different disc, or if he had any other spinal issues in the future, does anybody know?

To everybody that doesn't have pet insurance, I'd definitely recommend it. I never bothered because I was always under the impression that if something did go wrong with my dog I would always be able to scrape together some emergency monies to cover it, that's what credit cards are for! Not frickin' THOUSANDS and Thousands of dollars though! gah..

In the first instance I would say they would class it as a pre-existing, I guess you'd have to get the specialist to correspond with the insurance company on that, and you may want to look at an insurance company that is owned or run by Vets with the knowledge, there are a couple of those funds.