Mrs Rusty Bucket Posted November 5, 2015 Share Posted November 5, 2015 Hi all Just got my new premium renewal for accident and illness and I'm not sure it's worth it any more given it's cracked $500 pa, up 14% approx from last year which was a massive hike from the previous year also. I've never made a claim. My car insurance does not go up like this. And the benefits they're offering - consistently go down. They've put a limit on Cruicate surgery of $2600 - which I could afford to pay out of savings and if the op cost that I'd only get 80% back anyway. And if she did both cruiciates in the same year, the limit for both would be $2600. Doesn't seem worth it. Or maybe I could cut back on the illness - since the risk of that would be going up with age. And just pay for that as I need it. I could afford quite a bit out of savings and I figure if I keep the $500 + 15% pa increases, that would cover more than their limits anyway. Eg 500pa for another 7 years is $3,500 which is more than the cruicaite costs... not sure about hip operations. I think our most likely problem is she eats something she shouldn't and needs surgery. I guess that would be around $3K ish these days and then after that the policy excludes the same thing again - so that would mean the cover would be worth less but I bet I don't get a discount. Anyone else got any thoughts about the value of dog health insurance? Ie if the max benefit is around $15,000 and I just set that aside just in case... I reckon that would be much better risk than just forking out half a grand or more a year and then being knocked back on a claim anyway. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Willem Posted November 5, 2015 Share Posted November 5, 2015 ...hm, I'm still contemplating whether it is worthwhile to get an insurance for our - I guess younger - dog...or whether I should put the money aside (and invest it perhaps in Merck shares - I found out that people here love their products and their pricing :D )...I guess it also depends on the relationship you have with your vet and his pricing, maybe it is worthwhile to have a chat with him. I also recognize that times obviously have changed - we had 2 family dogs and both died very old and only saw a vet once or twice (for vaccination and 1x to close a bite wound with a few stiches after a fight with another dog)...today it seems you need not only a vet but also a chiropractor as dogs seem to be less healthy ...despite better food and available medicine... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dame Aussie Posted November 5, 2015 Share Posted November 5, 2015 I don't think it's worth it personally and prefer to put away extra money for the dogs and keep a credit card in case of emergencies. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
denali Posted November 5, 2015 Share Posted November 5, 2015 (edited) Yes, i also "self-insure." I put the amount that i would spend on their premiums, and a few bits here and there if i have got it, into a designated pets account that is only used for vet visits and emergencies. eta: I just found i wasn't getting the value from it, esp. with multiple pets. Edited November 5, 2015 by denali Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OSoSwift Posted November 5, 2015 Share Posted November 5, 2015 I recently have had one of my older dogs diagnosed with a heart murmer. A previous dog I had had a heart issue requiring medication for a good 5 years. What he was on cost a reasonable amount per month and it was recommended we add another drug but at an extra $2.50 per day on top of all the other ones he was on made it too expensive. It's times like that I am happy I have kept hers up even though I really have questioned it over the last couple of years especially considering the premiums have doubled since I first started and I insure 3. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daisys Mum Posted November 5, 2015 Share Posted November 5, 2015 I have a pet account... I put a certain amount in at the end of my pay cycle. I have delfinitely needed it this week, with a vet visit for a grass seed and 2 dogs with a severe food allergy :/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roova Posted November 5, 2015 Share Posted November 5, 2015 (edited) I've got to the point of keeping my pet insurance but not my own. I figure there's always the public system if I need help but I can't always find a lazy couple of thousand for the dogs if something were to go wrong. I lost my cat (not insured) after spending $1000 at the vet only to be told I'd need $4-$5000 the following day with no guarantee. I just couldn't do it with a mortgage and it now the guilt plays on my mind all the time. I'm also so fearful until I see both dogs when I get home. It annoys me insurance companies lump everyone together when it comes to breeds too. My Frenchie insurance is ridiculous now, but probably based on all the poorly bred Frenchie's getting around . I wish they had a discount for buying from a breeder who health tests! Edited November 6, 2015 by Roova Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Two Best Dogs! Posted November 5, 2015 Share Posted November 5, 2015 I'm too used to having pets that don't have insurance available, so I guess I am self insuring? What insurance seems to covers for us, I could probably cover myself with a plan and it seems to stop at things I would truely need help to cover. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
denali Posted November 5, 2015 Share Posted November 5, 2015 (edited) I am also lucky enough to work at a vet, so will get many things discounted Perhaps if i didn't i would be more inclined to insure my pets. Edited November 5, 2015 by denali Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scottsmum Posted November 5, 2015 Share Posted November 5, 2015 It wasn't really a thing when Guin was around and I didnt bother when I adopted Scottie - I figured they'd always get me on "pre-existing" for an adopted dog with no background. I've heard lots of shonky horror stories - most recently a lady with a large breed who had to pay for diagnostics. They'd pay her back if it was certain things, but not if it was arthritis as they had it listed as a common ailment in her breed. Turned out it was bone cancer and they paid out in full for the diagnostics and the treatment - which is great. But this lady was telling me that bone cancer is pretty high in this particular breed too. Anyhow...maybe one day if I ever get a pup, but not while I have my crotchety old man. We'll just take it as it comes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mrs Rusty Bucket Posted November 6, 2015 Author Share Posted November 6, 2015 Yeah I think part of my problem is the older the dog gets - the higher the premium as if I'm paying vet expenses when nothing is wrong. I have gotten dog physio for her from a vet-physio but I paid for that. If the cost was up over $4000 with no guarantee of improved quality of life - I don't think I'd be happy to spend that, insurance or not but I guess other people do - spend to the limit of their cover if they've got it - regardless of potential quality of life and that puts the cost up for all of the rest of us. I think I will send the vet an email about range of expenses with a good quality of life outcome still expected. And I noticed with my insurance - they have about four different names for the same breed eg they have Australian Cattle dog listed as different to Blue Heeler, different to Queensland Cattle dog and crosses of all those... and different prices for all of those. And a different price again for crossbreed. I think blue heeler was cheapest... and I didn't pick that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OSoSwift Posted November 6, 2015 Share Posted November 6, 2015 Petplan is one of the most expensive but is currently one of the best from what I have read and seen with actually paying out Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest donatella Posted November 6, 2015 Share Posted November 6, 2015 With toy breed I wouldn't be without it. Certainly after Bon needed $7000 worth of specialist surgery after an accident I was so very thankful to have. I like to know that if they ever get cancer or need expensive treatment I have the cover Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Spotted Devil Posted November 6, 2015 Share Posted November 6, 2015 3 dogs and 2 cats, it's just not worth it for me. Particularly when it doesn't cover any costs associated with breeding...which probably costs me the most! If I had insured all of my animals over the last 9 years I'd be out in front undoubtedly. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lucky-Dog Posted November 6, 2015 Share Posted November 6, 2015 Hello Mrs Rusty Bucket, which insurance company are you with ? We are with RSPCA for Our Lucky-Dog and they have been good so far with claims and premiums Thank you. :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Willem Posted November 6, 2015 Share Posted November 6, 2015 I found RSPCA pretty expensive ...best quote so far for us is PET Insurance Australia for $407 p.a. with $100 excess (no excess $520 p.a.) for 'Accidental Injury Plus Illness Cover - 80% - with an annual benefit limit of up to $15,000 '...RSPCA has only a an annual limit of up to $11,000 and would cost me $636 p.a. for 'Ultimate Accident & Illness Cover' with no excess (the Economy Accident & Illness Cover reimburses only 75%)...I guess all these insurance fees go up pretty quick when the dogs gets older? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Willem Posted November 6, 2015 Share Posted November 6, 2015 I'm with Pet Secure and the premium has gone from $24 per fortnight to $51 per fortnight for accident and illness cover. There are also a lot of complaints on their Facebook page from people saying that the percentage of reimbursement has dropped from 80% to 70% because of their dog's age. I didn't read my last renewal notice properly so didn't notice if that had changed. I really should dig it out and check. ETA: just adding that there is no excess on claims outch! ... that's $1,326 p.a., more than double compared to the quote for our 11 month old BC from PIA... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Willem Posted November 6, 2015 Share Posted November 6, 2015 ...they should have lower rates for non-smoker :laugh: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jemmy Posted November 6, 2015 Share Posted November 6, 2015 I'm with Pet Secure and the premium has gone from $24 per fortnight to $51 per fortnight for accident and illness cover. There are also a lot of complaints on their Facebook page from people saying that the percentage of reimbursement has dropped from 80% to 70% because of their dog's age. I didn't read my last renewal notice properly so didn't notice if that had changed. I really should dig it out and check. ETA: just adding that there is no excess on claims outch! ... that's $1,326 p.a., more than double compared to the quote for our 11 month old BC from PIA... It's almost as if you don't have the same dog or something Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jemmy Posted November 6, 2015 Share Posted November 6, 2015 @Snook - I feel like that's the problem with health insurance, pet and humans alike. I'm too scared to cancel Luna's because what if, and with our people insurance there's a premium hike if you take out the cover after age 30, so we have it but barely use it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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