Cost of Pet (Dog) Insurance

[PERLHR]

Every situation and circumstance is different. I know. Indeed I was reading yesterday that the UK is now going to introduce stronger and more transparency for the costs of pet insurance

My now 5 year old has had a one or two vet visits. Nothing staggering with the highest bill in 5 years being 700 dollars for getting to close to these horrible "sea hares" on the beach, and their toxin. Overnight in hospital then all good again. Been with Woolworths pet insurance all that time. The costs have now escalated to over 2,000 dollars a year.

It seems that all current pet insurers have you...either by recurring treatment or events (dog has none as far as I can see), but it's the waiting periods, some up to a staggering 3 months that is the barrier

So, how to people insure their dogs? How do you deal with increased year on year costs? Is 2,000 dollars a year, with 100 dollar excess at 80 percent vet bill actually not so bad in today's, unregulated and what I think troublesome market?

 

[eastwest101]

Very much a black box industry - the trouble is that when you really need it, because something has gone seriously wrong, usually the pet is too sick to transfer to another vet, so consumers are completely at the mercy of whether the pet insurance company will deal with the vet involved or not. Something like a terminal kidney failure can be in the ballpark of $3-$7K over 2-3 days, pretty quickly with acute care and after hours. Anything where you can get at least 60-80% of a vet bill is worth aiming for.

$2000 per year sounds quite a lot. for a 5-year-old dog, which usually won't have age-related problems yet but makes you wonder what happens when the dog gets older, say 10 or 14 years old as to how those premiums would escalate then? Might just be cheaper to self-insure by having the cash on-hand for the event later on?

 

[andye]

My 2 toy poodles are both insured with Woolies
Net cost ~$15 per month as get a complimentary 10% off WW shop each month
Have only made 1 claim in 6 years as most of the vet stuff is routine care

 

[PERLHR]

My 2 toy poodles are both insured with Woolies
Net cost ~$15 per month as get a complimentary 10% off WW shop each month
Have only made 1 claim in 6 years as most of the vet stuff is routine care

You spend far more at woolies weekly than what we do!!

 

[andye]

You spend far more at woolies weekly than what we do!!

I am sure that's true. We get through 4x10% off (2 insurances 2 Everyday Extra) a month

 

[Quickstatus]

We have pet insurance for the 2 cavalier King Charles. Mrs QS deals with that but can't insure the Gypsy Cob due to a previous surgery for Colic which cost $15,000 after mates rates