The Cockapoo Club for owners, enthusiasts and ALL recipients of Hearing Dogs
WHERE COCKAPOOS COME FIRST!
WHERE COCKAPOOS COME FIRST!
INSURANCE
We get a lot of questions about pet insurance—what type to choose, how much does it cost, is it worth it etc, and it can be a bit of a minefield out there when you start looking, so a breakdown might be useful.
Vets costs are forever going up and while it may be manageable for an owner to pay for minor illness or accidents, it can become really expensive if there is a need for major surgery or an ailment that needs ongoing treatment long term.
Insurance is primarily taken out to cover the cost of emergency treatment, illness, injury, operations etc, but it is also worth looking at what 'add-ons' companies provide. Things like advertising if your dog should get lost, hydrotherapy, natural treatments or covering fees for kennel care if you have to go into hospital.
A quick search on the internet will bring up hundreds of different companies and policies so this is to give a quick breakdown of what to look for.
Policies are often broken down into several categories.
ACCIDENT ONLY
Usually the budget priced end of the scale, these policies just cover your dog for any injuries caused by an accident, not other illnesses.
Some will extend cover to include any illness that lead from the accident, but not all companies provide that.
TIME LIMITED
These policies cover the dog for illnesses up to a specified amount. So if your dog develops something like diabetes for example, they will cover up to a level of (eg) £2000. When you make a claim for that condition there will be a 12month time limit put on it and then cover will stop.
If you renew the policy at the end of the term, then the diabetes will be excluded.
MAXIMUM BENEFITS
Again there is a specified limit placed on these policies, again say £2000 per condition, but there is no limit on how long you can claim for.
You can claim until you reach the £2000 (eg) maximum set, regardless how long it takes you to reach that limit.
Once the limit has been reached, that specific illness is then counted as a pre-existing condition and is not covered by the insurance.
LIFETIME BENEFIT
These policies usually cost more than the others. They have a set limit which is usually £7000 or more.
With a lifetime policy you can claim up to the limit and the cover is automatically renewed when the policy is renewed, so at the start of the new policy, the £7000 limit is reinstated
Your dog will be covered throughout its lifetime provided the policy remains in force.
It is usually the priciest form of cover but does mean that if your dog develops a long term illness that needs conatsnt treatment, the costs will be covered.
THINGS TO BEAR IN MIND
** Not all companies pay the vet directly, you may have to pay and wait to get reimbursed.
** Not all companies will cover unvaccinated dogs.
** Some companies will not cover pre-existing conditions so be careful when changing policies.
** Some companies will not insure older dogs as new customers, so check before you change your insurance company.
** Premiums will vary from region to region and usually increase steadily each year.
** Some companies will not cover pre-existing conditions.
** The amount of excess companies charge will vary.
** Routine, preventative treatments are not included, so things like flea, worming, dental care etc still need to be paid for.
** Some policies have small print stating that yearly vet checks, dental checks are needed for the policy to remain valid. Check the small print of any policy you take out.
MEMBERS STORY
A member has told us of her experience with their insurance company. Her dog developed a tumour in the roof of its mouth and needed surgery. Fortunately the tumour proved to be benign and the dog made a good recovery.
They then made a claim to cover the cost of surgery and treatments.
The insurance company refused to pay out because their policy did not cover dental treatment and they argued that, as the roof of the mouth was connected to the gums, it was deemed to be dental work and not covered by the policy they have.
REMEMBER
Depending on what you can afford, some insurance is better than none, and if you can afford it, go for the best lifetime policy you can get, but as the members story above illustrates you do need to read the fine print and know what you are getting.
Vets costs are forever going up and while it may be manageable for an owner to pay for minor illness or accidents, it can become really expensive if there is a need for major surgery or an ailment that needs ongoing treatment long term.
Insurance is primarily taken out to cover the cost of emergency treatment, illness, injury, operations etc, but it is also worth looking at what 'add-ons' companies provide. Things like advertising if your dog should get lost, hydrotherapy, natural treatments or covering fees for kennel care if you have to go into hospital.
A quick search on the internet will bring up hundreds of different companies and policies so this is to give a quick breakdown of what to look for.
Policies are often broken down into several categories.
ACCIDENT ONLY
Usually the budget priced end of the scale, these policies just cover your dog for any injuries caused by an accident, not other illnesses.
Some will extend cover to include any illness that lead from the accident, but not all companies provide that.
TIME LIMITED
These policies cover the dog for illnesses up to a specified amount. So if your dog develops something like diabetes for example, they will cover up to a level of (eg) £2000. When you make a claim for that condition there will be a 12month time limit put on it and then cover will stop.
If you renew the policy at the end of the term, then the diabetes will be excluded.
MAXIMUM BENEFITS
Again there is a specified limit placed on these policies, again say £2000 per condition, but there is no limit on how long you can claim for.
You can claim until you reach the £2000 (eg) maximum set, regardless how long it takes you to reach that limit.
Once the limit has been reached, that specific illness is then counted as a pre-existing condition and is not covered by the insurance.
LIFETIME BENEFIT
These policies usually cost more than the others. They have a set limit which is usually £7000 or more.
With a lifetime policy you can claim up to the limit and the cover is automatically renewed when the policy is renewed, so at the start of the new policy, the £7000 limit is reinstated
Your dog will be covered throughout its lifetime provided the policy remains in force.
It is usually the priciest form of cover but does mean that if your dog develops a long term illness that needs conatsnt treatment, the costs will be covered.
THINGS TO BEAR IN MIND
** Not all companies pay the vet directly, you may have to pay and wait to get reimbursed.
** Not all companies will cover unvaccinated dogs.
** Some companies will not cover pre-existing conditions so be careful when changing policies.
** Some companies will not insure older dogs as new customers, so check before you change your insurance company.
** Premiums will vary from region to region and usually increase steadily each year.
** Some companies will not cover pre-existing conditions.
** The amount of excess companies charge will vary.
** Routine, preventative treatments are not included, so things like flea, worming, dental care etc still need to be paid for.
** Some policies have small print stating that yearly vet checks, dental checks are needed for the policy to remain valid. Check the small print of any policy you take out.
MEMBERS STORY
A member has told us of her experience with their insurance company. Her dog developed a tumour in the roof of its mouth and needed surgery. Fortunately the tumour proved to be benign and the dog made a good recovery.
They then made a claim to cover the cost of surgery and treatments.
The insurance company refused to pay out because their policy did not cover dental treatment and they argued that, as the roof of the mouth was connected to the gums, it was deemed to be dental work and not covered by the policy they have.
REMEMBER
Depending on what you can afford, some insurance is better than none, and if you can afford it, go for the best lifetime policy you can get, but as the members story above illustrates you do need to read the fine print and know what you are getting.