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Rabbit insurance - HELP!

MrCutey

Banned
I've had my bunny for 2 months now and keep putting off getting insurance as it's just too confusing!
I have a healthy 7 month old lionlop. (Actually, this is just what I've been told but is there any way sure-fire way of aging bunnies?!)
Anyway, I'd really appreciate some advice on insurance plans :thumb:

1.) Which insurer are you with/ who would you recommend?
2.) How much do you pay each month & what does it cover? I read that most don't cover dental treatment, however this is my main worry so would it be pointless getting insurance if it's not even covered?
3.) Does the rabbit have to be up to date with vaccinations/have annual health checks to be insured? (I think I read this somewhere but could be wrong) - I have a house bunny and wasn't planning on getting him vaccinated, however after reading a few horror stories on this forum, I think I might!! But it's also something I need to consider alongside insurance.
4.) Having looked at some insurers (eg petsathome) I noticed some don't have a 'crossbreed' option... in this case, as a lionlop, what would I put down as his breed?

Sorry for all the questions, it's just really stressing me out! :(
 
There are so many threads about insurance; if you do a search you will see lots of advice/opinions.

I'm with PetPlan and pay about £24 a month for two rabbits.

Yes your rabbit would need a regular health check - if teeth are checked regularly, PetPlan will cover.

I am surprised P@H don't have a section for crossbreed/mixed breed - PetPlan do.

I would strongly advise you to have your rabbit vaccinated (combined VHD and myxi) and this is when the health check would be carried out.

Is your rabbit neutered?
 
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There are so many threads about insurance; if you do a search you will see lots of advice/opinions.

I'm with PetPlan and pay about £24 a month for two rabbits.

Yes your rabbit would need a regular health check - if teeth are checked regularly, PetPlan will cover.

I am surprised P@H don't have a section for crossbreed/mixed breed - PetPlan do.

I would strongly advise you to have your rabbit vaccinated (combined VHD and myxi) and this is when the health check would be carried out.

Is your rabbit neutered?

I know there are are lots of other threads already, but as I had specific questions about my own rabbit I thought I would just create my own instead of hijacking someone else's. Also trying to piece together information from a hundred different sources is the reason why I'm still confused and, 2 months down the line, still haven't sorted anything.

Yes, my rabbit is neutered.
 
I know there are are lots of other threads already, but as I had specific questions about my own rabbit I thought I would just create my own instead of hijacking someone else's. Also trying to piece together information from a hundred different sources is the reason why I'm still confused and, 2 months down the line, still haven't sorted anything.

Yes, my rabbit is neutered.

Yes, looking for insurance (of any kind) is a bit of a minefield!

Think I've answered at least some of your questions with reference to PetPlan (about dentals and health checks) - that is who I would recommend.

I would advise going for the 'covered for life' so that if an illness recurs it will still be covered.

What you could do is go onto their website and get a quote: I'm sure there will be information as to whether your rabbit is vaccinated or not. I suspect you would need to vaccinate before insuring - but, as I said before, I would strongly recommend anyway, whether or not you decide to insure.

Hope this helps!
 
I think the P@H category for mixed breed is something like 'non-pedigree domestic rabbit', I couldn't find dwarf lop for ages as it's not with the other lops (from memory, could be some other insurer) so one of my lops is down as non-pedigree domestic.



(Actually, this is just what I've been told but is there any way sure-fire way of aging bunnies?!)

For 'older' bunnies it's difficult but at 7 months a vet used to rabbits should be able to confirm that he is about that age. I took Elijah to the vets first trip saying he was 4 months old (what I'd been told), vet thought he was a bit older. A few weeks later he needed skull x-rays and the stage of the development of the bones confirmed he was about 8 months.... bit drastic just to prove age but it was a useful way for me to find out!


1.) Which insurer are you with/ who would you recommend?

I have 6 insured with PP and 3 with P@H. I've been happy with both but I've heard quite a horror stories about P@H.

2.) How much do you pay each month & what does it cover? I read that most don't cover dental treatment, however this is my main worry so would it be pointless getting insurance if it's not even covered?

Huge variation - Esme 5.5 years is £168 a year with PP; Dinky 6 years is £81 per year with P@H, though as well as excess I'd have to pay 10% of remaining bill with all insured with P@H. Be wary about choosing on premium price though because they've shot up dramatically in the 3 years I've had them insured, partly due to age and otherwise insurers needing to put up fees. If it was just a couple of rabbits I was insuring I'd choose Pet Plan, as I have 9 insured I've compromised to keep the price down but believe P@H offers good value for money. £1,500 of cover for year for c £80 is too good to not insure, in my opinion as rabbits so often need expensive treatment.

Dentals are covered to a point but not really sure. Routine dentals like molar burring and incisor burring probably aren't covered but I have read accounts on RU where they are covered and paid regularly (don't remember the specifics). I've luckily not had to pay out for very many dentals. I think it has a lot to do with how well your vet approaches the wording on the claim.

3.) Does the rabbit have to be up to date with vaccinations/have annual health checks to be insured? (I think I read this somewhere but could be wrong) - I have a house bunny and wasn't planning on getting him vaccinated, however after reading a few horror stories on this forum, I think I might!! But it's also something I need to consider alongside insurance.

Yes, annual dental check (done same time as vaccination). I've never had an insurer question the vaccination status and a few times have claimed where they haven't had the full history the rabbit in question was vaccinated at a different vet to where the claimable treatment took place. (They had the full history at the outset but not upto date info on vaccinations).
 
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I think the P@H category for mixed breed is something like 'non-pedigree domestic rabbit', I couldn't find dwarf lop for ages as it's not with the other lops (from memory, could be some other insurer) so one of my lops is down as non-pedigree domestic.

I seem to recall that the PAH site has the US classifications, so it has Holland Lop and MiniLop rather than MiniLop and dwarf lop. Heather is a dwarf lop and I think I put her down as a MiniLop on that basis, and when I've claimed, on the form I've just written 'lop' in the breed part. I do know lots of people who have struggled with finding the crossbreed option on the pah site, again because its buried somewhere as non-pedigree domestic rabbit' or similar...you'd have thought they would put it at the top or bottom, wouldn't you!

Mine are insured with pah, I pay £81 a year for a 4 and 6 year old on lifetime cover, and £98 a year for my 10 year old on lifetime cover. They have changed it on renewal though to include paying 10% of the treatment cost as well as the excess. I too have heard horror stories about them not paying up, but I've never had a problem and I've claimed a few times with the rabbits and cats. I think petplan are definitely the best - they have the most comprehensive cover and are the original and specialised pet insurance company, but they are also the most expensive. So it really depends on balance what you want.

I seem to recall that it does state that your pets vaccinations must be up to date, I guess the main issues is that they would not pay out for treatment for myxi, for example, if the bun wasnt vaccinated, but would pay it if they were. Personally I would strongly advise that you vaccinate anyway. Mosquitos and biting insects frequently and easily get into houses (I'm sure you've had some windows and doors open in this weather), plus VHD is carried in shoes and clothing, so actually I think the risk of VHD is probably higher in indoor bunnies because a whole range of humans walk right into the place where bunny lives. So I would definitely advise vaccination anyway, plus you basically get an annual health check while you are there too.
 
PetPlan provide the best coverage. If you're confused, go with them.

:thumb:

ETA The thing I am disappointed with (on a personal level) is that I have to go into hospital and will have my foot/leg in plaster for 6 weeks. Although I will have to have my leg elevated for the first 2 weeks and will obviously be on crutches for at least 6 weeks, I will probably only be in hospital for 2 days so PetPlan won't help with boarding costs (you have to be in hospital for 4 days to qualify).
 
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I'm with PetPlan and pay 11 pound a month for Buster. It covers vets visits with an excess of 50 pound and also covers for boarding if you have to go into hospital for any reason, there might be some other stuff too but I don't have the paperwork to hand. From what I remember when I bought the insurance, it just asked whether the rabbit was vaccinated and neutered, so if they aren't, it may just bring your price up. There was a crossbreed option too :)
 
I don't mean to hijack your thread, but I was going to make a similar thread so I may as well post here!

I'm more than likely going to go with PetPlan (We don't shop at P@H for ethical reasons, so we aren't even interested in their insurance - even if they are over half the price cheaper than the PP quote). With PP, it's life time coverage, so presumably this means that they can't cancel insurance for a continuing illness? whereas with normal insurance, they can cancel at the end of the year?
 
I don't mean to hijack your thread, but I was going to make a similar thread so I may as well post here!

I'm more than likely going to go with PetPlan (We don't shop at P@H for ethical reasons, so we aren't even interested in their insurance - even if they are over half the price cheaper than the PP quote). With PP, it's life time coverage, so presumably this means that they can't cancel insurance for a continuing illness? whereas with normal insurance, they can cancel at the end of the year?

Correct.
 
:wave: Hi

I too have to get pet insurance for Persie, although I have been told they don't necessarily cover every thing and I would be best just keeping my own little trust fund for when he needs treatment/check up's etc? So I'm not sure what to do!
 
My lot are covered with petplan.

I pay £36 a month for four for life plans. I also keep back in my savings £200 for any dental's or appointments that would not be worth claiming on insurance for. I.e small stasis episode which is £30 to sort out at my vet and also Brambles argument with a run which cost me £23. My excess is £50 so not worth claiming for.
 
Go with petplan, they give the best cover. P@H are cheaper though.

Whether or not it is worth having insurance depends on whether or not you can afford large vet bills at short notice.
 
:wave: Hi

I too have to get pet insurance for Persie, although I have been told they don't necessarily cover every thing and I would be best just keeping my own little trust fund for when he needs treatment/check up's etc? So I'm not sure what to do!

Any savings account would run out eventually so insurance is necessary for most of us. You might want to save up for the vaccinations and keep enough money to pay for a couple of examinations and ideally dental burring too.
 
:wave: Hi

I too have to get pet insurance for Persie, although I have been told they don't necessarily cover every thing and I would be best just keeping my own little trust fund for when he needs treatment/check up's etc? So I'm not sure what to do!

2.5 years ago I took out insurance on Artie who was nearly seven and was already under care for the rest of his life for bladder sludge, and would be excluded for stasis. It seemed unlikely to be worth insuring him but I'd just found an insurer (P@H) who would (at that time) insure older rabbits so I decided I'd like him covered - for just £80 a year. Only about 2 - 3 months later he was discovered to have kidney stones - two surgeries cost £1,400. I never want to be in the situation of having to find that kind of money for life saving surgery so I will now always insure. *If* I'd gone down the savings route then I had a £500 bill for Esme's care about 8 months later and £850 for Elijah's blockage surgery 13 months after Artie's big bill. I can't risk not being able to save up again in time, others may have better scope for saving so decide not to insure. For me it's an absolute necessity.
 
Our three bunnies are all insured with Petplan with the covered for life policy. They have been brilliant at paying out when we've made a claim, very quick and never question anything. We have claimed a lot with Bramble, and although his excess has gone up to £100, I still think it's been worth every penny.
 
:wave: Hi

I too have to get pet insurance for Persie, although I have been told they don't necessarily cover every thing and I would be best just keeping my own little trust fund for when he needs treatment/check up's etc? So I'm not sure what to do!

I think you would need to make that a BIG trust fund, as my bridge bunny Roger, ran up bills over 5 weeks of over £1,600 following his stroke, so if you are able to cover costs such as that at short notice, then you would probably be ok. My buns are all insured with Petplan, and I can't praise them enough. I don't know what you mean with regards not covering everything, because they cover for illnesses and injuries, and so not sure what else you would want to be claiming for. They also pay for alternative treatments as well, and pay out very quickly. My vet deals with them direct, and so I only ever have to pay him just the £50 excess.
 
2.5 years ago I took out insurance on Artie who was nearly seven and was already under care for the rest of his life for bladder sludge, and would be excluded for stasis. It seemed unlikely to be worth insuring him but I'd just found an insurer (P@H) who would (at that time) insure older rabbits so I decided I'd like him covered - for just £80 a year. Only about 2 - 3 months later he was discovered to have kidney stones - two surgeries cost £1,400. I never want to be in the situation of having to find that kind of money for life saving surgery so I will now always insure. *If* I'd gone down the savings route then I had a £500 bill for Esme's care about 8 months later and £850 for Elijah's blockage surgery 13 months after Artie's big bill. I can't risk not being able to save up again in time, others may have better scope for saving so decide not to insure. For me it's an absolute necessity.

I think you would need to make that a BIG trust fund, as my bridge bunny Roger, ran up bills over 5 weeks of over £1,600 following his stroke, so if you are able to cover costs such as that at short notice, then you would probably be ok. My buns are all insured with Petplan, and I can't praise them enough. I don't know what you mean with regards not covering everything, because they cover for illnesses and injuries, and so not sure what else you would want to be claiming for. They also pay for alternative treatments as well, and pay out very quickly. My vet deals with them direct, and so I only ever have to pay him just the £50 excess.
Thank you both for telling me your experiences, I will 100% be buying insurance for Persie now. He is only a young bun now but who knows what kind of illnesses or problems he could face in the future and with costs like that a normal savings account would never cut it.
 
:wave: Hi

I too have to get pet insurance for Persie, although I have been told they don't necessarily cover every thing and I would be best just keeping my own little trust fund for when he needs treatment/check up's etc? So I'm not sure what to do!

Insurance obviously won't cover routine checkups/vaccinations.

I reckon that to feel comfortable you (one) would need a fund of about £2000+.
 
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