Pet insurance

I'm just looking for anyone's view on pet insurance. I have four bunnies and I'm dithering as to whether to take out insurance for them or not? What does everyone think. I know that at the end of the day it's the chance you take and it's a safety net if anything does happen.

Yes take it out!! I have 3 bunnies two of which were insured and surprise surprise just over a week ago my one bunny which wasnt insured broke her leg... I now have a £300 vet bill!! :shock:

I used to have my bunnies insured, but as the numbers grew (I have 8) I discontinued it; it just got way too expensive. I have however an excellent vet who lets me pay as and when if there are big bills... So I will never have to deny them treatment due to finances.

But if you can afford it and you can't afford the vet bills or your vet won't give treatment without immediate payment, then I would take insurance out for sure.

Vera

RusselRocky said:

I now have a £300 vet bill!! :shock:

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Heres a scary thought... I have come to consider £300 a cheap vets trip when dealing with bunnies :shock:

Sooz22 said:

Heres a scary thought... I have come to consider £300 a cheap vets trip when dealing with bunnies :shock:

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Yep... me too. If I get to leave the surgery with a bill that doesn't run into the hundreds, I consider myself lucky... :shock:

Sooz22 said:

Heres a scary thought... I have come to consider £300 a cheap vets trip when dealing with bunnies :shock:

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Eeeep!! Even for one bunny?? :shock:

I asked my dad if I should take out pet insurance and this is the answer he gave me:
I don't know, it's up to you really, but think of it this way. How many pets do we have? Twenty something? Think how much it would cost to insure them and what problems have we had?
*mentions the problem with molly and fidget*
Right, and that's cost us what? A couple of thousand pounds? How much do you think we'd have spent if we'd insured them all? No we wouldn't have had to pay all that money at once, but we'd have had to pay a lot more over a spaced period. But it's up to you.

Personally, I think you're much better off opening a savings or ISA account and putting the money in that rather than into an insurance company. Because what happens when you need something and they say "Oh, well we don't cover that."? You're still spending the same only there's a Gurantee on that money then. And if you reach a certain point you can put less in, or if you get a bonus at work, you can put more in. That's what I do.

That's a good idea! I think I may do that. It's a difficult one though. There aren't many rabbit insurers out there either so it's not a very competitive market.

I've decided to cancel my insurance with Petplan and have set up a savings account instead. It would have worked out at >£45 pm to insure all four of them, then you have a £60 excess for each treatment. It just isn't very cost effective if you have more than 2 buns. Just make sure if you choose this option that you have ready access to a reasonable sum in case of illness and injury.
Claire x

I have Rhia insured, as will her friend be. Because I have only had/will only ever have two buns, It takes a massive worry off my shoulders, that should they get ill I only have to find £60 for the excess, which in the grand scheme of things, is nothing. Its different for individuals, but for me, it definately is worth it

When I got my pair I opened an esavings account and just set up a standing order for £30 a month to go into it just after I get paid. That way money is being set aside for the buns without me noticing and it isn't lining the pockets of the insurance companies.

Last week Red was stung by a bee, £ 267.00 was the bill, he is insured.

Before Delilah died I spent over £1000.00 trying to find what was wrong with her, she wasn't insured. Malone my handreared bunnie was forever getting into scraps and cost me a fortune.

I'd rather insure mine. but its personal choice, all you have to do is know that you can put you hands on a large sum of money at immediate notice should the worst happen. if you can don't insure if you can't then insure.

There is truth inwhat just about everyone has said here.

We used to have our two dutchies insured but after stomach problems with one of them, Petplan got very reluctant to help out.
We decided to put a tenner a month per bun per month in an isa.
4 buns later(and with exception to regular jabs which aren't covered anyway) we have had 3 buns with little or no visits to the vets(touchwood) and one that cost us £2.5K in various treatments for dental work and abcesses.
Over those five years of saving with all four buns, the financial difference is minimal.
It really is a matter of luck with the bunny.
My advice to people is insure if you have 1 or 2 bunnies (but check the small print as to what is covered and what isn't as some insurers, whilst saying one thing on the phone are very different when it comes to paying up for dental or stomach problems in particular), any more than 2, stick the money in an isa.
Petplan are the main bunny insurers but there are others out there, most people use petplan because vets have leaflets of theirs just about everywhere in their waiting rooms (and I'm sure vets get a back hander from them) in much the same way as CPC(Cambridge pet Crematorium) who are very pricey(but thats a different thread and discussion completely.....

we have our dog insured and to be honest its more trouble then ts worth when claiming. We had to see an eye specialist just before Christmas and it took ages to actually get them to pay up.

i have a ISA for my other animals vet bills. I am forever at the vets with Maya (cos of his tear duct problems). I have a direct debit taken from my main account to the ISA and i can just take along the card dedicated to my animals. Also helps with routine appointments for vaccines.