Did you know? (PetPlan)

Re: Did you know? (PetPlan)

Hanna Bennett — Thu, 02 Jan 2014 17:25:08 GMT

[quote user="Bob Russell"]

I suspect the change probably happened when the names of the policies were altered. This must have been 4 years ago. We recommend insurance and guide owners towards the better types of policies.

I have to admit that I do not discuss PetPlan policies in detail (clearly good job too!) so am a good insurance salesman but not for any specific company. I prefer to push them towards more independent and detailed advice!

[/quote]

nope, the policies have always been a total amount of money per year rather than per condition. I did my petplan training when I first qualified and that is many more than four years ago. they produce a lovely leaflet which shows quite clearly how it works - basically it gives you the potential for £40,000 worth of cover for one condition over ten years instead of eg. £2000 worth of cover over what time span it takes to hit that limit. yes there will be cases that are unlucky and hit their limit in twelve months, but I now recommend the £7000 cover not the £4000 for this very reason. I do consider it part of my responsibility to educate owners on insurance, it is far preferable to the heartache caused when an 'insured' dog hits its' limit and there is nowhere left to go but in a bag. most clients who have hit that £4000 have only a short period of time before their cover kicks back in, and my experience is that they are prepared to take that hit knowing it is not short term.

Re: Did you know? (PetPlan)

Bob Russell — Thu, 02 Jan 2014 09:04:23 GMT

I suspect the change probably happened when the names of the policies were altered. This must have been 4 years ago. We recommend insurance and guide owners towards the better types of policies.

Re: Did you know? (PetPlan)

karen jones — Wed, 01 Jan 2014 13:36:20 GMT

We like the four week pet plan free cover. We had a St. Bernard pup who had first vaccine and free cover and the owner shut the pups leg in door when got home and petplan paid for surgery.

Re: Did you know? (PetPlan)

Jenny Smith — Wed, 01 Jan 2014 11:17:52 GMT

I thought it had been this way for a long time. I've had my boxer for about 4 years now and his policy was definitely a 12k/year on inception. There is an excess per policy period, so if he was to have any long term ongoing claims I would need to pay my excess each January (renewal time) but despite several large claims - he likes to eat things he shouldn't, my policy has only gone up by £1.50/month this year!

Jenny

Re: Did you know? (PetPlan)

Stephen Courtney — Tue, 31 Dec 2013 23:10:00 GMT

The 4 week cover notes for puppies and kittens are free, barring an excess per condition, per period of insurance - so if as happened to one of my clients, a galumping teenager with size 11 feet steps on a cavvie pup and breaks her elbow requiring specialist referral, you will pay two excesses in the space of 4 weeks - but the overall policy is free. totally free, no catches, no hidden hooks, and no payment details taken so there is no way a client can be tricked into buying the insurance. i have only had a few people use the free insurance, but they were very very glad to have it.

it also kicks in straight away for both accident and illness, unlike privately sourced policies, as the animals have had a health check from a vet just before it was issued.

there is absolutely no reason not to take the 5 minutes to fill out the online form, and use the opportunity to discuss how pet insurance works. I am sick to death of people with crappy little policies sourced online that give rubbish cover, and along with advice on toothbrushing, i also discuss pet insurance in general. and explain what the difference is between true cover for life, maximum benefit, 12 month cover etc.

Re: Did you know? (PetPlan)

Martin Atkinson — Tue, 31 Dec 2013 13:13:42 GMT

I was aware of this and although I'm of course not allowed to recommend companies I tell my clients that they need to consider it when taking out a policy. It is then a decision to make between say £6000 per year for all conditions in a year but it will be renewed next year and just hope you don't get 2 very expensive claims in twelve months or Tesco, which will allow the same £6K limit on a condition but when its gone, its gone. Personally I would stick with the £6K per year as we have one client who has exhausted their limit with Tesco already with a very difficult Addison's case in a year old dog.

Re: Did you know? (PetPlan)

Bob Russell — Tue, 31 Dec 2013 09:27:44 GMT

[quote user="Stephen Courtney"]

Very taken aback....

There is nothing new here, you just didn't read the not-so-small print!

In addition you appear to be unaware that the limit is an annual one, the £4000, £7000 and £12000 amounts are renewed annually so there is always ongoing cover for ongoing or recurring conditions so long as the client renews the policy each year. You might be unlucky and max out the cover in any one year , but on renewal the cover is reinstated in full.

This is a unique selling point for PetPlan type policies - other companies provide this too. Supermarket policies are Maximum Benefit policies, either for 12 months , or for life, but when that money per condition is gone, there is no more.

How did you get to be a Pet Plan appointed advisor and not know this?

[/quote]

Clearly we all made assumptions and training was not clear enough! My Tesco policy is £7500 per condition but obviously stops at £7500. Premiums are a heck of a lot cheaper. We have booked a visit from PetPlan but with immediate effect have stopped issuing cover notes!

Happy to see other vets are better informed than we are! It was universally misunderstood here it was per condition!

Yes I did know the classic and ultimate have an annual limit and resets on renewal!

Re: Did you know? (PetPlan)

Stephen Courtney — Mon, 30 Dec 2013 21:00:45 GMT

Very taken aback....

There is nothing new here, you just didn't read the not-so-small print!

How did you get to be a Pet Plan appointed advisor and not know this?

Re: Did you know? (PetPlan)

Rob Loxley — Mon, 30 Dec 2013 18:42:08 GMT

[quote user="Mark Frost"]or a policy I saw recently which was £4000 limit (max £500 per condition in small print)[/quote]

especially when those conditions have to one of a list of certain ones (PetPals seem to be a big culprit here). I always explain that the way insurance companies can get to the top (cheapest end) of the comparison tables is by cutting the cover

Re: Did you know? (PetPlan)

Rob Loxley — Mon, 30 Dec 2013 18:40:03 GMT

[quote user="Bob Russell"]I may be the only vet that was under the impression that PetPlan Classic and Ultimate policies were 'per condition'.[/quote]

Maybe you need a poll? I certainly thought they were always been per pet/year?

Re: Did you know? (PetPlan)

Mark Frost — Mon, 30 Dec 2013 18:31:36 GMT

[quote user="Mark Holmes"]I always assumed it was per pet cover

[/quote]

Same, I have Petplan for my cat & dog and have always thought it was 'per year' rather than per condition - £12k limit on top level so even my dog needing two spinals in 12 months + associated imaging etc.. fine with room to spare, no increase in premiums other than normal inflation type raise and still covered should she have any related problems in future - I have no concerns recommending Petplan.

What I have an issue with is premiums jumping 2 - 3 x after a large claim, or a policy I saw recently which was £4000 limit (max £500 per condition in small print). Insurance companies are there to make money and we will never see eye to eye on all cases and situations, but taking everything into account I wouldn't insure my own pets with anyone else.

Re: Did you know? (PetPlan)

Mark Holmes — Mon, 30 Dec 2013 17:02:06 GMT

I always assumed it was per pet cover