Thread: How much??

Sorry, should have explained; I have had poor experiences with insurers (cat and household and other) in the past and once you get into the T&Cs it's a nightmare. Instead I am putting away a "float" in a savings account but at all times I expect to be able to meet *any* vets bills from either my normal income or from savings. My Jess had £3,000 in vets bills back in 2005 when she had heart problems - and even after all that she still had to leave us :( I only queried certain items that the vets tried to "sneak past" grieving owners - they grudgingly owned up and cleared about 10% of the total. Hence I'll never use them again.

But yes, insurance is a must if you cannot afford to put up the money yourself in case things go wrong. A savings account is a good place to withhold money from greedy, conniving, evil insurance companies if you can.

My only concern is that vets prices - especially for those procedures that are expected to be covered by insurance - are clearly increased because the vets know the insurance company has a set of charges they will pay without question and so there is no price pressure on them. Those intentionally uninsured people like myself do not get a fair, open and competitive field to choose treatment for out pets. Try getting a printed price list from your vet. Go on. All of them will happily "estimate" costs on the phone but none will commit to them. Ever.

Originally Posted by Peter Galbavy

My only concern is that vets prices - especially for those procedures that are expected to be covered by insurance - are clearly increased because the vets know the insurance company has a set of charges they will pay without question and so there is no price pressure on them. Those intentionally uninsured people like myself do not get a fair, open and competitive field to choose treatment for out pets. Try getting a printed price list from your vet. Go on. All of them will happily "estimate" costs on the phone but none will commit to them. Ever.

I have to say that my vets are great, from using them now for the cats and in the past with a dog, but they are not one of the 'groups'. I used to use a practice who sold out to one of the groups and after they refused to see my dog who had known prostrate problems to them at 12 noon on a saturday as they were closed and said I had to go to the out of hours clinic where they would charge £97. just to see him before any treatment costs when he was booked in on the monday for a castration to solve the aformentioned problem. I called another practice in my area who were closing but own four practices and the vet who is duty on a saturday moves from practice to practice holding an open surgery and they offered me the choice of two to go to, guess who got my custom and recomendation in the future!!

They are very open about their prices and charge fair prices for their drugs better than the groups who wield a lot more power when it comes to buying theirs.

I think I am lucky too, they always give me an estimate of cost and have come in under it many times. They always put down stuff just incase, but dont always use them. I have been with them many years and do trust them. I had to go to another vet in an emergancy a few years ago and was horrified at the cost.

I havent ever had any problems with pet plan either, they have always paid out, even when its an on-going problem. My darling girl Jessie who passed away last year must have cost them about 10k over the years and they never questioned it.

But, I understand if you have had problems you will be reluctant. Horrid when the very people that are there if there is a problem cause you more!!

Should say as well, my vet has waited for me in the deep snow, after hours when my girl let us know it was time to go, we werent hurried through and they were just wonderful.

We didn't think ours would cost us that much owning a fish shop but they aren't bothered about it! So it's a fortune on biscuits and wet food! They have wet fish as a treat every 2-3 weeks but they leave half of it.

We have Rasputin insured under PetPlan and that's about £12 a month.

Foodwise:
1.5 tetra packs of Bozita a day means a cost of about £1.50 a day.
He also has Royal Canin kitten 36 down all day; our 4kg bag is almost finished after 3.5 months.

We use Beauticat Sophisticat wood pellet litter which is around £2-£3 for 5 litres; 10l seems to last about 3 weeks.

Excluding his insurance, I budget £60 a month for everything else (wormer/de-flea treatments/food/toys/litter etc.) and then extra money when it's time for jabs.

Initial set-up I reckon I spent about £300 but I did go quite mental and buy LOADS, I think you could probably spend nearer £150 and get all the basics sorted.

Hope that helps I'm sure it's possible to spend a lot less than I do!