Insurance World

The Chinese year of the dog started last January. And according to Chinese tradition, anyone born in the following year, will be honest and loyal. They also aren’t much concerned about wealth. This could help to explain why there are 5.2 million homes owning dogs without pet insurance cover. As many will have discovered to their cost, they’re leaving themselves exposed to enormous veterinary bills.

The average cost of treating a dog following a road accident is Ј379 and the cost of just a scan could exceed Ј1,000. And as Veterinary science becomes more advanced with breakthroughs in medicine and surgery, the cost of owning an dog can potentially increase.

There is no National Health Service pets and if your dog is ill, detailed diagnostic tests, surgery, medication and care can mean an unexpected shock to your pocket. Studies have shown that on average, an insured pet owner makes a claim every three years.

But do take care. Pet insurance policies vary widely in terms of their cover, the excess you have to pay, the maximum costs that can be reclaimed each year and various exclusions.

So when you’re on the net shopping for pet insurance, it’s important to swot up on the small print. Don’t automatically fall for the cheapest. Cheap premiums customarily reflect limited cover. For example, not all insurers will cover your pet for life. This means that if your dog’s problem requires ongoing treatment, then cover ceases at the twelve-month stage.

Take Sheila Follows’ spaniel, Bonny. Seven years ago Sheila wisely took out insurance cover for Bonny as soon as Bonny joined the family as a pup. All was well until the first spring. Then, Bonny developed a skin allergy and later that year a hip problem. Treatment has been ongoing ever since requiring regular visits to the local vet.

Sheila says,” Bonny has to have a special diet and regular injections to control her allergies. The bill from my vet is usually between Ј375 and Ј450 per month so my decision seven years ago to take out insurance, proved to be one of my best investments. My insurance premium is just Ј15 per month and I’m not sure what we’d do if we weren’t insured!”

Sheila’s policy is a Budget policy issued by Pet Plan and covers lifetime conditions for up to Ј4,000 each year. Pet Plan also have two other pet schemes – their Standard Policy will pay out up to Ј6,000 per year and their Supreme Plan provides unlimited cover. So you can see that even within the same insurance provider, you can be faced with several policies to choose from.

So there’s lots of choice. Some policies even provide protection for kennel fees, or boarding fees if you become ill or even pay your cancellation fee for your holiday if your pet becomes ill before you travel.

Our advice is to look at several pet insurance web sites. Better still, print off their schedule of benefits and terms and conditions. Then spend forty minutes comparing their premiums and look closely at what you’ll get for your money. We know it’ll be a bore but a little extra effort now will be rewarded with a great deal and your peace of mind.

And if your dog could talk, he’d say thanks too. But perhaps a big lick will do!

Postscript

If you receive either Council Tax benefit or Housing Benefit, the People’s Dispensary for Sick Animals (PDSA) will provide veterinary treatment free of charge.

At the moment there are some 5.8 million households that fulfil these eligibility conditions with just over 7 out of ten of homes served by either a PDSA PetAid practice or a PetAid Hospital.

There are 328 PetAid practices and 4 PetAid branches plus 43 PetAid Hospitals.

If you are a business manager or owner, then one of the most important decisions you will have to make is choosing the right insurance broker for your business insurance needs. Although this is an important decision, it can be tricky to get right unless you can pinpoint exactly what you want from the broker or agent and what it is they can provide you with. Here are some useful tips on how to find the right insurance broker for your business needs:

Brokers and agents

In general, there are some differences between brokers and agents, although these differences can be quite complicated. Basically, you can have either an agent who works for a particular insurer, or a broker who is independent and does not work for any insurance company. The differences between agents and brokers are becoming blurred as many people act as both agents and brokers depending on your needs and the insurance companies involved.

Independent or not?

One of the most difficult decisions to make when looking for an insurance agent or broker is whether or not you should go for an independent agent or someone who works for a particular insurer. Obviously, someone who works for a particular insurer can only offer you products from that particular company, and if these prices aren’t competitive then you may find yourself paying too much for your insurance. However, the advantage of an insurer-employed agent is that they have full access to the policies of an insurance company. Independent brokers do not work for any particular company, and so they can look at a number of insurance companies for you. The problem with this type of agent or broker is that they may have limited access to insurance companies, and you are in essence paying for a service that you could carry out yourself.

Agent expertise

When looking for an agent or broker, you need to evaluate their level of expertise. A good agent is able to advise you in detail on all aspects of insurance for your company. You are relying on them too help you get the level of coverage that you need, so it is important that they have the expertise required. Many people pick their agent based on who has the best personality. Personality is a factor, but expertise is far more important. If you don’t pick someone who has the right level of expertise both in insurance and in your business sector, then you could end up paying too much or not being adequately covered.

Choosing the agent

Once you have decided what criteria are important, and established a budget for acquiring an agent, then you need to begin the selection process. You should ask the potential candidates about their professional qualifications, and also for their personal CV. You want to make sure that the agent you select is skilled in insurance coverage, and is more than just a salesman. Also, ask the agent some theoretical insurance problems that you know the answer to, as this can determine how knowledgeable and honest they are.

Drawing up terms

Once you have chosen an agent, make sure that all their duties and obligations are put in writing. Don’t assume that the agent will carry out all items that you expect them to. If you have the duties in writing then there is no room for error, and you will get the level of service that you desire. If you look around and do your research before employing an agent, and make it clear what you want, then you will find the right insurance agent or broker for your needs.