Thank you for your comment. From my experience, excesses (whether fixed amount or percentages) are never claim related but age related.

As far as the premium is concerned, insurers usually take into account vet inflation, your pet’s age (as it gets old it will become more likely to claim) and your claim history (amount claimed for in the past 12 months).

Pet insurance, like any other insurance are annual contracts. This means insurers can review their terms and conditions, premiums and excesses at their leisure. They notify you before renewal and you can change company if you wish. But, if you have claimed, especially for an ongoing condition, then you’re tied in your contract.

Do you know how much you’ve been claiming for your first cat over the years? Have you compared it to what you paid in premium and excess? In the end was it worth?

I have 2 pensioner cats which have been insured for many years. This year my premium has doubled on one cat to almost £20 per month and raised by 50% on the other cat to almost £13 per month. On top of this my excess has increased from £40 per condition per year to a staggering £100 per condition per year – for each cat. How can this increase of 150% be justified? I am also required to pay 20% of the vet’s fees on any claim.

One of my cats has some on-going treatment for thyroid problems but the other has not needed treatment for anything, yet the excess and premium has soared on both of them. This must mean the huge rise is age related not claim related.

Needless to say, I am not in favour of compulsory pet insurance.