50,000 pet owners face crippling vet bills after their insurance is axed

  • Furious owners could have to put their pets to sleep
  • Insurers claim pet cover is unaffordable

By
Ruth Lythe

Last updated at 12:03 AM on 4th February 2012

Thousands of pet owners are preparing to pay huge veterinary bills – or face the heartbreaking prospect of having their beloved animals put down – after their insurance policies were axed.

More than 50,000 policyholders with state-owned Lloyds TSB and Halifax have been told they no longer have cover.

Many who have sick cats and dogs will be unable to find pet insurance elsewhere, as other firms will not cover animals that have already been treated.

More than 50,000 policyholders with state-owned Lloyds TSB and Halifax have been told they no longer have cover.

More than 50,000 policyholders with state-owned Lloyds TSB and Halifax have been told they no longer have cover

Furious pet owners must now fund the veterinary bills themselves – totalling thousands of pounds – or face the painful alternative of putting their animals to sleep.

It is understood insurers are pulling out of the market because they claim it is simply unaffordable to offer pet cover.

Halifax and Lloyds announced that they would stop offering cover last October. Since 2009, a total of  13 pet insurers have done the same, blaming rocketing vets’ fees.

Lloyds customers are no longer able to renew their policies, and any existing cover will end in September.

Many of the affected pet owners have now lobbied Lloyds Banking Group, which also owns Halifax, to change its decision and some are threatening to take it to court.

Marc Gander, founder of Consumer Action Group, which is preparing the legal challenge, said: ‘The bank has gone back on its promises and betrayed these policyholders.

I want my peace of mind back

‘It said it would cover these animals but now is pulling out. It is effectively abandoning these people and their animals, many of whom have paid thousands of pounds into its coffers for years.

‘Some will now have no choice but to put down their animals because they can’t afford to pay for their animals’ medical bills.’ He said he hoped the insurer would back down and reinstate the insurance, or would instead give  out lump sums to owners  whose pets were currently undergoing treatment.

The cost of the average pet insurance policy has jumped by more than a third in the past year, and could now range from £150 to £600.

The average cost of treatment for a pedigree cat is now £420 – 28 per cent more than a year ago.

Treatment for a pedigree dog costs £469 on average, a jump of 13 per cent. Some larger breeds rack up higher bills.

Under the Lloyds and Halifax policies, if a pet developed an illness the owners could continue to  claim for it when they renewed their cover.

And the Halifax policy had promised cover for up to £6,000 of medical treatment every year, which is why it was so popular.

But the problem for pet owners who now have to change providers is that insurance firms refuse  to cover animals that have already been treated for a particular condition.

Mandy Jones, head of rehoming at animal charity the Blue Cross, said: ‘This is a really worrying development for animal welfare as pet owners face being left high and dry unable to pay for their animals’ treatment. The risk if insurers continue to pull out of the market or change their terms is that more sick animals will go untreated.

‘We are seeing more and more people unable to afford vets’ fees during the recession and even a rise in animals being abandoned.’

A spokesman for Lloyds said: ‘Following a detailed review, Lloyds Banking Group has announced the decision to withdraw from the pet insurance market. 

‘We are sorry for any inconvenience this might cause customers.’

It said its insurance policies were renewed annually and it reserved the right to cancel them.

 

Here’s what other readers have said. Why not add your thoughts,
or debate this issue live on our message boards.

The comments below have been moderated in advance.

PETPLAN any day of the week.

Kate, Epson
Your idea of regularly putting money aside towards vets costs is an excellent one.
I have been putting a small amount of money aside every month for my cat and now have well over one thousand pounds in the “kitty” (if you’ll pardon the expression). My cat is 10 years old now, but seems to be fairly healthy and he only needs regular vaccinations and his teeth cleaned, by the way it is cheaper to have the cat’s teeth cleaned than my own!

All ANIMAL LOVERS, Boycott Lloyds TSB and Halifax. Lets show them we are a force to be reckoned with.

Just like in every profession (including journalists) there are some unscrupulous vets, but they are outnumbered by far by those who work 60+ hour weeks, through the night, trying to do their best for both pet and owner.
Vets bills have gone up due to new knowledge, better equipment, better and safer drugs. If you want lower vet bills, then unfortunately that will mean a lower standard of care.
It’s also worth comparing the NHS: #60 for a 10 minute consult, which is at least double your average vet’s consult fee. You pay over 1500 a year for the NHS through taxes!

It takes 8 years to train to be a vet,But only 4 years to be the president of America! I say no more….

If you can’t afford vet bills DON’T GET A PET.
– Harry, New Zealand, 4/2/2012 10:03=======================If it hasn’t been for people owning a pet you wouldn’t have a job!

OMG, it’s taking a lot of people a long time to realise that all politicians, banks, insurance companies, and financial advisers are crooks – they’re only there to line their own pockets. Start off at that point and you won’t go far wrong!

Poor Billie Bob! He is lucky he has such devoted and caring owners, I hope they sort out the policy with someone else. Everything is business these days, no profit – no cover, that’s the way the cookie crumbles unfortunatelly.

We are more than a nation of pet lovers – we are a nation of pet over-indulgers and waste money on them. We treat them far too much like humans (anthropomorphism) and sometimes prefer their company. If you can’t afford to fix your sick pet then get it put down and buy a new and healthier one – or better still, just buy animals that you can eat later – you know it makes sense!!

Pets aren’t cheap. People should have to realise this, yet we have charities offering free vet care to people on benefits – sure it is not the animals’ fault that their owners cannot afford to look after themselves let alone the animal, but surely there is something wrong in such a situation?

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