Changing your Insurance Company - Advice please

So I had a really big shock when I got my renewal quote through for Sydney - up from 224 to 445- premier cover with M&S. This is despite the fact that we have only claimed twice in the three years we have had her - for probably less than £200 in total, our only claim this year has been for £60.

So I tried AXA directly - same cover as M&S Premier for about a third of the price

The only thing I am a bit worried about is the "pre-existing conditions" clause that I know will be found with any insurer should we change.

Sydney is a very healthy dog and we have not had any problems with her really. She has had an ear infection - resolved with a course of antibiotics - back in the summer and a skin rash - also resolved with shampoo and antibiotics. Also back in the summer.
All fully resolved and no problems since.

So - should she get another ear infection or another rash - would we be covered? Surely the conditions have totally cleared up and so do not predispose her to problems in the future and I am sure my vet would tell them that.

I did phone them this morning but they were very non-committal.

On the other hand the difference between prices is such that we could bear any problems and just pay for them if there was a problem. I really insure against big things - like joint problems, an accident etc...

Any experience, views of this please?

I think you will find that skin and ears will be excluded from any future policy with another insurer. Give VIP a ring on 0845 6016575. They are specialist brokers for pet insurance and they will usually get you an answer.

Thalice's Mum

Thanks for that - I will.
That was what I was worried about, because obviously insurance companies will get out of paying if they can find a way won't they.

But I just think that say I had a skin rash or an ear infection last year that had cleared up, so that I was totally better, it would not mean that I was going to get it again or be predisposed to it.
I don't know what to do really - I think the M&S price hike is disgraceful and I am very, very loathe to pay it but on the other hand I don't want to start losing bits of the body from insurance policies if I swap around for the better price. They have really got you over a barrel with this haven't they?
I also don't want to be paying for insurance and then not being able to use it because I have excluded parts of the body from it.
Ooooh Dilemma, Dilemma....