Devil's advocate here....
Are they really loopholes or is it more a case of the policy not being read through with a fine tooth comb, or the wrong policy being bought because ethe owner picks the cheapest option?
My policy clearly states that routine appointments are not covered and that albie is not covered for free flight at all. He is covered for going out side but only if he is in a harness or a sutible travel cage.
Also the type of policy plays a big part in what's covered. Accident only is just that, covers accidents but not illness
Annual policies will only cover conditions and illness for 12 months from the onset of symptoms and then not covered after that. So if your pet is admitted for vomiting and needs fluids, it will be covered for 12 months but after that, if say it has another bout 2 years later it will not be covered.
Lifetime policies Cover the Pet for life and Covers each condition for life. You will have a set limit of x amount (5k for albie) either for the whole year or per condition. Albie's is per condition. Once you use up that pot that's it for the remainder of that policy year until it renews the following policy year. I only need to pay £35 per condition should an issue arise.
I can afford a routine trip to the vets with him, but of I needed an emergency appointment because albie is unwell, I have peace of mind knowing that he is covered for the cost of say, a Chinese take out each month.
I've done the maths, for the cover albie has, the amount I pay annually doesn't come close to the 5k. So to me, at the price of £18 a month for the top level of cover is well worth the peace of mind knowing I won't be on a position where its a choice between albie getting the treatment he needs but it comes from other bills and have to make that awful choice.
I used to work in a veterinary surgery and more often than not, those loop holes were in actual fact exclusions on an annual policy or a pre existing condition that's excluded because the owner has changed policy provider or because the owner hadn't read through their policy properly and it clearly stated they wasn't covered for x treatment (Oliver wasn't covered for Dental surgery) or because their treatment limit was used up.
When I purchased albie, my husbands job was temp and we didn't know if he was going to be made permenant or not. If he was let go, there is no way I could afford any significant treatment for albie on my wage alone. The insurance gives me peace of mind in this regard.
