Just some general observations on dog insurance, it's like anything else, the company is there to make money from you. With that in mind look VERY carefully at the policies. Some claim "insurance for life" but they mean the life of the CLAIM. So check it is for the life of the animal. The cheaper policies are cheaper for a reason. In practice we have more problems - queries or rejected claims - with the cheaper newer policies than the long established more expensive ones. Putting the cash to one side can work, but as scrun says - either you take the risk, or pay the insurance company to do it.