My vets want paying up front no matter who you are insured with

Both mine have excellent cover for £22.00 each a month. One with Direct Line and one with M & S - both are covered £7000 per condition, per year of life with no upper age limit on the dog. I've claimed from Direct Line for Benson just after Christmas - they paid up no problems and were really helpful when I rang to discuss how to make a claim - they even told me that the two previous consultations and medications I had had were covered under the same claim!!