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Pet insurance guide
Pet insurance helps to cover the cost of veterinary treatment in the event of an insured pet falling ill or being injured in an accident. To help you decide if it's right for you, we've compiled a pet insurance guide that explains what it is, how it works and how you can save money but still find the right cover.
Exotic pet insurance
Our preferred provider for exotic pet insurance is EXOTICDIRECT**, with policies available for:
Birds - including parrots and birds of prey
Small mammals – including rabbits, ferrets and chinchillas
Reptiles - including snakes, lizards and tortoises
Pet insurance explained
To help you decide if pet insurance is right for you, we've compiled a short guide that explains what it is, how it works and how you could save money but still find the right cover.
What is pet insurance?
Pet insurance helps to cover the cost of veterinary treatment in the event of an insured pet falling ill or being injured in an accident. Some pet insurance policies will also pay out if a pet dies, is lost or stolen or causes injury to a third party or damages a third party's property. Far from being limited to cats and dogs only, many pet insurance companies will cover smaller pets too, such as rabbits - and even exotic pets, such as chinchillas and parrots.
Why do I need it?
Pets are a big part of our lives, so when they fall ill or are injured providing the best health care for them is important. With the advances in veterinary medicine, treatments are now available that were once reserved for humans, making once fatal conditions in animals now treatable. Veterinary practices also have access to much more sophisticated equipment than they did in the past, making it possible to detect and diagnose problems that would once have gone untreated. Inevitably, these types of treatments and diagnostics come at a price, leaving some pet owners faced with a difficult choice. For this reason, many opt to take out pet insurance as not only does it provide valuable peace of mind against spiralling vets fees, but it also allows them to fully explore all available treatment options.
Are all pet insurance policies the same?
Normally, there are three types of pet insurance policies to choose from:
Time-limited policies
With a time-limited policy cover is provided up to a maximum amount per condition e.g. £1,500; however for each condition that you do claim for there is a 12 month limit, after which no further pay outs are made. The condition will then be excluded from the policy, even if it is renewed. Should your pet still be receiving treatment when the 12 month period comes to an end, you will have to fund the cost of any remaining treatment yourself. As they offer restricted cover, time-limited policies are the cheapest pet insurance option.
Maximum benefit policies
This type of policy covers conditions up to a maximum amount e.g. £1,500 but there is no time limit on how long you can claim for. Once the cost of treatment has reached the maximum amount specified by the policy there will be no further pay outs made. As such, this type of pet insurance may not provide complete cover in the event on an ongoing illness.
Lifetime/Covered for life policies
This type of policy provides a set amount of cover for veterinary fees, which renews each year in line with the renewal of the policy. This means that a pet is covered throughout its lifetime providing the policy remains active. This is the most expensive pet insurance option but the one which provides the most peace of mind.
Cover does of course vary significantly between providers, so it's important to check exactly what level of cover you are getting from a policy before you buy. Your considerations should include:
Vets fees
Aside from the cover limit per condition and any time constraints, you should also check whether the policy covers complementary therapies such as physiotherapy, acupuncture and hydrotherapy. Some policies will also provide cover for behavioural conditions and their treatment and for the provision of a special diet, should it be recommended by a vet as part of treating a condition.
Death by illness and death by accident
If a pet dies through illness or accident, some pet insurance policies will cover the purchase price or market value of the pet, subject to conditions. This cover can be useful for owners who have invested a significant sum in the purchase of a pedigree or exotic pet.
Cremation costs
Selected policies may cover the cost of having a pet cremated if its death was due to illness or accident.
Third party liability
If your dog injures a third party or damages their property, as its owner you could be held responsible and liable for any resultant costs. Third party liability cover may or may not include accidental damage cover so it pays to check this. Third party liability cover is available for dogs only as cats are considered 'free spirits' by the courts and therefore their owners are not legally responsible for their actions.
Pet travel scheme
Under the Government's Pet Travel Scheme, your dog, cat or ferret can travel with you to certain countries without the need for quarantine, providing a number of conditions are met. Consequently, some pet insurance providers extend their pet insurance cover abroad. If you are planning on travelling with your pet, you may find this option particularly valuable.
Holiday cover
Pets can fall ill, go missing or be involved in accidents at the most inconvenient times, such as before or during a planned holiday. If you want to cancel your trip altogether, or cut it short and return home, then holiday cover will help towards the cost of travel and accommodation expenses that cannot be recovered.
Missing pet cover
Some policies will provide cover towards the cost of advertising a missing pet and even for offering a reward.
Kennel and cattery fees
Cover for kennel and cattery fees helps towards the cost of boarding your pet should you need to receive emergency treatment as a hospital inpatient.
In the next part of our guide, we take a look at the policy excess, pre-existing conditions, pet insurance for older pets and pedigree animals and how you can save money but still get the right cover.
Pet insurance policies in more detail
On a pet insurance policy, what is an excess?
The excess is your contribution towards a claim. The amount you pay as an excess is fixed by the pet insurance company when you take out the policy, so for example if there is a £50 excess and you make a claim for £500, you will be required to pay the first £50 of that claim (usually direct to your vet) with the pet insurance company paying the remaining £450.
Some pet insurance companies will allow you to choose from a range of excess amounts when you take out the policy – the higher you set the excess, the cheaper your premiums are likely to be. However, remember to always set the excess at an amount you can comfortably afford should you need to make a claim.
What about pre-existing conditions?
A pre-existing medical condition is one for which a pet actually received care, treatment or veterinary advice before the cover came into effect. Most pet insurance companies will be willing to insure the pet, but will exclude the pre-existing condition from the cover.
Is pet insurance available for older pets?
Pet insurance companies typically treat dogs and cats aged eight and over as 'older pets'. Whilst cover is available for older pets, premiums are usually higher than for younger animals as they are considered to be at a greater risk of illness, particularly long term illnesses that are associated with age. Some pet insurance companies are still able to offer competitive premiums by increasing the policy excess or requiring that an additional contribution is made towards any claims. Where this is the case, it is usually a fixed percentage of the amount of the claim.
If you are looking to insure an older pet, the level of cover is important. Therefore always shop around and compare policies by features as well as price.
Why does pet insurance cost more for pedigree animals?
Pedigree animals are considered a greater risk to insure than cross-breeds because they have a higher value, are at a greater risk of being stolen and they suffer from conditions and ailments directly associated with their breeding (this is particularly true of pedigree dogs). As a result, pet insurance companies charge higher premiums to reflect that there is an increased risk of a claim (or claims) being made under the policy.
How to save money and still get the right pet insurance cover
The key to saving money on your pet insurance is to compare quotes online from a range of insurance companies. If you have just received your pet insurance renewal, and your pet is not undergoing treatment, then it makes sense to compare quotes from other providers to see if you could find a cheaper policy elsewhere.
When comparing policies always compare on policy features as well as price, that way you can be sure you are getting the right cover for your needs. Spending a little more, rather than simply choosing the cheapest policy, may offer better value for money – but remember to check the excess on any policy you’re interested in before you buy. If you don't, you may have a nasty shock when you come to make a claim.
