For many people, pets are part of the family. Taking care of your pet may involve bringing them to the vet from time to time. This could be for a check-up, or a routine procedure like a vaccination.<\/p>\n
But there may be times when you will have to pay for unexpected medical expenses for your pet. For example, if they have an accident, or suffer from age-related health issues.<\/p>\n
If your pet becomes ill and needs to have a medical procedure, it can be a tough time for your family. To avoid the financial strain, you could take out pet insurance to protect you. Be sure you know what you are buying and what cover you will get.<\/p>\n
You can get insurance for dogs and cats, but some insurers will also cover rabbits, birds and horses. Most pet insurance policies, depending on the level of cover, will include cover for:<\/p>\n
There are three main types of cover for your pet:<\/p>\n
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This covers any treatments your pet may need after an accidental injury. For example, if they are hit by a car. Accident only cover is often the cheapest policy available.
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This covers your pet for treatments arising from illness or injury. This covers up to a specified financial limit per policy year, called the \u2018maximum benefit\u2019. Each medical condition is covered for a maximum time limit, usually 12 months. When this time limit is reached, then treatment for this condition will no longer be covered and will often be excluded from future policies.
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This covers your pet for treatments arising from illness or injury, up to a specified financial limit per policy year. It covers treatments for conditions for the pet\u2019s lifetime. But this does not apply if the illness or injury existed before the cover was in place. This is often referred to as a \u2018pre-existing\u2019 condition. Also, this cover does not apply if the illness or injury occurred within the first 14 days of the policy.<\/p>\n
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Shop around to work out the best option for you and your pet. Compare prices online through comparison sites, or contact insurers over the phone. After-hours emergency care can be very expensive, so check that your standard policy includes it.<\/p>\n
Make sure you know whether the policy covers injury only, or both injury and illness. Injury only policies are generally cheaper. This is because injury and illness policies offer more comprehensive cover.<\/p>\n
Speak to your vet about common medical conditions or research them online. For example, the breed of your dog may mean it is prone to certain conditions. Your vet should be able to give you an idea of how much cover you need for your pet.<\/p>\n
Some insurers have restrictions on how much they will cover on certain conditions. For example, a \u2018bilateral condition\u2019. This is a medical condition that may affect your pet on both sides of the body, such as its knees, ears, eyes or hips. Most insurers will consider this as one single condition. So this can reduce the level of cover for both of these conditions. Being familiar with these conditions will help you to avoid any unexpected impact on a claim.<\/p>\n
You can usually pay premiums monthly by direct debit, or as a yearly fee. There may be a charge if you decide to pay by direct debit.<\/p>\n
The price of pet insurance will vary depending on where you live and your pet\u2019s breed and age. Your premium will be more expensive the older your pet is. Some insurers will not accept pets over a certain age, usually between 6-8 years old. Some breeds of dog will only be insured up to the age of five. Check the age limit with the insurer.<\/p>\n
Some insurers will offer discounts if you insure more than one pet. They may also offer discounts if you apply for an insurance policy online, or if pet owners are over 60.<\/p>\n
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Pet insurance providers won\u2019t insure any pre-existing conditions that your pet has. Most policies won\u2019t cover routine treatments such as vaccination and neutering. Flea and worm control and anything related to pregnancy or birth are also excluded.
\nIn most cases, pet insurance providers will not pay out on claims where the injury or illness was preventable. Examples include an injury or illness that could have been prevented:<\/p>\n
Many pet insurance providers will not cover the cost of third-party liability claims if your pet is a breed identified under:<\/p>\n
Pet insurance providers may also exclude other breeds that are not identified in the Control of Dogs Act regulations. Your policy document will state these breeds.<\/p>\n
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