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What are the different types of pet insurance policies?
Typically there are four types of insurance policies.
Accident only - covers accident and some health issues. We advise you to read the terms of the policy before you make the purchase
Maximum benefit - Recommended for short term health issues but you can claim more than once for the same condition.
Lifetime - As the name suggests, it provides lifetime cover for your pet.
Time limited - One of the cheapest pet insurance options, as it covers them for a limited amount over a 12 month period. After which, you can no longer claim on the same pet condition and should you decide to renew the pet insurance policy, the pre-existing illness will no longer be eligible.
What is pet insurance?
- Pet insurance provides cover for unfortunate events like your pet falling ill or injuring themselves in an accident
- Insurance policies can also pay-out in case your pet dies, is stolen or lost and/or damages third party property
Will the age of my pet affect the premium amount?
Yes, the older the pet, the higher the premium is likely to be, however this may vary between cover providers.
What else should I watch out for?
Before selecting the level of pet cover you require, you should always read the terms and conditions. Things you should look out for include -
- Travel or holiday cover (foreign cover)
- Dental Cover
- Missing pet cover
- Vet’s Fees
- Kennel and cattery fees
Compare pet insurance in 5 easy steps
- 1 Your information – Your name, address and contact details
- 2 Your pet’s information – Animal type, Pet’s age, breed and gender
- 3 Where your pet lives – Pet’s permanent address
- 4 Pet’s medical history – Declare any pre-existing conditions
- 5 Pets price - How much did you pay to adopt or purchase
Why should you get insurance for your pets?
As you are aware, there’s no NHS free service for pets so when they need a treatment you need to take your pets to veterinary care. Your dogs and cats will require a treatment for any injuries or illness throughout their life time, veterinary care can be really expansive (you may end up with lots of vet bills) which is why you should consider getting protection for your pets and for your peace of mind.
There are 4 different types of pet insurance
Maximum benefit
maximum benefit pet cover gives you a fixed sum to claim on annually. The cover can be per condition, per policy or both. Once you have claimed your yearly allowance you can’t claim further and pre-existing medical conditions aren’t covered under maximum benefit per cover.
Life time
Life time pet insurance cover provides protection for your pet’s illnesses or injuries with no time limit on each illness condition. However, there’s a limit on how you can claim on each condition per year. If you renew your policy continuously, you’ll get on-going cover for injury and illnesses every year.
Time limited
it means that your pet is insured cover for specific period of time which is traditionally 12 months. It usually comes with a cap on the claim allowance for the treatment required and you are not allowed to claim again for a condition once the 12 months period has ended or you’ve reached your claim allowance amount.
Accident only
Accident only pet cover helps you pay for the required treatment if your pet is involved in an accident. However, an accident only plan will not provide protection for illness or disease and your pet’s pre-existing medical conditions aren’t covered.
What’s covered under the Pet policy?
Levels of cover and benefits will vary based on type of pet cover you choose, however most policies often include treatment for pets involved in an accident and or illnesses to your pet.
- Third party liability cover - for dogs only
- Injuries and accidents
- Pets alternative therapies
- Treatment for any unexpected illnesses
- Costs of diagnostics for blood tests and illnesses
- Costs of finding your lost pets (mainly adverting costs)
What’s not covered under the pet policy?
- Vaccinations for pets
- Pet’s routine vet check ups
- Pre-existing medical conditions
- Dental treatment for your pet (covered if claimed under accident)
- Cremation and euthanasia
- Pet’s behavioural problems
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How to get pet insurance cheaper?
- 1. Contact PDSA charity – PDSA might be able to help you cover the vet fees
- 2. Avoid getting pedigree breeds – usually crossbreed pets are cheaper to insure
- 3. Multi pet cover – one policy for all of your pets can be cheaper option
- 4. Vaccinations – if you are up to date with all of the pet’s vaccination then the insurer might give you cheaper cover
- 5. Get your pet microchipped – chipping your pets can help you reduce your premiums
- 6. Their health – healthy lifestyle and exercise can keep your vet bills lower
- 7. Consider co-insurance – co-insurance can be cheaper for older pets
- 8. Compare insurers – Compare pet insurance with us to get great deals
Is it more expensive to buy a cover for an older animal?
Older pets are more likely to get health issues which is why it can be more expensive to insure older animals compared to younger ones.
It is possible to protect your older pet with a standard pet cover policy or you may need to go to a specialist insurer if required.
What is third party liability insurance for pets?
Third party liability insurance provides you protection when your dog causes accidental injuries to others or damage to property, person and pets. It can also help you cover any legal costs due to an accident caused by your dog.
Can vaccination affect the price of my pet insurance?
Up to date vaccinations can help you get better discounts with some insurers which can help you further reduce your premiums. However, pet insurance will not cover any cost related to vaccinating your pet.
Some of the well-known pet insurance types:
Pet Insurance Frequently asked questions
Many pet owners see their pets as an integral part of the family and are keen to insure them against illness or accident.
Pet insurance can provide cover in case your pet dies, is lost or stolen, attacked a third party or damaged property. You can get more details by reading our beginners’ guide to pet insurance.
Insurance for pets can cover all kinds of animals, including dogs and cats.
Not at all. There is a variety of policy options for pets on the market. The four main ones you will find are: accident only, time limited, maximum benefit and lifetime. You can select the most appropriate one for you according to the needs of your pet and your budget.
When a policy contains a co-insurance it means that if you make a claim you will be charged a percentage of the outstanding veterinary fees after the excess has been deducted.
If you have an older animal, your premiums are likely to be higher; however cover should be available for all ages of pets. If you are looking to take out pet insurance on a puppy or a kitten insurance usually begins when your pet is six-to-eight weeks old.
A previous illness may not be covered when you take out a new policy and it’s best to check. Make sure your pet has the appropriate vaccinations too.
Pedigree animals often carry an increased premium as their value is higher. With more intensive breeding, they can suffer more from genetic disorders.
If your dog causes accidental injury or damage to someone’s property you can be covered by third party liability insurance. This type of insurance can also help with legal bills should you be required to defend yourself in a Court case involving your dog.
Microchipping your pet is a recommended procedure and can offer many benefits to both owner and animal; it may help you secure a lower premium too. Microchipping can be done for all kinds of pets, including ferrets, rabbits and other small mammals.
It’s always recommended you read through your policy Terms & Conditions. Check carefully to make sure you understand what your policy covers, such as:
- Travel and holiday cover
- Veterinary fees
- Kennel and cattery fees
- Cremation costs
- Cover for missing pets
- Dental cover
- Cover for alternative therapies
For answers to any further questions, see our pet insurance guides.
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