When it comes to pet insurance, it can be a minefield. There are so many different insurance companies out there with different offers, different policies. So where do we start when looking at pet insurance? Let’s have a look through some key points when it comes to insurance. 

Table of contents

What is pet insurance?

Pet insurance helps with unexpected costs and vet fees that can occur if an animal becomes sick, injured or had an accident. Not all pet insurance policies cover for the same thing or for the same amount of money, this is why you must do some research before buying to make sure it is the right policy for you and your pet. 

Learn more about pet insurance

The companies

There are now a lot of insurance companies out there that now do pet insurance. When looking at different companies it is important to do some research. When choosing it is important to look at reviews of the company, read about people’s experiences with them. Also ask friends who have pets if they have insurance and who they are insured with. Word of mouth and experience is a great way to find out how good a company is. Try to go with a company that specialises in pet insurance. 

Types of policy

When looking at policies there’s various ones. Whilst most policies are the same, some are worded differently on insurance sites so always read about them. So what policies are available? 

Most of the better companies offer a Lifetime policy

These have a limit for how much they pay out, but they also provide ongoing help with payments for treatment, year after year. 

Other policies may be called essential or time limited

These policies will only cover for the 12-month period from the start date and do not renew the following year for the condition you have claimed for. Often these policies have a cheaper annual fee and don’t have a high limit for vet’s fees. 

There are other policies that will cover for accident only

Illness is not included in this type. These policies will be cheaper. Each provider will set their own standards with what they cover on their different policies, so investigate these and compare and see which one suits you best. A lot of them are found on their website.

So, what kind of policy do you want, do you want something that’s going to pay out year after year or do you want limited cover?

It makes sense that if you are wanting pet insurance and are willing to commit to the payments then the long-term cover makes more sense. Most (but not all) insurers will not cover for pre-existing conditions. This means if your pet has had a condition prior to insurance then it is not covered. 

Vet fees

Vet fees are one of the main reasons as to why we choose to insure our pets. They help pay for/towards any treatment that is needed. Some vet policies will not cover for every condition or every type of fee. The main ones to make sure your preferred insurer covers are:

  • Accident
  • Long term or short-term illness
  • MRI/CT scans
  • Referral
  • Emergency treatment
  • Hydrotherapy/ Rehabilitation
  • Dental treatment
  • Cancer treatment
  • Consultations
  • Diet changes
  • Behavioural issues
  • Orthopaedic procedures
  • Public liability (especially for dogs, horses, or large exotics)
  • Death

These are some of the common conditions that are claimed for, so compare your insurance providers and see who covers what, the more they cover the better for you and your pet. 

Next, what is the limit on the vets’ fees?

Not all policies provide the same amount for vet’s fees. They often differ from £2000 to £12000 per year. The higher the amount of money for vet fees you apply for the higher your annual/monthly payment. Often when taking out an insurance policy people will go for the lesser amount but if your pet was sick and had to be taken to a referral practice then £2000 wouldn’t get you very far. If you can go for the highest amount you can afford, then at least you know you have a good amount for treatment. Another part of vets fees to investigate is, does the policy pay for the whole amount of the bill or do they only pay a percentage, this is not including the excess. Some policies will only cover for 70% of the total bill. 

What is the Excess?

Almost all policies require an excess to be paid for when claiming. Compare how much the excess would be. Does the excess change with the pet’s age? 

A few may not include an excess, but these often include a co-pay instead (a fixed percentage you will pay) – this can bring the premiums down, but 10% of (say) £10,000 is a lot more money than a £250 excess!.

Do they accept direct claims?

Often if your pet has had veterinary treatment and your bill is high, you could ask for a direct claim. However, this should always be discussed with your veterinary practice before any treatment. Does the insurance provider do this? Will they pay your vets directly? Doing this does make it easier for you. 

How fast do they pay out?

Is there any information about how long it takes the insurance company to pay you if you have made a claim? It is often two weeks but speak to them and see what their policy is on this. 

What’s the cooling off period?

This is usually in place so you cannot insure a pet then claim for an illness or condition straight away. The period in which you must wait is usually two weeks but have a look into this just so you are aware. 

What are the exclusions?

Whilst most insurers cover most breeds/species some also have some exclusions for certain breeds. Some breeds are very prone to certain conditions/illness. As these are the ones that are going to be claiming more and more, some insurers have decided to put exclusions on these breeds. Which means they either will not insure them, or they aren’t insured for a certain condition. 

Some insurers will not cover certain breeds, for examples of dogs, this especially being dogs on the dangerous dogs list. Read into this and compare which insurance company will insure your pet, especially if it’s a dog and check for any breed exclusions. 

What are the annual/monthly premiums?

This plays a big part in you making the decision as to which provider you want to use. Finding a policy that is affordable and gives you the cover you need will take some research. So, look at what each insurer is offering and compare what you will be covered for. It is important to make it work for yourself as the owner. 

How to compare insurance policies

You can visit individual sites for each company and make a note of what they offer. You can also use comparison sites like Compare the Market and GoCompare which like car insurance you can put your details and your pets’ details in, and they will do a search. They might come up with some companies you have never heard of so do some research on these to see how reliable they are. Also speak to your veterinary practice, some will discuss insurance with you and can recommend a company to go with, doing this you could get offers or often 4 weeks free. 

Conclusion. 

If you do your research, you’re not going to get any nasty surprises with pet insurance. From experience I find people go for the cheapest policy and then they do not realise that they are not insured for much. Always read the small print and research in depth who offers what. 

Further reading:

Get a quick quote from one of the UK’s leading pet insurers…

Learn more about them on our Pet Insurance page