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Pet Insurance


Keeping a pet is a rewarding experience which many of us enjoy, but it can also be expensive. As well as all the routine costs such as food and grooming, you can also come up against unplanned expenses such as vetinary bills through sickness or accident.  As there is no free health service for our pets these bills can unfortunately be very high, so to ensure that our pets can get the treatment they need many people decide that taking out pet insurance is a sensible way of helping to cushion these costs.

Pet insurance is similar to other forms of health insurance cover. A premium is paid to the provider. When your pet becomes ill and requires treatment you make a claim for the costs incurred. The insurance provider then pays out a cheque and you bank it. Most types of domesticated animal are eligible for pet insurance in the UK. Many standard policies insure cats and dogs. Some extend cover to rabbits, birds and horses. For exotic animals and other uncommon pets competitive insurance quotes are best sought through companies that specialise in insuring these types of creatures. For all types of pets it is worth noting that premiums may vary according to breed.

Which Kind of Pet Insurance Do You Need?


The first thing to consider is what kind of pet you have. The cheapest kind of pet insurance is that for the most common pets - cats and dogs. Prices for these policies can be very reasonable indeed, amounting to only the cost of a few tins of pet food a month. If, however, you keep a more unusual kind of animal as a pet, then the price you pay may well be higher. Make sure that any policy you take out specifically includes your kind of pet, as many will exclude more 'exotic' kinds of animal.

The main reason for considering pet insurance is cover for medical treatment, but there are some exclusions that you need to be aware of. Firstly, your policy will almost certainly not cover routine treatments such as vaccinations, flea control, or worming. Secondly, you won't be covered for any pre-existing conditions that were already known about when you took out the policy (you should also declare any existing conditions when you take out the policy, or you risk it being declared invalid when you come to make a claim).


Pet Insurance Policy Claim Limits


You also need to check your policy for claim limits: there may be a time limit of cover, so for example a long-term condition such as arthritis may only be covered for a period of 12 months, after which you will be responsible for meeting the bills. There is also usually a limit to the total cost of medical bill claims you make in any one year, but this is usually high enough to cover almost any conceivable situation.

Another major reason for taking out insurance is to help you cover the costs of getting your pet back if it goes missing. Most policies will contribute towards advertising in local newspapers etcetera, and also to providing reward money for the safe return of your pet.

Another very important part of your insurance cover is public liability, especially for dog owners. Even the calmest and most well behaved of pets could possibly cause damage to someone's property, or even cause an injury to a person. In this thankfully rare event, you could be open to huge legal bills and compensation claims - make sure that your policy includes a substantial amount of third party liability cover as standard.


Pet Insurance Age Limits


Finally, check whether the policy you're considering places a limit on the age of your pet. Many policies are only available to, for example, cats up until the age of eight years. As it is in later years that your pet is most likely to need treatment, it obviously makes sense to ensure your policy will cover this, especially if your pet has a few years under their belt!. Normally the age range for starting a policy is from 8 weeks until 8 years of age, again some companies insure pets from 5 weeks and some until the pet is 10 or 12 years old. Obviously if you insure your pet within these age ranges the policy will continue past these ages to old age with no upper age limit.

Pet Insurance Claims


If you need to make a claim there will be an excess to pay, this can range from £35 to £65 for dogs, £30 to £50 for cats and £30 to £45 for rabbits. The pet insurance companies usually state that they will settle a valid claim promptly, sometimes within 24 to 48 hours of receiving the claim.

 

The opinions expressed are those of the author only. The material is for general information only and does not constitute legal, financial or other form of advice. You should not rely on this information to make (or refrain from making) any decisions. Always obtain independent, professional advice for your own particular situation by an FSA authorised company where the market is FSA regulated.


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Asrecommended insurance offers pet insurance via selected pet insurance providers to give you with the best pet insurance quotes to suit your needs. If you are looking for pet insurance to cover dogs or cats for vet’s fees such as consultations, x-rays, surgery and medication then our providers can help. Get a pet insurance quotation online or over the phone.