What is pet insurance?
Pet insurance is bought through a company that is not Ampthill Veterinary Centre. It helps you to cover the cost of non routine veterinary care such as when your pet falls ill or gets injured. It does NOT cover routine treatments such as flea and worming treatments, vaccines (although these may be covered by our Healthy Pets Scheme, which is a separate plan that you can find out more information about here). It’s worth noting, that although pet insurance doesn’t cover routine treatments, if you do not keep up with routine pet care (especially annual vaccinations) then your insurance company can become invalid.
What does pet insurance cover?
Pet insurance covers the cost of non-routine veterinary fees and certain medical expenses. Vet fee cover can range from as little as £500 to as much as £15,000, depending on the policy you choose. Most pet insurance policies cover the cost of consultations, medicines, surgical procedures and costs to see a veterinary specialist. Your policy may also cover some or all of the following:
- Death by accident or illness – If your pet dies, you can claim back the purchase price of your pet.
- Missing pet cover – Many pet insurance policies contribute to the costs of putting up posters and paying a reward if your pet goes missing.
- Third-party liability – This relates to cover for legal costs and expenses if your dog was to injure someone or damage their property.
- Overseas travel cover – Many pet insurance policies will provide cover if your pet falls ill, is involved in an accident, or needs veterinary treatment when abroad.
- Cattery and kennel fees – If you are hospitalised and there is no one else to look after your pet, pet insurance providers will often pay out for your pet to be put in a cattery or a kennel.
- Euthanasia, cremation and burial – Your policy may contain cover for the costs of your pet being put to sleep, cremation of burial.
- Dental cover – Some pet insurers offer cover if your pet needs dental work. This usually only covers accidents but some pet insurance providers may also cover dental disease.
What does pet insurance not pay for?
- Routine and Preventative Treatment including vaccinations, spaying, castration, flea, tick and worming treatments, grooming, claw slipping and teeth maintenance.
- Pre-existing illness or injury (a medical condition which existed prior to you taking out your pet insurance policy), including:
- Chronic conditions, i.e. ongoing problems your pet has at the time you take out your policy e.g. heart conditions or hip dysplasia
- Historic conditions, i.e. illnesses or injuries that your pet no longer suffers from e.g. healed tissue injuries or illnesses, lameness.
- Problems arising in the waiting period; most insurance providers do not cover the first 14 day of your pet insurance.
- Pregnancy and birthing, and associated costs (caesareans, neonatal care, etc.)
What are the main type of pet insurance?
- Lifetime cover pet insurance: the most comprehensive type of pet insurance. This type covers up to the insured value (chosen by you) every year for the entire lifetime of your pet.
- Lifetime policies may cover up to a maximum amount per condition (i.e. up to £2,000 per condition but for as many conditions as you need), or a maximum total amount per year (i.e. no more than £10,000 per year total veterinary costs.
- Time Limited Pet Insurance: covers a condition for a set time period (usually to the end of the policy year) but then excludes any claimed-for conditions after the time limit is reached (or cover level if reached first).
- Maximum Benefit Pet Insurance: cover each new medical condition up to a certain amount (chosen by you), regardless of how long it takes to reach that amount (as long as the policy is renewed annually).
- Accident only pet insurance: covers only injuries, not illness. These policies provide a fixed sum of money for each accidental injury to help pay for your pet’s treatment, and will often stop paying for the injury after twelve months.
Insuring older pets
Insurance companies typically treat cats and dogs over the age of eight years old as ‘older pets’. As your pet ages, they are more likely to fall ill or suffer an injury that could lead to a more expensive claim. To cover this additional risk, pet insurers are likely to charge more to insure older pets than younger ones.
Things to bear in mind include:
- If your pet has had any illness or veterinary treatment in the past, be sure to check whether any exclusions apply to the new policy so you understand what you’re paying for, and what is not covered.
- Don’t overlook the excess. Insurers typically impose higher excesses or ‘co-payments’, on older pets. A ‘co-payment’ is when the insurer won’t pay a certain percentage of the claim’s cost. For older pets, these can be as much as 25%.
What are the alternatives to pet insurance?
There are a number of alternatives to pet insurance if you want to protect your pet. These include:
- Self-insurance – Self-insuring your pet means saving a set amount of money to pay for potential vet bills. With self-insurance, it’s really important to think about how much you can realistically afford to put aside and keep in a fund to protect your pet. The risk of self-insuring is that you could run into veterinary costs that are higher than the amount you’ve saved. For example, Hip dysplasia – where your pet needs both hips replaced – could cost around £7,000.
- Charities and other help – If you can’t afford pet insurance, help from charities may be available. This help is often means-tested and mainly helps people who are on a low income, retired or receive certain state benefits to get help towards the cost of veterinary care. The following groups offer free treatment to pets:
- The Blue Cross The People’s Dispensary for Sick Animals (PDSA)
- The Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA)