Pet insurance

Pet insurance - get your pets covered

Caring for a pet is a big responsibility, and any accidents or illnesses can soon lead to expensive vet’s bills.

However, pet insurance can help spread the cost of any emergency treatment your cat, dog or rabbit needs and could even cover the cost of tracking down a lost pet or even kennel or cattery fees if you have to go into hospital.

Vet’s bills

The cost of emergency operations can escalate to thousands of pounds depending on the animal you have and the treatment that is needed. However, pet insurance only covers the cost of unforeseen treatment. It doesn’t cover the cost of neutering, essential vaccinations or worming and flea treatments.

Pet insurance

Buying pet insurance means that you don’t have to worry about the cost of vet’s bills, or shelling out a lump sum in an emergency.

You can get cheap pet insurance by comparing quotes online, and can get your pet covered from less than £5 a month for a cat or £8 for a dog.

Your pet insurance quote

There are a number of factors that can affect your insurance quote. These include:

• Where you live. Vet’s bills tend to be higher in cities, which will be reflected in your monthly premium.
• The breed of your pet. You will have to pay more if you have a pedigree.
• How old your pet is. Older animals will require more care so you'll be charged more for your insurance. Some providers won’t cover pets over a certain age so it’s best to start your cover as soon as possible.
• Your pet’s health record. If your pet has been seen by the vet for various complaints, your premium could go up.

Pet cover

If you're buying pet insurance for the first time, or are looking to renew your pet insurance policy, there are a number of things that you need to take into account:

• The level of cover. Think about how much cover you need. Some policies only cover vet’s fees while others will pay out to help you find a lost pet or the cost of kennels and catteries.
• Excess payments. Most pet insurance policies require you to pay the first £50 or more of any vet’s fees. However, this can vary, and cheaper policies might require you to pay more upfront.
• Third party liability. Some policies cover against damages if your dog bites the postman or runs into the road, causing a crash.
• Payment maximums. Some insurers will only pay out a certain amount over the course of a year; others have a limit on how much they will pay out per claim.
• Exclusions. Make sure that you read the small print of your policy for any conditions or treatment that is excluded.
• Pre-existing conditions. Most pre-existing conditions won’t be covered by your policy so it’s best to take out pet insurance as early as possible.

Discounts

Many insurers offer online discounts – ranging from 20 per cent to three months free cover, so it pays to shop around.

You might also get a discount if you want to insure more than one pet.

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