Compare pet insurance
Pet insurance doesn’t just safeguard your animal’s wellbeing; it also protects you financially if something goes wrong with them health-wise.
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Do I need pet insurance?
If you're deciding if you need pet insurance, it’s worth considering the potential cost of unexpected vet bills.
Taking out pet insurance isn’t mandatory, but it could help protect you from expensive and unexpected treatment costs, including:
- Surgery for injuries or serious health conditions as your pet gets older
- Medication and ongoing treatment for illnesses
- Emergency vet care, which can quickly run into thousands of pounds.
By having the right cover in place, you won’t have to rely on your savings to give your pet the care it needs.
Types of pet insurance
You’ll need to consider your own budget requirements and decide which of the four core cover types works for you.
Lifetime cover
The most comprehensive policy type, which allows you to claim on vet fees up to a certain limit that resets annually.
Maximum benefit
Works by giving you a fixed allowance per condition - for each new illness or injury your pet has, you’ll be able to claim up to a set amount.
Time-limited
Covers a new illness or condition for up to 12 months, or until the financial limit is reached.
Accident-only
The most basic type of cover - can be used for treatment for accidents and injury, but doesn’t cover your pet getting ill.
Compare pet insurance quotes
Find the most suitable cover for your pet's needs.
What affects the cost of pet insurance?
There are different factors that affect how much you pay for pet insurance:
Type of policy
The more comprehensive the insurance, the higher your premiums will likely be.
For example, choosing a lifetime pet insurance policy over an accident-only plan is sure to up your premiums because of how much extra coverage the former offers.
Take into consideration everything about your animal’s lifestyle when comparing pet insurance, as you could end up paying for cover you don’t need.
Your pet's age
As your pet gets older, they’re more likely to suffer from various health conditions. For pet insurers, this poses more of a risk, and they’ll expect you to pay extra in premiums.
Dogs are typically considered to be seniors from ages seven to 11, depending on their size. Cats, on the other hand, are regarded as seniors when they reach anywhere between 11 and 14 years old.
Always check with your insurer about how old they consider senior pets to be and how much your premiums could go up by once your pet reaches a certain age.
The animal's breed
Pedigree dogs and cats can be susceptible to certain genetic conditions, making them costly to insure.
Compare pet insurance quotes by providing accurate details of your pet’s breed and seeing which providers offer the most suitable levels of coverage.
Your pet's health history
If your animal has a pre-existing condition or suspected hereditary illnesses, you’ll likely have to pay more for your pet insurance.
This also applies if they’re pregnant or have complex care needs.
Normally, providers request some form of veterinary history about your pet before giving a complete quote. It may be brief or comprehensive, but either way, make sure you give them as much up-to-date information as possible.
Failure to divulge any important details about your pet’s health history could render your policy null and void. This means your insurer won’t pay out if you need to make a claim.
Your pet insurance excess
Pet insurance excess is applied to any policy and will need to be paid before you can make a claim. This amount is often more expensive than a standard vet consultation, so you must be prepared to meet this initial expense.
Most pet insurers will offer the option to pay your premiums monthly or annually. Generally there's no APR for paying monthly on pet insurance, so you'll see no difference in price; it's up to you to decide which of these payment plans best suits your budget.
How many pet's you insure
Compare pet insurance for individual policies that safeguard each animal. Or choose multi-pet cover, which protects several animals under the same plan.
Some multi-pet insurance policies can help you save money by applying discounts for each subsequent animal covered. Although not all insurers offer discounted rates with multi-pet policies, so compare providers to make sure you're getting the best deal available for you.
What does pet insurance usually cover?
The main reason for taking out a pet insurance policy is to cover the cost of hefty vet bills. However, most standard pet insurance policies should also include:
- Vet fees
Medical costs for treating injuries, illnesses and infections. Some policies may also include cover for chronic or lifelong conditions.
- Third-party liability
Can provide compensation if your pet causes damage to their property or injures someone. If you own a dog, specific dog insurance to cover this could be useful.
- Complementary treatments
Covers treatments such as physiotherapy, hydrotherapy and acupuncture and usually requires a referral from a qualified vet.
- Diagnostics
This includes tests, scans, exploratory surgery and hospitalisation if your pet needs to be kept overnight.
What isn't covered by pet insurance?
A standard policy typically excludes:
- Preventative treatments
This includes routine treatments such as vaccinations, grooming, dental maintenance, or flea, worm, and tick treatments.
- Spaying or neutering
Any vet costs related to pregnancy or if you choose to have your pet spayed or neutered
- Pre-existing conditions
If your pet has any pre-existing conditions or showed signs of any before your policy started, they usually won't be covered.
- Cremation or burial costs
If your pet passes away, you won't be covered for any costs that come from the burial or cremation.
“The cost of advanced veterinary consultation has risen by around 8% in the last 12 months due to new technologies like MRI scans and specialist surgeries costing more. A common procedure for a broken leg for your cat can easily cost over £2,000.
Pet insurance isn't a luxury; it's a way to budget for the financial shock of unexpected, high-quality emergency treatment for your furry friend.”
Getting cheap pet insurance: our top tips to cut costs
When taking out insurance, it’s all about keeping costs low without compromising your pet’s care. Here are five money-saving tips:
- Set a higher excess: This can lower your premium - just make sure you can afford it, and check if your insurer applies a co-payment (a small percentage of each claim).
- Coordinate cover: Many providers offer multi-pet insurance, and this could mean discount for insuring more than one pet. So, if you own more than one animal, it could be worth streamlining your insurance policies.
- Consider the breed: Pedigrees are more susceptible to hereditary conditions than crossbreeds, and therefore more expensive to insure.
- Get insured early: Avoid steep premiums and ensure any future health concerns are covered by getting your cover locked in as soon as possible.
Compare quotes: The best way to save on your pet insurance and ensure you’re not overpaying on your renewal is by using the Uswitch comparison tool. a
Is pet insurance a legal requirement?
Currently, there’s no law in place that says you must have pet insurance. This is the case for dogs, cats or any other kinds of pets.
It’s up to you where you want to compare pet insurance and take out a policy, or simply pay any vet expenses as they come. We can can compare quotes for standalone cat insurance, dog insurance or even multi-pet cover.
