How does pet insurance work?

 
 

There is no NHS for pets. If your cat or dog is involved in an accident or becomes ill you will be responsible for paying the vet's bill. And if you have been one of the millions glued to the TV watching Animal Hospital or Vets in Practice you will know full well how expensive some of those bills can be.
 
 

Claims paid by one insurer are cited as a cat with skin problems £553, a cat with a fractured pelvis £1,137 and a dog with a serious tumour £2,977.

Most owners would say it was worth it, just to have their pet restored to health, but a huge, sudden unexpected bill could knock your careful budgeting for six. It has been estimated that 40% of the cost of owning a dog goes towards unforeseen vet's bills and that less than two in 10 of the UK's 13 million dog owners insure their pets.

In addition to ensuring that vet's bills don't give owners too much of a shock many policies also have a range of other useful cover so that, if for example a motorist crashed his car into a wall to avoid running over your dog you could well be covered for the expensive repair to his car - and the wall.
 
 

Likewise if your dog bit the postman or worried sheep you could find yourself in court, and many policies offer useful legal advice and cover for legal fees. Legal liability for damage to anyone or their property caused by your pet is required by law if your dog is covered by the Dangerous Dogs Act.
 

Other benefits that some policies offer is to pay for kennels or boarding if you have to go into hospital, which could be a real bonus for an elderly person living on their own. A few top-of-the-range policies will pay for holiday cancellation if your pet is sick or injured.
 

Most will pay for costs for advertising and a reward if your animal is lost - but the amount on offer varies. Some will pay the purchase price of your pet if it dies or is stolen. One or two pay out if you need to take your unruly pet to an animal behaviourist. And one company will pay out like a life insurance policy on the owner if they die while out walking the dog.
 
 

Because of the variety of events that can be covered the range of providers and policies can differ widely. Decide what level of cover you need and what you can afford. For example, the excess on your policy can range from £25 to £65. For some people it may be worth paying a higher excess and a lower premium - for others it may be the other way round.
 

Dogs cost more than cats to insure, and you sometimes pay extra for pedigree pets and bigger dogs and some more delicate breeds may cost more to insure with some companies. Some insurers also vary premiums according to where you live because vets' bills tend to be higher in cities.
 

Some companies won't let you take out new cover for pets over a certain age, such as eight for dogs or ten for cats. Other companies have no age limit.
 
 

Remember pet insurance is to cover you for the unexpected so vaccinations, boosters, wormers, nailclipping, spaying and neutering won't be covered.
 

It doesn't matter whether your cat is a Persian blue or is more at home in an alley - or whether your dog is a likely Crufts winner or is a mongrel of dubious parentage - pets are part of the family and no-one wants to see them suffer.
 

Things to consider when choosing a policy
 

1 What is the excess?
Owners always pay a small portion of the claim - the excess. Check how much and whether it is a fixed amount. They can range from £25 to £65. Some policies have excess levels that rise following a claim.
 
 

2 How much cover do you need? How much will they pay for vet's fees?
Be careful here. Some companies will pay out a maximum figure in one year, others will pay out a maximum per claim for illness or accident. It could make a big difference.
 

3 Are there any exclusions?
Always read the small print. What are the exclusions? Are hereditary conditions excluded, and if a condition is claimed for one year is it excluded at renewal?
 

4 Does the Insurer cover your pet all his or her life
This varies. Some insurers will keep on pets of any age, some say they will only cover those over, say, 10 years 'at their discretion', others stop cover at around 8 or 10.
 

5 Do premiums rise as the pet gets older?
Yes, almost always, and the increases can be steep as the years go by.
 
 

6 What are the age limits for the policy?
If you have an older dog or cat check the maximum age that a pet may begin its insurance. The industry norm is eight years. Also some companies will not begin cover until the animal is six or eight weeks old.
 

7 Do you charge more because of the area I live in because of higher vets charges?
In some areas vet's bills work out higher. Some companies pass this on to customers living in the area, others average it out across the country.
 

8 Does the breed of my pet matter?
While some breeds are a higher risk than others, not all insurers charge an added premium. It's worth checking.
 

9 Does the policy cover alternative medicine?
Some companies will give this cover up to a limit.
 
 
 

10 Are you eligible?
Some policies are specific to certain animals or owners. For example some schemes are designed for members of a club or association.
 

Other factors to bear in mind include whether the company is pleasant to deal with and easy to contact. If you have a sick or injured animal you will be stressed enough without having to deal with a difficult insurance company.
 
 

Companies that offer pet insurance policies
 
 

This is not a definitive list. You would need to check carefully with each company for full details of their cover.
 
 

Instant Pet Insurance
UK pet insurance from E and L covers vet's fees, death, loss, public liability.
http://www.eandl.co.uk 
 

Direct Line Pet Insurance
Protect your pet for less with Direct Line pet insurance. We offer comprehensive insurance and you can save an extra 5% discount by buying online.
http://www.directline.com 
 

Pet Insurance from MORE TH>N
Great value pet insurance from £5.99 a month for cats and £7.99 for dogs. 2 months cover free when you buy online. Up to £6,000 cover for every accident or illness you pet may have.
http://www.morethan.com 
 

For Low Cost Pet Insurance Try Insurance.co.uk
Lloyds TSB Cat & Dog Pet Insurance - up to £3000 a year with vets' fees paid and up to £1000 to help find your pet if it has strayed or been stolen. 10% discount when you buy online.
http://www.insurance.co.uk 
 

1st Quote Pet Insurance
Premiums calculated on individual pet details, our unique rating system may allows us to offer substantial savings to our customers. Instant quote, instant cover.
https://www.1stquote.co.uk 
 

Buy Pet Insurance from Marks & Spencer
Buy pet insurance from Marks & Spencer. Get lifetime cover for as little as 18p per day for your cat or dog, including vet fees up to £7,000 - includes low excess options.
www6.marksandspencer.com 
 

Find Pet Insurance Quotes with Petplan
Petplan, one of the UK's largest pet insurance providers. Lifetime cover available for cats and dogs. Petplan also provides additional pet care services. Get a quote now.
http://www.petplan.co.uk 
 

Buy Your UK Pet Insurance at TESCO
Buy pet insurance online today from just £4 a month. Save 5% online & enjoy a wide range of benefits for your pet: vet fees, help with lost or stolen pets & holiday cancellations.
http://www.tescofinance.com 
 

UK Net Guide for Cheap Pet Insurance
Ever had to hand over cash for your sick pet? Well take the opportunity of protecting yourself against the high costs of vet fees with this guide to online pet insurance sites.
http://www.uknetguide.co.uk/Finance 
 
 

Pet Insurance Quotes from Virgin Money
Flexible, great value pet insurance - good news for your cat or dog and your bank balance. Choice of cover options. Get an instant quote. Buy online.
uk.virginmoney.com 

Looking for Great Deals on Your Pet Insurance?
Choose from a variety of the UK's favourite pet insurance specialists. Great deals and all the latest offers.
http://www.thehighstreetweb.com 
 

Compare UK Pet Insurance Plans
Looking for a pet insurance? Compare from our recommended choice of insurance providers, find the one to suit your needs and apply online now.
http://www.everyinvestor.co.uk 
 

Pet Insurance from Adrian Flux
Cat & dog insurance, compare cover and rates, online quotations.
http://www.fluxpet.co.uk
 

Compare Pet Insurance Plans
Read our reviews of pet insurance cover available for your cats, dogs, horses and more exotic animals. Compare the benefits of vet fee cover and lifetime policies and save money by buying online.
http://www.consumerextra.co.uk
 

An A-Z of Pet Insurance Websites
A-Z of every UK Pet insurance provider online. Compare rates and buy online.
http://www.find.co.uk
 

Find Pet Insurance Online
Search our listings to find the right insurance deals to suit you. We have a variety of websites offering life, pet, house insurance & many more with other related insurance services.
http://www.net-search.uk.net
 

Pet Insurance
Hints and tips on how to purchase pet insurance, savings on Pinnacle Pet Healthcare's pet insurance, plus lots of other useful information on saving money on household finances.
http://www.webmoney.co.uk
 

Pet Insurance - All the Top Rates at Find One
Compare the best value pet insurance from the internet's premier pet insurance companies. Find One - everything for insurance.
http://www.findone.co.uk
 

Ace for Pet Insurance - the Web's Best Rates
The leader of the pack every time. Find the finest pet insurance anywhere. Compare the web's finest pet insurance companies and save money. Ace for insurance.
http://www.acesearch.co.uk