SUPER SAVE UP TO
£200
ON YOUR PET INSURANCE1
When it comes to protecting your furry friend, it’s important to shop around for the right cover, that suits what you both need.
That’s why we work with over 25 leading pet insurance companies, to bring you the best deals.
151% of consumers could save up to £200.76 on a lifetime Pet Insurance Policy. Consumer Intelligence, Jan 2022.
Pets are part of the family, so when your beloved four-legged friend suffers a mishap like an injury or illness, it can be upsetting and often really expensive. Veterinary fees are sometimes unavoidable, and many owners struggle to afford unplanned treatments. In 2019, the average pet insurance pay out was £822, according to the Association of British Insurers
Puppies and mischief go hand-in-hand. Puppy insurance can protect your pup if they find themselves in any sticky situations.
Don’t rely on their nine lives to get them out of trouble, kitten insurance can be a safety net for your new little bundle of fluff.
Rabbits are much-loved family pets, so if yours becomes ill, make sure you’ve got the cover to keep your bunny hopping and happy.
As well as being expensive to care for, horses may be prone to theft. Horse insurance can help to protect both your finances and your steed.
Our pawsome pals are all unique, so when you’re shopping around for pet insurance, there are a few different cover options available:
This is usually the most expensive but also most popular type of cover, it means your pet is insured over the course of its whole life.
This type of policy insures your pet for a specific time, usually 12 months, to cover accidents or short-term illnesses.
Also known as ‘maximum benefit cover’, per condition policies allocate a fixed amount of money to treat each illness or injury.
This covers vet bills if your pet is injured in an accident. It’s the cheapest type of pet insurance in the short term, but doesn’t cover for illness.
The type of policy you choose will decide what cover you get for your pet. Most pet insurance policies cover veterinary treatment for accidents and/or illnesses and also often include:
Covers any legal costs if your dog hurts someone or causes damage. Under law, cats are considered ‘free spirits’ so cat insurance doesn’t include third-party liability.
Pet insurance doesn’t cover any existing health issues. If your pet becomes ill while you have lifetime pet insurance, they’ll be covered as long, as you renew.
The cost of working out what’s wrong with your pet, including things like blood tests, is covered. Some policies limit how much you can be reimbursed per test.
You’ll have to pay for vaccinations and check-ups for preventative medicine like flea and worm treatments yourself.
If your vet recommends something like hydrotherapy or acupuncture for your pet, some pet insurance policies will cover these treatments.
You will have to pay for your pet to be castrated or spayed, as well as cover costs for any treatment needed if your pet becomes pregnant or gives birth
If your furry friend goes missing most pet insurance policies include some cover for the cost of making posters, putting up advertising and rewards.
Keeping your pet’s teeth squeaky clean with a scale and polish or extractions is rarely covered but most policies will cover emergency dental work.
At the end of your pet’s life, most pet insurance policies will cover the cost of a vet putting them to sleep if it’s necessary and to prevent further suffering.
Although euthanasia is covered by pet insurance in some circumstances, you’ll usually have to pay for burial or cremation costs yourself.
"When choosing a pet insurance plan, factors like your pet’s age and breed will affect what protection you need and how much you will pay. If you are on a per condition policy, you can claim as many times as you need to until the cover is exhausted, however, after this you’ll no longer be able to claim for that specific illness or injury again - even if your pet needs further treatment. Lifetime policies are the preferred option for the majority of pet owners, even though it is the most expensive type of cover, especially with breeds more susceptible to certain illnesses."
- Rose Howarth, head of niche insurance
Give us a few details about your pet and the type of cover you’re looking for
We’ll put together a list of providers with appropriate cover for your specific needs
Pick the policy that is perfect for you and your pet
Pet insurance for a cat younger than five years old costs on average £116 a year. For dogs aged below five expect to pay around £225 a year*.
Insurers may charge you more to spread the cost of your pet insurance in monthly payments so it can often work out cheaper to pay for a policy upfront for the year. The cost of pet insurance will be determined by the policy type but will also vary depending on the type of and breed of your pet, its age and any existing medical conditions.
*51% of customers paid on average £116.40 for a cat aged under five and £225.12 for a dog aged under five. Stickee data, correct as of May 2020.
Here are some money-saving tips to help bring down the cost of cover:
Keep your pet healthy: whether it’s feeding your pet a nutritional diet or keeping on top of its vaccinations, having a healthy pet will help lower your premiums.
Opt for a higher excess: your premium is likely to decrease if you’re willing to pay a higher excess on any claim you make. But keep the excess affordable in case you have to pay it.
Take out multi-pet cover: some insurers offer a discount of 5% - 10% if you insure more than one pet on a single policy.
Pay annually: paying for your policy upfront is usually cheaper as some insurers charge interest on monthly instalments.
It always pays to shop around for cover to see what policies and prices are best suited to your pet and your budget.
You’ll need to provide the following information so we can help you find you pet insurance quotes:
Before picking a pet insurance policy, it’s important to compare those available by using a site such as MoneySuperMarket.
Running a pet insurance comparison means you’ll be able to see personalised quotes for your pet to help you choose the right one for you.
The right pet insurance policy for you might not be the cheapest, as cheaper policies might not provide the full cover you need.
If your pet already has a pre-existing condition you’ll still be able to get pet insurance, but it’s likely that the insurer won’t cover vet treatment for that particular medical condition. If you want to be covered for these conditions, you’ll need to look for specialised cover – but bear in mind that you might not be able to claim straight away.
Your pet’s age is one of the things that affects the cost of pet insurance. Generally speaking, the older your pet is, the more expensive your premiums will be. This is because they’re more likely to develop health problems and need vet treatment as they get older.
It’s important to keep your pet’s vaccinations up to date, because this protects them against the most common illnesses and diseases. The cost of getting vaccinated is not covered by pet insurance, but keeping all your pet’s vaccinations up to date can mean cheaper premiums. If you don’t get your pet vaccinated, and they get ill with a disease that could have been prevented with a vaccine, your insurer will be unlikely to cover the treatment costs.
The excess is the amount you’ll need to pay when you make a claim on your pet insurance. If you set a higher excess, this can bring your premiums down, but make sure you can afford the excess in the event of a claim. Some insurers will ask you to pay a flat fee for the excess, whereas others will ask for a flat fee plus a percentage of the remaining cost, so check your policy carefully before you buy.
If you have more than one pet, you’ve got the option to take out separate pet insurance cover for each animal, or to get one policy for all your pets. This is known as multi-pet insurance, and it can make it easier to manage your pet cover. It can also be cheaper, because many insurers offer discounts if you cover more than one animal on the same policy.
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