Find out what vet fees pet insurance will cover
Pet insurance is designed to cover vet bills due to accidents and illness – but it won’t usually cover routine treatment or check-ups.
Key takeaways
Pet insurance can help cover the cost of vet visits and treatment if your pet gets injured or becomes ill
Pet insurance won’t cover the cost of routine treatment such microchipping, neutering or vaccinations
There are four main types of pet insurance: accident-only, maximum benefit, time-limited, and lifetime cover
Pre-existing conditions are not usually covered by pet insurance, but you might be able to buy specialised cover for a higher cost
Vets’ fees are notoriously expensive in the UK. According to ManyPets, the average cost in the UK of a vet consultation in January 2025 was £58.29 – up 8% from the year before. Emergency appointments can cost £100 to £200 and out-of-hours callouts £200 to £300. Treatments, surgery and medication cost even more.
Acting on concerns that pet owners could be overpaying for consultations and medicines, the Competitions and Markets Authority (CMA) launched an investigation into vets fees in May 2024.
Pet insurance can help cover the cost of visits to the vet. However, most policies only cover accidents and illnesses and there are usually limits regarding how long a particular ailment can be treated for, or a limit on the amount of cover available.
Pet insurance won’t usually cover things like vaccinations, worming, neutering or spaying.
Without pet insurance, pet owners could face bills running into thousands of pounds if their pet needs surgery or ongoing treatment.
Different types of pet insurance
Pet insurance can seem a bit complicated but, put simply, there are four main types of pet insurance. These are:
Accident only: As the name suggests, accident-only policies cover vets’ bills resulting from accidents – but illnesses won’t be covered.
Maximum benefit: This type of policy covers injuries or illnesses up to a specified limit per condition. Once that limit is reached, the condition is no longer covered.
Time-limited: With a time-limited pet insurance policy, there is a fixed amount you can claim for treatment, as well as a time restriction, typically set at 12 months. Once this period expires or you hit the cost cap, you can’t claim for that condition again.
Lifetime cover: A lifetime policy is the most comprehensive type of policy, covering vet bills related to injury or illness up to an annual limit. This limit is then reset each year as long as you renew the policy. This is the most comprehensive type of pet insurance as it offers consistent cover throughout your pet's life – but it’s also the most expensive.
Moneysupermarket figures show that pet owners buying an accident-only policy typically pay £3.95 a month, those buying a time-limited policy pay £8.11, maximum benefit £8.41, and lifetime cover £8.64 a month (Pet insurance – average price by policy type).
Pet insurance exclusions
All pet insurance policies will have exclusions – these are things not covered. Common exclusions include:
Routine check-ups and procedures
Experimental or elective treatments
Preventative treatments and medications
Non-emergency dental treatments
Pregnancy and birth-related services
Pet insurance excess
An excess on an insurance policy is the amount the policyholder will need to pay towards any claim.
There are two main types of pet insurance excess. These are:
Fixed: This is a set amount agreed when you take out the policy; it’s usually about £100 to £200.
Co-payment: This is normally in addition to a fixed excess. The co-payment will be a percentage of the claim amount, normally 10 to 20%.
As an example, if you claim £2,000 for treatment for your pet and your policy has a £100 excess and 20% co-pay contribution, you’d pay £480 excess in total.
In general, the higher the excess you agree to when you take out the policy, the lower your premium will be.
Some insurers insist on a co-payment arrangement if you want to insure an older pet.
Pet insurance cover limits
Pet insurance cover limits depend on the policy and type of insurance you choose. Cover limits put a cap on how much you can claim for a certain condition or in a particular timeframe.
Time-limited policies limit how much you can claim for a condition during a set timeframe, normally a year.
Maximum benefit policies allow you to claim for the same condition over a longer period, until you reach the pre-set limit.
Policies with a lifetime annual limit will cap the total amount you can claim for all accidents, illnesses, or conditions in your pets’ lifetime.
Waiting period
After taking out a policy, most insurers implement a waiting period before you can make claims, usually a month. This is to prevent someone taking out a policy because they know they need to make an immediate claim.
Pre-existing conditions
In most cases, insurers won’t pay for treatment of pre-existing conditions. However, specialised insurance for pets with pre-existing conditions is available, although it will cost more
Additional cover
Beyond vet’s bills, pet insurance can cover other expenses such as emergency kennel and cattery fees, behavioural therapy, pet dental treatments, vet fees abroad, the costs associated with recovering a lost pet, and third-party liability (for dogs).
Make sure you compare what each policy covers, as well as how much it costs, when you’re choosing a policy.
As a rule of thumb, the more things your policy covers, the more it will cost.
How much are vet’s fees without insurance?
Vets visits can be very expensive if you don’t have pet insurance.
To give a rough idea, according to Animal Friends Pet Insurance, treating a medium-sized dog with gastroenteritis will cost £999 while fixing a cruciate ligament will cost £2,714.
Some vets offer payment plans to help pet owners spread the cost of treatment. Alternatively, if you’re on a low income, charities such as PDSA, Blue Cross, RSPCA, Dogs Trust, and Cats Protection can help with veterinary costs.
Compare pet insurance
To find great value pet insurance that gives you the cover you need, why not come to us? We’ll fetch quotes from some of the top UK pet insurance providers, so all you need to do is click on the deal that’s right for you and apply today. It’s quick and easy.
Ready to save on your pet insurance? Or need to know more before you get a quote? We’re here to help.
