Should I get pet insurance?
If a big vet bill would be unaffordable then pet insurance is likely to be worthwhile considering. But as well as covering vet bills, pet insurance can have other benefits too such as third party liability for dogs and helping with the cost of recovering a lost pet.
Key takeaways
While not legally required, pet insurance can be a cost effective way to manage vet bills.
There are various types of pet insurance policies available, so it's important to compare both cover levels and premiums before buying insurance.
The cost of pet insurance will be affected by the type of animal, its age, and the type of cover you want.

The benefits of pet insurance
Pet insurance can help cover the cost of veterinary treatment and other expenses if your pet becomes ill or is injured. It can also provide peace of mind and financial protection.
Without cover, you might need to borrow money to pay for treatment from a vet.
How pet insurance works
With pet insurance, you pay a monthly or annual premium to your insurance provider. In return, your pet will be covered for vets’ fees if your pet become ill or injured.
Policies typically have limits on how much you can claim and/or how long for. You might also need to pay an excess or contribution when you make a claim.
As well as vet’s fees, insurance can also cover things like cattery or kennel fees if you need care for your pet while you are in hospital, the costs of recovering a lost pet, and third party liability for dogs.
It’s not a legal requirement in the UK to have pet insurance – but it is a good idea. Vets fees can be very expensive for even routine conditions and long courses of treatment can cost hundreds or thousands of pounds if you don’t have cover.
However, pet insurance does not normally cover routine treatment such as neutering, vaccinations or worming.
Dog insurance
Dog insurance can be worth it, especially if you have a younger dog. Buying pet insurance for a puppy will ensure that most of their health problems are covered as long as you keep up with your premiums.
Despite being more expensive, pet insurance for older dogs can still be worth the cost. For example, a policy could cover your dog for conditions that dogs are at greater risk of when they get older such as osteoarthritis, heart problems, or cancer.
Dog insurance can also include third party liability cover, in case your dog injures someone or damages property.
Cat insurance
Cats are normally cheaper to insure than dogs and cat insurance will usually cover accidents and illnesses. Cats that roam outside can be more prone to accidents than dogs – however, you won’t need third party liability for a cat.
Insuring other animals
As well as cats and dogs, you can buy rabbit insurance or pet insurance for horses.
Other more exotic pets can be covered too, although you might need to go to a specialist provider.
How much does pet insurance cost?
Pet insurance can be expensive, especially as your pet ages and develops certain health conditions.
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).
The cost of pet insurance depends on the type, age, and health of your pet, as well as the type of policy you choose. Lifetime policies are most expensive, while accident-only cover is the cheapest.
If you add a higher excess to your policy, you can make your pet insurance more affordable. However, it’s important to choose an excess amount that you could afford in the event of a claim.
The benefits of lifetime cover
Lifetime pet insurance is the most expensive type of pet insurance but if bought when your pet is young and healthy, it can be worthwhile in the long run.
With lifetime pet insurance you can make repeat claims for the same condition during your pet’s lifetime. So, if your pet is diagnosed with a chronic condition after your policy has been put in place, you can continually use your lifetime pet insurance to pay for treatment, medication, and therapies.
Save money with accident-only cover
As the name suggests, accident-only policies cover vets’ bills resulting from accidents – but illnesses won’t be covered.
While this can be cheaper policy than types of cover, it’s very limited and can leave you lacking in cover if your pet gets sick or develops a long-term condition.
Is maximum benefit cover sufficient?
Maximum benefit pet insurance covers injuries or illnesses up to a specified limit per condition. Once that limit is reached, the condition is no longer covered.
Since there is no time limit to your cover, you can claim for the same condition several times within your pet’s lifetime, provided you don’t reach your maximum allowance.
The limitations of time-limited cover
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.
Adding optional extras
Optional extras that can be added to your pet insurance policy include:
Pet travel insurance: Covers vet bills abroad and holiday cancellations.
Pet dental cover: Covers emergency dental treatments.
Third-party liability: Useful for accidents caused by pets.
Death benefit: Helps cover the cost of a pet's death or getting a new pet.
Insuring pets with pre-existing conditions
Most pet insurance policies won’t cover pets with pre-existing health conditions. However, you might be able to find specialised and affordable cover with a specialist provider.
Finding the right policy with MoneySuperMarket
At MoneySuperMarket, we help you to compare pet insurance quotes all in one convenient place.
Ready to save on your pet insurance? Or need to know more before you get a quote? We’re here to help.