Tell us about your pets
Give us a few details about each pet you want to be covered and the level of protection you’re looking for
Unlock a year of rewards with SuperSaveClub [1]
Price Promise - we price match and more
Covers veterinary costs for accidents, illnesses, & conditions up to a set financial limit per condition
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 30 leading pet insurance companies, to bring you the best deals. Save up to £237[2] on pet insurance
*Pre-existing medical condition polices are currently not included in our SuperSaveClub promotion
Maximum benefit pet insurance, also referred to as 'condition capped' or 'money limited', is a type of pet insurance that offers coverage for your pet's injuries or illnesses up to a specified limit, typically between £1,000-£7,500, depending on your chosen coverage level.
This policy type allows you to claim for the same condition over an extended period, without a time limit, until you reach the pre-set financial cap.
It's particularly suitable for pets needing ongoing medication or treatment for chronic conditions. Remember, while maximum benefit policies provide longer-term coverage compared to time-limited pet policies, they don't cover pre-existing conditions for pets or subsequent occurrences of the same condition in different areas, like the opposite leg. It's essential to renew your policy annually and maintain premium payments to ensure continuous coverage for your pet's health needs.
Maximum benefit pet insurance with MoneySuperMarket can cost you less than £12.20[3] a month and it can provide coverage for veterinary fees and treatments for illnesses and injuries, with a set limit on the amount payable for each condition. The coverage can extend to a variety of situations, potentially including:
Third-party liability for your dog
Reimbursement for loss or theft of your pet
Coverage for emergency expenses while abroad
Compensation for holiday cancellation due to your pet’s health issues
Payment for emergency kennel or cattery fees if you're unable to care for your pet
Some insurance plans may offer dental cover; if not included, it may be available as an additional purchase. Since policy details can vary significantly, it is crucial to carefully review the terms to understand the extent of coverage.
Typically, maximum benefit policies for dogs and cats do not cover routine veterinary care, such as vaccinations, flea or worming treatments, spaying or neutering, complications from pregnancy, or the cost of microchipping your pet.
Set amount per condition ensures clarity on coverage limits
No time constraints on claims as long as the policy is renewed, suitable for long-term conditions
Ideal for pets requiring ongoing 'maintenance' medication, such as steroids
Ability to claim for different conditions simultaneously, provided limits for each aren’t reached
Coverage extends to multiple conditions, even if the cap for one is reached
Coverage for each condition ceases once the set limit is reached, even if it reoccurs or appears in another part of the body
Future treatment costs fall to the owner once the maximum amount for a condition is used
Switching insurers might be challenging for conditions that have reached the benefit cap, as they may be considered pre-existing
The cap can be quickly exhausted by expensive treatments, like major surgeries
The maximum amount per condition does not reset annually; remaining coverage diminishes if part is used
Pre-existing conditions are not covered, consistent with most pet insurance policies
Maximum benefit insurance offers a set limit per condition, suitable for younger, healthier pets. It's ideal for separate, non-recurring conditions, but the limit can be quickly reached for chronic illnesses. Once exhausted, the policy won't cover that condition again.
Lifetime pet cover, in contrast, resets its limit annually, providing more extensive coverage for ongoing or recurring conditions. It's typically more expensive than maximum benefit policies.
Your choice hinges on your pet's health and your budget. Maximum benefit is cost-effective for less serious issues, while lifetime cover is better for pets with chronic health needs, despite its higher cost.
Lifetime pet insurance offers coverage for injuries or illnesses without a time restriction per condition, but there is typically an annual limit on the amount you can claim for each condition.
Continuous coverage for the illness or injury is provided each year as long as the policy is renewed. It's important to note that this type of insurance covers new conditions only, excluding any pre-existing ones.
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 cannot claim for that condition again.
Similar to other policies, pre-existing conditions are not covered under this type of insurance.
Also known as 'per condition', maximum benefit pet insurance covers each injury or illness up to a certain financial limit.
Unlike annual policies, the limit does not reset each year, allowing you to claim for the same condition continuously until the specified limit is reached, provided the policy is renewed regularly.
Accident-only pet insurance is designed to assist with the expenses of treatment in the event that your pet is involved in an accident.
This type of policy does not extend to illnesses or diseases and does not include additional benefits. Also, any pre-existing conditions that your pet may have are not covered under this insurance.
The more comprehensive cover you choose, the more expensive your premiums will be. Decide what policy features you need such as covering your pup for illness or accidents, or overseas cover if you plan to travel with them
Insurers often offer a discount of between 5% and 10% if you insure more than one pet, so take advantage and insure your pets together
Paying a higher excess usually means you will be rewarded with a lower premium. Just make sure you can afford the excess in the event of a claim
It can often work out cheaper to pay for your policy upfront rather than in monthly instalments
Some pet insurance providers will offer additional policy features for your puppy, such as dental cover or alternative therapy treatments
Use our comparison tool to compare policies from a range of the UK's leading pet insurance providers
Maximum benefit pet insurance is a great middle-of-the-road policy type. It offers comprehensive cover for both injury and illness without breaking the bank. However, if you have a young pet that hasn't had any health problems, you may be able to find a good value lifetime policy, which gives almost unlimited cover for your pet's whole life. Compare quotes with us and see for yourself which policy gives better long term value.
Saarrah Mussa Insurance expert
Keep up to date and find out all you need to know with our latest guides.
MoneySuperMarket has won the Feefo Platinum Trusted Service Award, an independent seal of excellence, which recognises businesses that consistently deliver a world-class customer experience.
Finding the right insurance provider for you is easy, all you need to do is follow these three steps:
Give us a few details about each pet you want to be covered and the level of protection 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
In just a few minutes, you can compare deals for maximum benefit pet insurance from the top UK pet insurance providers. It's quick and easy!
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 puppy
The maximum benefit you get will depend on your provider. Average limits from UK providers are between £2,000 to £5,000 per condition, although some providers can offer higher cover limits with more expensive policies.
Each provider and policy will also have limits for how much you can claim for additional costs, such as kennel and cattery fees, dental fees, and public liability. Make sure you check these limits carefully when shopping for policies.
When you reach your cover limit for a condition, the condition will officially be excluded from your cover. This means that you will no longer be able to claim on your pet insurance for treatments associated with this condition, so you will need to pay vert fees out of your own pocket. Your insurance provider will usually inform you of when this happens, so you should'nt be caught off-guard when you hit your limit.
The cheapest pet insurance policy type is usually accident only pet insurance. This is because its cover is very limited compared to other policy types that can cover health problems that aren't related to accidents, like illnesses and conditions associated with age.
Accident only pet insurance is better than no insurance at all, but for long-term protection for your pet, it may be worthwhile spending a bit more for a comprehensive policy. Compare quotes with us to see for yourself how affordable pet insurance can be.
Some providers will allow you to switch to a different policy type from maximum benefit pet insurance if you decide you want to change your cover. However, the terms of the new policy will depend on your provider.
If you've made claims on your pet insurance, your provider may consider the conditions you claimed for to be 'pre-existing' conditions. Pre-existing conditions are normally excluded from standard pet insurance cover. To get cover for these conditions, you will likely need to get special pet insurance policies for pre-existing conditions or otherwise take out a policy with those conditions excluded.
But, if you have not sought any treatment for these conditions in the past 24 months, some providers may be willing to cover them without considering them pre-existing conditions. This is something to look out for when you're shopping for policies or switching to a different policy type with your current provider.
You work hard to earn your money, and we don’t think you should waste a penny of it paying over the odds on your household bills. That’s why at MoneySuperMarket, we’re on a mission to save Britain money.
Whip your credit score into shape with Credit Score
Super save over and over again with Energy Monitor
There are always more ways to save with MoneySuperMarket
So how do we make our money? In a nutshell, when you use us to buy something, we get a reward from the company you’re buying from.
You might be wondering if we work with all the companies in the market, or if our commercial relationships with our partners might make us feature one company above another. We’ve got nothing to hide, and we want to give you clear answers when it comes to questions like these, so we’ve pulled together everything you need to know on this page.
Pet insurance comparison rated highly by our customers
See all reviewsI looked at various comparison sites but MoneySuperMarket gave me the cover I needed that was better than I'd seen elsewhere
Ray
Easy and straightforward, plenty of choices for everyone, quick completion
Monika Bailey
Easy and quick to set up, piece of mind knowing my puppy is covered
Fay Rushby
Research and purchase was painless and info clear
Bruce McPherson