Pet Insurance
We will always recommend, where possible, that you have an insurance policy for your pets. There are lots of different providers of pet insurance policies and it is important that you select a policy that meets you and yours pets needs. Here we have outlined some useful things to know when looking for an insurance policy for your pet.
Type of Policy
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There are a few different types of policies that most insurers will offer. It is important to note the differences between these policies. The one we would recommend would be a lifetime policy. A lifetime policy usually means that whilst your pet is covered by this policy, any illnesses they are diagnosed with will be covered by your insurance for the rest of your pets life*. This is an important consideration, as there are many illnesses such as diabetes, cushings and allergies, that are life long and can become quite costly to manage. Other types of policies may be time-limited, meaning they may only cover your pet for any illness for 1 year.
*As long as this insurance policy is kept in place with no breaks.
Cover Limits
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Each insurer will offer different policy limits per year. It is important to know how much they will pay out for your pet per year. Our advice would be to take out the maximum cover limit that is affordable to you.
Excess
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All pet insurance policies will have an excess that is either payable per condition, per policy year. You may also have a co-payment as part of your insurance policy. A co-payment means you are agreeing to pay a percentage of each invoice for treatment, as well as your one-off excess per condition/per year.
Renewals
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It is important to note that each year your pet insurance policy will be due for renewal. This may mean that monthly premiums and excesses can change in cost. You may take this opportunity to explore other insurance providers – should you do this, please be aware that if you pet has an existing condition, a new insurer may not offer cover on a new policy for this condition. It is also important to note that as pets age, co-payments are often introduced to policies that did not originally include a co-payment agreement. Please ensure to read any renewal documentation you receive from your insurer carefully, especially as your pet approaches 7 or 8 years of age.
Exclusions
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When taking out a new insurance policy, it is very important to note if there are any exclusions and what they will not cover. Pre-existing and congenital conditions often fall under this category and will not be covered by insurance. Elective and preventative health care, such as neutering, vaccinations and anti-parasiticide treatments, also tend to fall into this category and are not covered by insurance.
Complementary Treatments
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Most policies also have section detailing treatments they will cover that are classed as complementary. This tends to be for things such as physiotherapy, hydrotherapy, acupuncture and behaviourist training. Complementary treatments cover tends to have its own excess and cover limit.
Direct Claims
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We will only agree to direct claims where the case and insurer has been discussed with a member of management and this has been agreed prior to treatment. Should we agree to a direct claim, you must first settle any payments to cover your excess, co-payments and any items that are excluded under your policy. If you insurer declines to cover any part of the treatment, you will be liable to pay for this also.
Admin Fees
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We do not charge any administrative fees for insurance advice or assisting in processing insurance claims, either for direct or standard insurance claims.