Owning a pet can be rewarding, but it can also be costly. The medical expense of treating illness or injuries can put you in a difficult financial position if you are uninsured. As the pet owner, you are also liable for any property damage or injuries caused by your pet to third parties. Pet insurance in the UK is an important investment as it offers financial support for multiple risks associated with owning a pet.
The best pet insurance in the UK should offer sufficient cover for your needs, and these will vary depending on you and your pet. The age, species, and pre-existing medical conditions of your pet will determine which type of pet insurance would be best for you. There are various types and levels of cover to choose from.
Lifetime pet insurance offers some of the most comprehensive coverage for your pets. It protects them against illnesses and injuries they suffer throughout their life. This covers ongoing or chronic illnesses year on year, as long as the policy is renewed. It typically comes with coverage limits that reset annually.
If you are on a budget, accident-only is often the cheapest pet insurance option. This level of insurance usually has a limit for each claim and will only cover injuries or accidents. This means things like broken bones, poisoning or cuts are covered.
Annual, or time limited pet insurance policies typically cover pets for illness or injury within a period of one year. After this time the policy can be renewed. At this point existing medical conditions may be excluded, so these are not the best option for chronic conditions or ongoing treatment.
This type of pet insurance provides coverage for individual accidents or injuries to your pet. Each condition is subject to a pre-set claim limit, rather than time limited cover. So, with maximum benefit insurance, you can continue to claim for a condition until the limit is exhausted.
While some pet insurance policies come with waiting periods – typically between 10 and 14 days – some insurers will offer immediate pet cover. In this case, instant cover pet insurance provides immediate cover for accidents or injuries. This is particularly useful if your pet needs emergency care.
We search up to 25 pet insurance providers to save you time and money
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We search up to 25 pet insurance providers to save you time and money
When you shop around for quotes, it’s important to compare policies tailored to your pet’s needs. For instance, pet insurance for a bulldog or labradoodle will be different to cat insurance.
Depending on the level of pet insurance for dogs you’ve chosen, your dog could be covered for veterinary fees for illness or injury. There may be additional cover like death benefits, dental care, and payment for ads if your dog goes missing. Third party liabilities are typically covered by most policies for dogs.
Pet insurance for cats offers similar coverage. Many pet insurers have no upper age limits for cats, and some may also include cover for pre-existing conditions. It’s important to compare multiple options to find the best deal for your cat insurance.
Increasingly, rabbits have become more popular as pets in the UK. Pet insurance for rabbits is available as both accident-only or lifetime insurance. It caters to the unique health needs of rabbits covering conditions like GI stasis and respiratory disease. Rabbits can also be added to multi-pet insurance policies.
It’s possible to get pet insurance for multiple pets. These policies typically cater for pets like dogs, cats, and rabbits and offer discounts for insuring multiple pets at once. Some insurers allow you to have different levels of coverage for each pet and may include coverage for pre-existing conditions.
From around the age of 7, dogs are considered to be older dogs. At this age, dogs can be more prone to developing age-related illnesses or diseases like arthritis or cancer. With these, vet bills can become expensive. This is where pet insurance for older dogs steps in. It provides focused protection for these expensive treatments.
Many pets are diagnosed or have been treated for conditions before a policy is taken out. This is considered a pre-existing condition. In this case, insurers offer specialised pet insurance for existing medical conditions that cover these needs. This cover will usually be more expensive but can save you money on medical bills in the long run.
The coverage provided by pet insurance will depend on the type and level of insurance selected. Always check the coverage details and any exclusions before you commit to a pet insurance policy. However, these are common risks that can be covered by pet insurance.
Exclusions for pet insurance will depend on the terms and conditions of your policy. However, pet insurance typically does not cover:
The cost of pet insurance will vary based on the pet, its breed, and its age. The level of cover will also affect the cost. We recommend comparing various pet insurance quotes. This could increase your odds of finding cheaper insurance.
“With research suggesting a dog can cost its owner as much as £30,000 during the course of its lifetime, it should come as no surprise that a pet’s veterinary bills have the potential to be quite sizable if the animal suffers an accident or is diagnosed with an illness. Pets don’t have the NHS to fall back on, of course, so a good pet insurance policy really is the best way to protect your furry friend… and safeguard your finances.”
Greg Wilson, Founder of Quotezone.co.uk.
It’s important to do research using an insurance comparison platform like ours to explore your options. Carefully compare pet insurance policies and their prices. You could also have a better chance of finding cheap pet insurance by following these tips.
You can do this by staying up-to-date with your pet’s routine check-ups and vaccinations.
When you make a claim, you’ll typically have to pay an excess amount. By opting for a higher excess, you could lower your premiums. Just be sure it is an amount you are comfortable paying when it comes to making a claim.
Paying for pet insurance annually usually works out cheaper than paying monthly. When you use Quotezone, you can see exactly how much you will save by choosing this option before you commit.
Spaying or neutering your pet has many benefits including making your pet less risky to insure. It can reduce health risks and behavioural problems. Keep in mind though that the procedure itself is not typically covered by pet insurance.
Always shop around for multiple quotes from different insurance providers as they’re not all the same. Taking the time to compare quotes gives you a better chance at finding affordable cover for your pet.
Your insurer will need to know which level of coverage you want as well as the details about your pet or pets. This includes the species, age, breed, sex, vaccination history, medical background, previous claims history and current health status. As the policyholder, you will have to supply your personal details and location.
The process is fairly straightforward. Following a claimable incident you can use the insurer’s claim form. Simply complete and submit this with all the necessary documentation and receipts. It will then be processed by your insurer who will determine the outcome. When your claim is approved you will be reimbursed per the terms and conditions of your policy.
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*Price per month for cover based on a dog, Timothy, aged 2 months, no known medical conditions, up-to-date vaccinations, and microchipped. Based on quote data provided by Seopa Ltd during January 2024. The quote price you could achieve is dependent on your individual circumstances.