How to choose the best pet insurance for my pet

Pet insurance isn’t a compulsory purchase, which leaves some people wondering whether they really need it. And lots of companies claim their pet insurance is the best, which can only add to the confusion.

Hopefully we can help to clear things up. Sure, there’s no legal requirement to have pet insurance. But it’s there to protect you financially if they have an unexpected illness or injury, because vet bills can be costly. Sometimes eye-watering. So having protection in place can give peace of mind that you don’t have to make any heartbreaking decisions if you’re struggling to afford treatment.

And policies can sometimes be more extensive than you might think, possibly covering something particular that you might need. For example, while most policies cover the cost of dental treatment following an injury, many won’t cover dental illness. But some can, usually as an optional extra. This can be especially useful, as dental costs for pets can be surprising, and not in a good way. Having this covered is another reason to smile.

It’s also possible to get cover for things like:

• Pets going missing, including advertising for their safe return
• Euthanasia – in other words your pet being put to sleep
• Cremation or burial costs

These may not be covered as standard, so always be sure to check before you commit.

Find out more about our dog insurance and cat insurance, what they cover and how they compare with other providers’ policies.

Different types of pet insurance are available for different situations. So before you commit to one, it’s a good idea to work out what suits you and your pet best.

Lifetime cover

Lifetime cover, as the name suggests, is intended to cover your pet for the course of their whole life. Many pet owners take this out when the pet is young, but it can still be a worthwhile choice for older and rescue pets.

Always check what exactly the policy offers. Some pet insurers might only pay out a certain amount per year, while others may have a fixed annual payout limit per condition.

So what do we offer? Well, we specialise in lifetime pet insurance for both dogs and cats, where there’s no upper age limit. This can even cover recurring or chronic conditions, and you can choose a vet fee limit of up to £15,000 each year.

Time-limited cover

Generally speaking, time-limited insurance is viewed as an affordable option for pet owners. It only covers newly diagnosed conditions for a limited period. For instance, it may cover new illnesses or injuries occurring for a year, but the insurer may no longer pay out after the year’s up.

Maximum benefit insurance

Maximum benefit cover tends not to have a time limit, unlike time-limited cover, but rather a financial limit. As such, pet owners can make multiple claims for the same injury or illness, for instance. But once the limit is reached for that condition, it maxes out. That means that if further treatment is required, the owner will have to pay for it themselves.

Accident-only pet insurance

Doing what it says on the tin, accident-only pet insurance covers injuries, and that’s it. As such, your pet won’t be covered if they fall ill. This tends to be the cheapest type of pet insurance.

Pet insurance for older dogs and cats

It’s common for providers to have restrictions for older pets, usually:

• If a dog’s over the age of eight, or
• If a cat’s over the age of 10

This could mean paying extra for cover. Or you may be expected to foot more of the bill if you claim. Plus your options may be more limited than with a younger pet. This is because older pets have a higher likelihood of becoming ill or getting injured.

We don’t have an upper age limit for pets. And with our Lifetime Plus policy, we don’t insist on compulsory excess or co-payments for older pets.

Multi-pet insurance

If you have a number of pets, it can often be cheaper to buy multi-pet insurance. This is where you cover several pets on one policy.

There are other benefits to this, such as less admin, and only one renewal date to remember. But not all of these kinds of policies are created equal. Some providers only let you choose the exact same policy for all of your pets.

We understand that owners want to fashion their policies to their pets’ exact needs. So not only can we cover a mix of up to eight cats or dogs on a single policy, but it’s configurable to each pet. This means you can set up the level of cover which suits each and every one, including their optional extras and excess payments.

Do you have a pet with a pre-existing condition? Then it may be the case you’ve already had a bit of a headache while looking for a new insurer.

This is because while pet insurers can generally cover new conditions which arise while you have a policy, most won’t cover pre-existing conditions for new customers. Which can feel like you’ve got nowhere else to go. And you may need to pay for ongoing vet fees related to that condition out of your own pocket.

We think it’s important that pets with chronic conditions get a fair deal. This is why we cover pre-existing conditions with our Lifetime Plus policies, subject to acceptance*. 

Where we’re able to offer cover for a pre-existing condition, you can opt for a vet fee limit up to £15,000. And we won’t insist on an excess or co-payments (we call it a bill share). It’s up to you though. When you choose a lower amount to pay in the event of a claim – taking on less risk – this tends to push up the policy price.

When you know what type of policy to go for, it’s time to choose a provider. It’s always a good idea to read pet insurance reviews from genuine customers, to help determine what kind of service pet owners are getting.

We’re pretty confident here. As part of the Staysure Group, we have 15 years of experience in insurance. When it comes to putting your pets first, you can trust Petgevity.

Pet prescriptions are not standardised. It’s not like the NHS, and the price can sometimes feel like the roll of a dice. For each written prescription, vets can charge from £10 and up.

Bear in mind that some antibiotics and other medicines may not need a written prescription. See if you can get over-the-counter medicines from your veterinary practice or pharmacy, and don’t forget to look online.