People tend to think it’s only older pets that get ill and therefore younger pets don’t need pet insurance but we know from the patients we see each day that that is not the case. In fact, the younger your pet is when you insure them the better as it means you are less likely to have any existing conditions, which may not be covered by the policy and you can then receive more help covering the cost of any future treatment your pet needs. It is important to note that not all pet insurance is the same. There are many different types of policy available and the level of cover provided can vary considerably.
The four main types of policy are as follows:
Accident: provides cover for accidents only and no cover for illness
Time-Limited: provides cover for a set amount of time (usually 12 months) and after this period the condition is excluded
Maximum Benefit: provides cover up to a maximum amount of money per condition and once this limit is reached the condition is excluded
Lifetime: provides a set amount of money each year which is refreshed each time you renew your policy allowing you to continue to claim for ongoing conditionsprovides cover for accidents only and no cover for illness
As you can see from the information above, the type of policy you choose can have implications for the veterinary care of your pet and the costs you will face so it’s important to choose the right cover. Sometimes, the cheapest insurance can cost you more in the long run. When shopping around for a policy, we suggest that you ask the following questions to allow you to compare the overall value you are getting, not just the price:
1. Does this policy cover congenital, hereditary, hip-related, dental and behavioral conditions?
2. Is there a time or monetary limit on how long this policy will cover ongoing conditions for?
3. If I claim, will my premium increase?
Unlike other forms of insurance it is not easy to switch pet insurance in the future as any pre-existing conditions your pet has are likely to be excluded so it’s important to do your research and choose the right cover from the start.
“We had the heartbreaking decision to put our beautiful doggie Taz to sleep after 17 and a half years companionship and I can’t fault the excellent service we received with compassion and understanding even received a condolence card through the post from them this morning which was a lovely gesture thank you.”
“I would like to say a big thank you to all the staff. Every time my boys go in they are well looked after. They are the most caring, friendly, helpful staff I have ever met. I would recommend this place always they help me with insurance forms to saving my boys life and I thank them with all my heart.”
“Thank you for looking after our beautiful phoebe yesterday and today, she’s back home after her little op and is eating & drinking well. Every single member of staff I spoke to was so lovely! See you next week for her check up.”
“We lost our beautiful rabbit Flopsy yesterday. Thank you for giving us an honest view of her condition In a caring way. All the staff were wonderful and great with my children who said goodbye to her. My parents have used you for years, back to when I was a child and you’ve always been fantastic. Will continue to use you and recommend.”
“Today I had to make the heart breaking decision to put my best friend of the past 18 years to sleep. I knew it was the right thing to do so didn’t hesitate to make the decision and the team were so so wonderful and compassionate. I cannot thank you enough for the dignified and loving way in which you treated both myself, my mother and my beautiful girl Missy today. Her send off was very peaceful, and the little ink pawprint art is a very treasured keepsake. The team are just wonderful, thank you again so much for giving my little girl the send off she deserved.”
“Such a fantastic veterinary practice, having to have your beloved pet put to sleep was heartbreaking but the team here showed compassion, kindness and understanding at a difficult time, thank you for taking care of me and Tom. Highly recommended if you’re after a caring practice I’d choose Powis and partners.”
