Six tips for getting the right pet insurance deal as prices rocket
PET insurance prices are on the rise after three million dogs and cats and other pets were bought to keep us company during lockdown.
Premiums reached an average £305 this year, according to insurer Gather. That’s a nine per cent increase from last year’s average of £280.
But experts predict prices are likely to go up further as vets’ costs rise and inflation bites.
Many pet owners are already going without cover – and putting themselves at risk of shock medical bills that can run to thousands of pounds.
In fact, fewer than five million of the 34million pets in the UK are covered by insurance, according the Association of British Insurers says.
Even those who do protect their pets often fail to read the small print, as half of claims are rejected because owners believe something is covered when it’s not.
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We take you walkies through everything you need to know about buying cover and how to avoid a ruff deal.
What is covered?
INSURANCE is there to cover vets’ bills for accidents and illnesses, liability for your dog causing damage, plus other expenses such as the cost of caring for your pet if you have to go into hospital.
Check-ups, worm and flea treatments plus routine jabs, including for flu, are not covered by insurance.
Some insurers will not cover your animals once they reach age eight, and some reduce cover levels as pets age.
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Check your policy’s maximum payout as you’ll have to pay for anything above this level yourself.
Salman Haqqi, from money.co.uk, said: “No standard pet insurance companies will cover your pet for existing chronic medical conditions, such as heart conditions or hip dysplasia.
“Some will cover historic conditions such as an illness, but only if your pet has been free from symptoms and treatment for at least two years.”
It means that while you can shop around for the best deal when your pet is young, you tend to be stuck with the same insurer once it develops any kind of long-term health problem.
Also keep in mind that some insurers don’t usually cover dental treatment and some treatments may be excluded.
Even cautious pet owners who do take out cover can still be stung with huge bills.
Dog owner Daniella Rogers has had to borrow money to pay for life-saving surgery for her pug, which cost £5,500 more than her pet insurance claim limit.
The 30-year-old mum from Drayton, Oxon, was hit with a £12,500 bill last month when her eight-year-old dog Biggie Smalls required surgery to remove a lung abscess.
Her £120-per-month Petplan insurance has a £7,000 payout cap, which left a shortfall.
The local authority planner, who lives with fiance Daniel, 29, an assistant accountant, and their son Vincent, six, said: “We love our dog like he is our child.
“We didn’t have the money so had to borrow £4,000 from family and now we’ll need a loan from the bank to pay it back.
“We even tried crowdfunding and raised £1,500 from the amazing generosity of friends, family and complete strangers.
“I’d encourage other pet owners to make sure they know the maximum they are covered for and consider buying insurance with a high limit.”
What cover do I need?
ACCIDENT-only cover is cheapest, but does not cover illnesses.
Basic cover includes illness but often will not pay for treatment for a condition for longer than 12 months. Lifetime or comprehensive insurance gives better cover but costs more.
Cat owners are not liable for damage caused by their pet, so you don’t need cover for this.
With the cost-of-living crisis putting pressure on households, everyone is looking to cut costs.
But Salman Haqqi warns that when it comes to pet insurance, “cheapest isn’t necessarily best. It all depends on your and your pet’s needs.”
As well as doing a price comparison, check how different policies stack up on Defaqto.com, which gives star ratings out of five for various financial products including pet insurance.
What if I don’t have cover and my pet needs a vet?
THERE’S no NHS for animals, so if your pet is hurt or ill, you need to arrange care yourself.
Use the PDSA’s free symptom checker at bit.ly/3bDOBo8.
Go to the vet if it says you need to. Call two or three vets to compare quotes.
You can also buy medication from an online pet pharmacy. Check it is accredited by Defra.
People on some benefits can get free or reduced-price treatments from charities, including the PDSA, RSPCA and Blue Cross.
Is pet insurance worth buying?
VET’S bills can cost a fortune, so consider what you would do if your pet needed life-saving treatment and you couldn’t afford to pay.
The average pet insurance claim is £848, the Association of British Insurers says, and around one in four pet owners claim on policies each year.
Vet Anita Dowe knows only too well the importance of cover as her English bulldog, Betty, has racked up medical bills totalling more than £56,000 over the past eight years. Thankfully, Anita, 37, from Milton Keynes, has insurance with Petplan that has covered most of her costs.
It hasn’t come cheap at around £1,300 a year, as the breed is the most expensive to insure because it is prone to genetic conditions. But after the cost of premiums, it has saved her a massive £45,500.
Anita, who runs dog behaviour service themindfulpetowner.com, said: “Betty has had cruciate ligament operations in both knees, airway surgery, an eyelid lift so she can see, as well as treatment for arthritis, stomach issues and skin allergies.”
Anita, who is married to engineer Rob, 35, urges owners to get insurance before their pets develop health issues.
“I wouldn’t even consider owning a pet without insurance. It takes away the worry of not being able to pay for the treatment your pet needs.”
How can I reduce costs?
COSTS vary dramatically, depending on your pet’s age, breed, health, and where you live, but dogs are normally pricier to insure than cats.
For example, insurer ManyPets said a Jack Russell costs an average of £308 a year, while an English bulldog is £881.
GoCompare said cats are cheaper, at an average of £132 for under- eights, or £276 if older.
Consider a crossbreed cat or dog, as they often cost less to insure.
Take out cover while your pet is still young and before it develops any conditions.
At this stage, it is definitely worth shopping around, as owners can save an average of £201 on an annual policy, says comparison website moneysupermarket.com. Other sites to try include confused.com and comparethemarket.com.
However, check the terms of cover carefully before opting for what seems like a cheap deal. Consider vets’ health plans to cover annual treatments, check-ups and to get a discount on medical bills.
Kimberly Freeman, 35, who runs dog training school City Sit Stay in Tower Hamlets, East London, believes prevention is better than cure, so make sure your pet has healthy food, enough exercise, regular vaccinations and check-ups. She owns six Pomeranians which have together cost more than £20,000 in medical bills which she couldn’t have paid without insurance.
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She said: “I can’t suddenly produce thousands of pounds for emergency surgery, so it’s far better to pay a monthly insurance premium.
“Garbo has stomach and liver problems, and the insurance paid for £12,000 of care. Astaire broke his leg and the bill for that was £9,000.”