It’s a tempting thought: only older pets get ill so your young pet won’t need insurance. Sadly, though, we know from the cases we encounter day in day out that this isn’t the case.
The younger, the better
It’s a good idea to insure your pet when they’re young because young pets are less likely to be suffering from pre-existing health conditions. If you approach an insurer and your pet does have an existing health problem, getting a policy will be a lot more difficult and insurers may not contribute towards treatment of the condition in question.
The different types of cover
Not all pet insurance policies are the same. There are many types available and the cover provided can vary considerably. The 4 main types of policy are:
- Accident: cover for accidents only – no cover for illness
- Time-Limited: cover for a set time, usually 12 months after a condition first appears. Once this period is over, the condition is excluded from cover
- Maximum Benefit: cover of up to a maximum amount of money per condition and once this limit is reached, the condition is excluded from cover
- Lifetime: a set amount of money each year, which is refreshed each time you renew your policy, allowing you to continue claiming for ongoing conditions
The policy you choose can have implications on the future of your pet’s care and the future of your vet bills, so it’s important to choose your cover wisely. Sometimes the cheapest policy can cost you more in the end.
When shopping around for a policy, ask yourself:
- Does the policy cover congenital, hereditary, hip-related, dental and behavioural conditions?
- Is there a time or monetary limit on how long this policy will cover ongoing conditions?
- If I claim, will my premium increase?
If you have further questions about choosing the right insurance policy for you and your pet, have a chat with us in practice. Contact us today!