WHAT IS THIS CATEGORY OF INSURANCE?
Pet insurance generally assists in covering veterinarian care expenses to maintain your pet’s health, along with supplementary coverages such as pet loss and third-party liability (applicable only to dogs). Our Reinstatement policy includes a yearly veterinary charge cap for each condition that resets upon renewal. The number of conditions is unlimited. This may be a viable alternative if you are concerned about your pet acquiring a chronic or recurring ailment.
WHAT IS COVERED BY INSURANCE?
• Provide coverage for veterinarian treatment up to an Annual Benefit Limit (including any excess
payments made by you) for each distinct condition. This limit is customizable and resets upon
renewal.
• If your pet dies due to an accident or sickness, we will reimburse a percentage of the purchase
price, subject to an Annual Benefit Limit of £1,000.
• If your pet is lost due to theft or wandering, we will reimburse a percentage of the purchase
price, subject to an Annual Benefit Limit of £1,000.
• If your pet is lost, we will cover advertising and reward expenses up to an Annual Benefit Limit of
£200.
• Protection against legal claims up to £2,000,000 for incidents involving your dog.
Available optional coverage:
• Coverage up to £500 for Take-Home Medication, Complementary Treatments, and Corrective Behavioural Treatments.
• Provide coverage of up to £1,000 for dental or periodontal treatment necessitated by sickness.
• Provide coverage up to £1,000 for a dog walker and emergency kennel or cattery boarding in the event of your incapacitation in a hospital when arrangements cannot be made with family or friends.
• Provide coverage up to £1,000 for emergency veterinary procedures while abroad and travel arrangement cancellations necessitated by your pet requiring urgent life-saving surgery.
WHAT IS EXCLUDED FROM INSURANCE COVERAGE?
• Any accident, disease, or ailment that has occurred or exhibited signs or symptoms within the 24 months before the acquisition of the insurance. Claims for disease exhibiting signs or symptoms within 14 days or any accident or injury happening within 5 days of the policy’s commencement will not be honoured unless a different insurer insured your pet before the policy’s start date.
• Any expense over the designated Annual Benefit Limit.
• Any expenses incurred outside of regular office hours, unless postponed until standard surgery hours, would jeopardize your pet’s life or exacerbate the problem to a life-threatening status.
We will not reimburse any out-of-hours expenses if you postpone taking your pet to the veterinarian during regular operating hours due to your circumstances.
• Cosmetic, elective, routine, or preventative treatments, examinations, vaccines, spaying, castration, breeding, and any claims arising from these procedures.
• Any expenses associated with pregnancy or childbirth.
• Expense of any food or supplements.
• Expenses for any Take-Home Medication, Complementary Treatments, and Corrective Behavioural Treatments unless this optional coverage is included.
• Dental or periodontal care is excluded unless it results directly from an injury or optional coverage is included.
• All expenses associated with root canal therapies.
• Any public responsibility claims if the claimant is you, a cohabitant, a family member, an employee, or anyone authorized to manage your dog.
• Any claim arising from your pet transmitting any disease, infection, or virus to another animal or human, including but not limited to zoonotic diseases.
WHAT ELSE SHOULD I KNOW?
EXCESS
Most veterinarian costs and third-party liability policy provisions include a monetary contribution you must make towards the price of the claim, referred to as the excess. The variations in excesses on veterinary fees might be significant; thus, verifying their amounts and application methods is essential. Typically, excesses pertain to the expenses associated with each ailment or injury; some are applied once, while others apply to the treatment obtained annually.
THE COST OF INSURANCE
The cost of pet insurance, called the premium, depends on the type of policy you choose, where you live, the breed of your pet, if it is male or female, and age. The amount vets charge for treatment can also impact premiums. Generally, vets’ charges can be higher in towns and cities than in rural areas, and premiums reflect this. Claims costs have risen in recent years due to the advancement, complexity, and increased number of treatments available to owners with pet insurance.
AGE
A pet’s age can substantially influence the cost of pet insurance coverage. As pets age, the premium may rise due to an increased risk of illness, similar to humans. Most insurance firms will not insure pets younger than eight weeks. As pets age, obtaining pet insurance may become increasingly challenging as several firms impose age restrictions on new policies. Obtaining pet insurance while young typically allows the policy to remain with the same provider as your pet ages.
REMEMBER:
• Compare many insurance options to identify the one most effectively addresses your requirements; consider the coverage provided for your pet rather than solely focusing on the cost.
• Be advised that transitioning to a new policy may result in lower costs; nevertheless, the new policy will probably exclude coverage for any pre-existing conditions affecting your pet.
• Certain insurers will only process claims following a certain exclusion period, often ten days, from the policy’s commencement date.
• The insurance policy documentation will specify the coverage details for your pet. If uncertain, consult your insurance.
• Consistently respond to the insurer’s inquiries truthfully and comprehensively. Failure to comply may result in the insurer denying and terminating your claim.
• Notify your insurer of any changes to your circumstances to maintain your pet’s coverage. For instance, any alteration of residence or if your pet undergoes neutering, spaying, or microchipping.
CO-INSURANCE
Policy terms may alter as pets mature; for instance, the veterinary charge excess may rise, or you may be required to contribute a percentage towards a claim in addition to the fixed excess. The percentage is commonly referred to as a ‘co-insurance’ excess. The co-insurance percentage may differ between policies; however, it is generally 10% or 20%.
BREEDS
Insurance for purebred pets may be costlier than for mixed-breed pets. This is derived from claims experience, indicating that crossbreeds are generally less prone to hereditary medical disorders prevalent in specific pedigree breeds. A dog’s breed influences its size, which may subsequently affect veterinary expenses.
• Owners of a diabetic dog submitted claims over £1200 over a 2.5-year duration.
• A tortoise received treatment for a digestive ailment at an expense exceeding £560.
• The proprietors of a dog diagnosed with epilepsy submitted claims amounting to nearly £3,300 over four years.
• A kitten requires gastric lavage and antibiotic treatment. The total invoice amounted to approximately £600.
• Assisting a cockatiel experiencing flight difficulties incurred a cost of over £500.
MAKING A CLAIM
Upon obtaining pet insurance coverage and filing a claim, the insurer will require specific information from you and your veterinarian. The claims process may vary among insurers; therefore, it is essential to review your policy to understand the procedure for filing a claim. Typical requirements include:
• Upon registering a claim, the insurer may enquire about the nature of the claim, the specific disease or damage, the initial observation of the pet’s ailment, the veterinarian consulted, and the date of the beginning treatment.
Most insurers require the pet’s medical history and a veterinary invoice as components of any medical claim.
• If multiple veterinarians are engaged, such as in cases of referral to a specialist or emergency treatment beyond regular hours, insurers typically need information from all participating veterinarians.
• While most insurers are willing to engage directly with veterinarians, the policyholder must ensure that the insurer obtains the requisite information to process a claim.
• If a claim is approved, payment may be remitted immediately from the insurer to the veterinarian, provided there is authorization from the policyholder. Nonetheless, not all veterinarians will accept direct payment from insurance providers; some may prefer payment from the client. This is the veterinarian’s decision, not one that insurance or clients may determine.
