What your pet insurance policy can cover

The specific cover you get will depend on your policy, so ensure you shop around to get the cover you require, however, you should expect most simple policies to cover the following eventualities:

• Veterinary fees for accidents and illness
• Third party liability if your pet causes accidental injury
• Kennel or cattery fees if you have to stay in hospital
• Rewards and advertisements if your pet becomes lost or stolen
• Damage or loss to person or property and death from illness or an accident

Other eventualities that may be covered by some of the more specialist policies are:

• Behavioural problems
• Veterinary fees for complementary medicine (e.g. prescribed diets, physiotherapy etc)
• Homeopathic and herbal medicines

Pet insurance companies will not cover:

• Neutering (unless on medical grounds)
• Any pre-existing condition
• Routine vaccinations

The Cost of Pet Insurance

Like any other form of insurance, you get the cover that you pay for. Several factors determine the cost including non-core extras:

• Breed: Some breeds are prone to particular ailments or are attractive targets for thieves. Certain breeds (e.g. Rottweilers) are considered more accident-prone than others (e.g. poodles); so do not overlook the level of third party liability cover.
• Age: As with humans, the older your pet the more likely to it is to fall ill within the period of cover, hence the phenomenon of rising premiums at renewal.
• Location: As with all general insurance, the location of “the property” (as indicated by your postcode) affects the probability of theft or injury.
• Excess: How much of the cost of treatment are you prepared to fund yourself? The greater the excess, the lower the premium is likely to be.
• Medical history: A history of claims does not automatically lead to premium loading. Some insurers may simply withdraw cover at renewal in the face of, say, chronic illnesses in young animals. Some insurers operate “whole life” policies, albeit at a premium.

All insurers limit the level of vets bills covered over the policy term, but some impose a claims ceiling across policy years (e.g. £2,500 over any 12-month period). Some restrict benefits to levels payable under the most basic plan after a certain age (e.g. 8), while others operate a sliding scale of age-related excesses.

• Exclusions: Routine treatments (e.g. dental work, vaccinations, pregnancy, spaying and neutering and regular check ups) are not covered. Pre-existing medical conditions are excluded.
• Extras: Some policies include a range of extras like chipping, veterinary and legal helplines, minder-finder services, bereavement counselling, foreign travel cover and even complementary medicine (e.g. acupuncture and homeopathy).
• Owner's lifestyle: If you are in a job that demands time away from home or your health is poor, you may need a policy with a generous boarding allowance.