As pet owners, we all want to provide the best care for our pets. However, we understand that the cost of veterinary care can add up quickly and unexpected expenses can put a strain on our finances. For this reason, we highly recommend pet insurance for all of our pets.
Why is pet insurance important?
- There are no government subsidies for pet health care. This means that unlike our heavily discounted human health consultations and medications, pet health is charged at market price
- Value driven care: with pet insurance, you can have peace of mind knowing that you won't have to choose between providing the best care for your pet and managing finances. Pet insurance can help cover the cost of veterinary care.
- Extras coverage: most policies cover for accidents and illnesses. However, many offer comprehensive coverage which includes dental care, acupuncture, and physiotherapy.
Choosing a Pet Insurance Policy
When choosing your policy, it is important to consider your pet's individual needs, your budget, and the coverage options. Some things to look for include:
- Coverage for accidents, illnesses
- No annual or lifetime limits on coverage
- Coverage for hereditary, congenital, and predisposed conditions
- Coverage for specialist treatments
- Gap-only options
- Add on options - dental coverage, vaccinations, senior health checks, behavioural consults
Things not commonly covered by insurance include pre-existing conditions, pregnancy and obstetrics, elective treatments, dental cleaning, vaccinations, desexing, and at home vet visits.
When looking at coverage options, we recommend picking middle or higher tier options as often lower tiers do not have value for money reimbursement. A common mistake is getting a policy at a young age, then cancelling it before you really need it. Many insurances will not allow pets over 7 years old to open a new policy and if they do allow it, by this age many pets will have pre-existing conditions which would no longer be covered. Also take caution for insurance premiums which can increase in price as your pet ages.