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Getting pet insurance is really important, otherwise, you could be left footing the bill if your pet gets sick. These vet costs can run into the thousands, which means most people will need insurance to pay. 

Choosing the right policy is critical, to make sure that your pet is properly covered, and the insurer will payout. Here’s what you need to know.

How to choose a policy that pays out

Follow these steps so you can be confident your claim will be accepted:

• Check the policy for all exclusions before you buy

• Choose the right level of cover for your pet

• Provide the right paperwork when you claim, here is what you will need to send

Is it worth getting pet insurance?

If your pet falls ill or is injured, having a policy will protect you from paying huge vet bills out of your own pocket.

The average claim is three times more expensive than the average policy meaning it’s extremely worthwhile.

Figures from the ABI show:

• Pet insurers paid out £799 million in claims in 2020 – the equivalent of £2.2 million a day

• The average cost of a claim has risen to £817

• Surgery for a cat’s broken tibia costs nearly £2,000 and treatment for a dog with diabetes cost over £,1200 over a 2½ year period

If you do need to claim, pet insurance can save you money, but you need to make sure your policy will pay out when you need it to.

There are exclusions that could catch you out when you come to claim. Here is what to watch out for.

What exclusions to look out for

Existing medical conditions

Most policies will not cover your pet for any existing medical conditions they have.

The few that do will only cover these conditions if your pet has been treatment- and symptom-free for a set period of time, usually at least two years.

Here is how to get cover for a pet with existing conditions

The age of your pet

If your pet is over a certain age, usually eight years old for cats and dogs, many insurers will not offer you a new policy.

If you already have cover, check the terms and conditions to see what happens when your pet gets older.

Some insurers insist that once your pet reaches a certain age you contribute towards any claim, for example, 20% plus the excess. This is called co-insurance, and here is how it works.

Your pet's cover may also be limited after a certain age, for example, you may not be able to claim for death by illness.

Here is what cover you can get for older pets

Working pets

If your pet is used for any commercial reasons most insurers will not cover them. For example, if you have a dog, many will exclude the following uses:

• Security or guarding

• Track racing

• Coursing

Some policies will also exclude cover for any pets used for commercial breeding, which is when you use your pet for breeding more than twice in its lifetime.

What vet you use

Some insurers will not pay out if they think the vet you use is too expensive and may insist you choose a cheaper one. You could ask your insurer to recommend a vet when you claim to avoid this.

There are insurers that will only honour claims when you use one of their network of vets or charge an additional excess of up to £200 if you choose to use your own.

Some will waive the extra excess if the treatment needed is an emergency.

Read through the policy carefully or check with the insurer before you buy cover to find out if this is the case.

Other common exclusions

• Dangerous pets: Any dog registered under the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991 or the Dangerous (Amendment) Dogs Act 1997 will not be covered by most insurers

• Vaccinations: Make sure your pet has had up to date vaccinations and health checks because some insurers will refuse to pay out if not

• Your pet's breed: Breeds that are banned in the UK, for example, Pit Bull Terriers, Japanese Tosa and Czechoslovakian Wolfdogs, will not be covered. Here is the list of 

Get the right level of cover

Vet fees can run into thousands of pounds, so making sure you have the right level of cover is essential. For example, it could cost:

• £875 to treat a cat involved in a road accident

• £1,201 to treat a dog with a torn knee ligament

• £663 to treat a dog with a tumour

If your policy only covers £500 of vet fees per condition, you would have to pay the amount over this for any of these treatments, for example, £701 if your dog tore its knee ligament.

The type of policy you get will also determine what you can claim for so make sure you choose the right one.

• Accident only policy: This type of policy will only cover your pet for injuries that occur following an accident and is the most basic level of cover available

• Time-limited policy: This type of policy will only let you claim for a certain condition for a limited time, usually 12 months after the first claim. After this period, you will not be able to claim any costs for that condition

• Maximum benefit policies: Your pet will be covered for a condition up to a set limit, for example, £6,000, but there is no time restraint on when you can claim. Once you have claimed up to the limit you cannot make any further claims for that condition

• Lifetime policies This will provide a set amount for all vet fees, for example up to £10,000, which will renew each year. This means if your pet develops an illness, it can be covered throughout their lifetime

Lifetime policies are the most expensive level, but they can offer the most extensive cover for your pet. If your pet develops a condition that needs lifelong treatment, the extra spent on insurance will be worth its weight in cold.

They are also a good option if you have a pedigree pet or an animal that may suffer from hereditary conditions and is more likely to become ill as it gets older.

Here is more on what pet insurance covers

How to make a successful claim

When you claim on your pet insurance policy you will need to provide supporting documents before your claim will be accepted.

• For vet fees: Invoices from the vet practice and a full clinical history if it is the first claim you are making

• For the death of your pet: The death certificate, the purchase receipt from where you bought your pet and a copy of the pedigree certificate (if your pet is a pedigree breed)

• Theft or straying: Evidence of any advertising you have carried out, including receipts

Here is how to make a pet insurance claim