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 PET
HEALTH INSURANCE:
New UK regulations governing Pet Insurance came into effect
on January 14, 2005. A veterinary practice can no longer promote,
sell or advise clients on specific insurance policies unless
it is an appointed representative for that Pet Insurance company.
The Cat Clinic has decided not to become an appointed representative
for any of the companies, mainly to remain impartial but also
to avoid the potential legal implications of any dispute. This
means that we can display leaflets from Pet Insurers in our
waiting rooms, we can discuss the principles of pet health insurance
but we can’t offer advice on which Pet Insurance policy you
should choose. The following information however covers the
main principles of pet insurance:
WHY DO PETS NEED INSURANCE?
Each year 1 in 3 cats fall ill or are injured. There is no animal
equivalent of the NHS so if your cat was to have an accident
or need emergency medical treatment it could end up costing
you hundreds, if not thousands, of pounds. Some of the main
reasons for making an unexpected trip to the clinic are road
traffic accidents, cuts, lameness, growths, abscesses, fever
and inappetance. Technological advances in veterinary medicine
have meant that we are able to provide more comprehensive treatments
but the downside is that the bills rise steadily. Pet health
insurance can start from just a few pounds a month, enabling
you to avoid most of these unexpected costs whenever they arise.
WHAT DOES PET INSURANCE COVER?
Pet insurance is very similar to any other general insurance.
Your policy will provide cover for any unexpected events such
as illness or accidents but won’t cover for routine or preventive
treatment such as worming tablets, neutering or regular vaccinations.
Essentially, there are three levels of vet fee cover offered.
It’s important that you are clear on what you are buying:
- Veterinary Fees Level one – Commonly referred to as a ‘cover
for life policy’. Insurance companies offer a fixed amount
of cover for our fees each year and then reinstate this amount
each year when the policy is renewed. A cat with arthritis,
for example, would be covered for this condition during its
lifetime, and the owner would pay an excess each year. This
type of cover can be expensive but it’s suitable for long
term, ongoing conditions.
- Level two – This involves a maximum limit on the amount
paid out for each condition so you can claim for as long as
it takes to reach this limit. This is generally less expensive
than level one and is also suitable for most long term conditions.
- Level three – This cover has a maximum monetary limit per
condition and a maximum time limit that a condition can be
claimed for (normally 12 months from its onset). Once the
maximum monetary or time limit has been reached the condition
will no longer be covered. This is commonly referred to as
a 12 month policy.
- There may also be options to cover:
- The purchase price if your cat dies due to accidental injury
or ill health
- Holiday cancellation costs due to your cat’s problem
- Boarding fees if you are hospitalised
- Events arising abroad when travelling under the Pet Passport
Scheme
- Advertising and reward costs if your cat goes missing
- Alternative or complementary therapies
WHAT ARE THE MAIN CONSIDERATIONS OF INSURANCE COVER?
Cost - often less than you think. The more comprehensive
the level of cover, the more expensive the policy is going to
be. Rating - different companies use different rating methods
to determine the cost of your premiums. Some use the area you
live in while others consider the age and breed of your cat.
- Premium Collection - Most policies are on an annual basis
and premiums can be paid either monthly or annually.
- Excess - As with any other type of insurance, an excess
is always applied to each condition. Different companies may
offer different types of excess: Fixed excess - a standard
excess is deducted regardless of the size of the claim. Percentage
excess - the more you claim, the higher the excess. In most
situations there is also a fixed excess in addition to a percentage
excess. Annual Excess - if a single condition spans two policy
years, two excesses are deducted. Variable excess - the amount
deducted may vary according to where you live or the age of
your cat.
- Exclusions - Some companies will only accept cats up to
a certain age. Some may refuse to cover your cat for certain
conditions. These may include pre-existing illness, behavioural
problems, treatment arising as a result of pregnancy, illness
arising within the first few days or weeks of the policy inception,
congenital or hereditary problems, prescription diets and
dental treatments. Always be fully aware of any exclusions
on your policy.
- Older Cats - Most companies will continue to provide insurance
cover for your cat as it gets older but there are some who
withdraw cover after a certain age. Check on policy excesses
as your cat ages.
HOW DO I MAKE AN INSURANCE CLAIM?
Some insurance claims can be made by a simple telephone call
but most will require you to complete a claim form. The clinic
is no longer allowed to assist clients in completing their section
of the claim form. This means that we would ask you to fill
in your section of the claim form completely before handing
it in to us to complete the Veterinary section.
Most claim forms have the client section first and the information
asked for in this section should be self-explanatory. If you
do have questions about the processing of a claim or if any
portion of a claim is denied we would advise you to contact
your insurance company’s customer assistance department.
The Cat Clinic strongly recommends Pet Health Insurance but
we advise that you read the fine print of insurance company
policies before making your choice. A selection of pet insurance
brochures is available at our clinic.
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