Pet Health Insurance
Veterinary practices can't sell or advise clients on specific insurance policies unless we are appointed representatives for that Pet Insurance company. The Cat Clinic has decided not to become an appointed representative for any of the companies in order to remain impartial. We are able to display leaflets from Pet Insurers in our waiting rooms, we can discuss the principles of pet health insurance but we can’t suggest which Pet Insurance policy you should choose. The following information however covers the main principles of pet insurance and will
hopefully allow you to make the right choice for you and your cat.
Why do pets need health 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 poor appetite. Technological advances in
veterinary medicine mean that we are able to provide more comprehensive investigation and 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 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 vet 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 a policy 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:
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 staff are not 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.
Are there alternatives to pet health insurance?
Some of our clients have set up a bank account specifically for their pet's needs. The money that they would have spent on insurance premiums is used to build up a pot should there be any need for significant vets fees. Owners of multiple cats have found this particularly useful as an alternative to formal pet health insurance. It does need a strong will to build up the pot and just use it for intended purposes!
hopefully allow you to make the right choice for you and your cat.
Why do pets need health 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 poor appetite. Technological advances in
veterinary medicine mean that we are able to provide more comprehensive investigation and 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 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 vet 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 a policy 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
- 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 staff are not 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.
Are there alternatives to pet health insurance?
Some of our clients have set up a bank account specifically for their pet's needs. The money that they would have spent on insurance premiums is used to build up a pot should there be any need for significant vets fees. Owners of multiple cats have found this particularly useful as an alternative to formal pet health insurance. It does need a strong will to build up the pot and just use it for intended purposes!
The Cat Clinic strongly recommends Pet Health Insurance but advises that you read the fine print of insurance policies before making your choice. A selection of pet insurance brochures is available from our clinic.