How to find the best pet insurance plan

Each insurer offers different types of policies depending on the type, age and breed of animal. Consequently there is a vast array of pet insurance policies to choose from. Shop around carefully, as prices will vary greatly. Use the buy.co.uk PetWizard to help you find the best insurer for your needs.

The following are points to consider when choosing a pet insurance plan:

1. Read the small print
   Check limits on vet’s fees and excesses. You could find that you are required to pay too high a proportion of the vet’s bill to make the policy worthwhile.



2. The age of your pet
   The older your pet, the more likely it is to require medical attention and therefore insurance will cost more. Most insurers will only provide cover for dogs when they are less than 8 or 9 years old and for cats when they are less than 10. If your pet is already insured and reaches this age, the insurer will continue to insure your pet but usually at an increased premium.



3. Keep vaccinations up to date
   Insurers can refuse to pay out if a claim results from an illness that would have been prevented by vaccination.



4. Pre-existing medical conditions
   Often these may be excluded from your policy.



5. Common exclusions
   Common exclusions include cover for:
   • Routine vaccinations, worming or flea control
   • Spaying or castration
   • Any treatment not directly related to an illness
   • Having your pet put to sleep or cremated


6. Check how claim payouts are managed
   Some insurers pay out on a ‘per condition’ basis where pet owners can make claims up to a defined limit for each different condition. Other insurers may pay out on a ‘per year’ basis where they impose a limit on the total payouts per year.



7. Treatments over period of time
   Insurers can limit the payment of a claim to a year. This is not good if your pet requires treatment for a condition over a long period of time e.g. arthritis, eczema, diabetes. Once a year has passed you will have to foot the bill for any treatment. Look out for policies offering a ‘no limit system’ where once a claim is logged, payment can be ongoing for many years.