Pet Insurance FAQs

So what's covered generally and what's not covered when you buy pet insurance? Most pet insurers will generally cover the same sort of things but you should read the terms and conditions carefully before you buy pet insurance and make sure it meets your needs.

The following pet insurance FAQs will be a good guide to what's covered and what's not when you buy pet insurance and what you will be able to claim for your pet.

What does pet insurance cover?
Pet insurance can normally cover accidental injury, accident and illness, accidental death, theft and straying, kennel or cattery costs if you have to go into hospital, the expense of cutting short or cancelling your holiday if your pet has an accident plus liability insurance for dogs if they cause damage. There are different limits on the levels of payout depending on the kind of policy you purchase, but cover can often reach levels of £6,000 per condition with some limits on the conditions you can claim for.

Am I covered if my pet goes missing?
Most pet insurance policies will cover you for this including a payout for advertising costs and a reward for someone finding them.

Can I cover my pet for a pre-existing condition?
Pre-existing conditions are normally not covered but check out the policy terms and conditions relating to the specific condition. However, it is still worth purchasing pet insurance as many pet insurance providers will provide cover for all ailments except the pre-existing condition and, in some cases, that condition too if a certain period of time has elapsed. It is worth researching pet insurance providers and getting a quote.

Is my pet covered for hereditary or congenital conditions?
If you are unaware of the condition then you should be able to get cover for your pet as long as the condition does not begin immediately after taking out your pet insurance. Read the respective terms and conditions.

Can I cover my pet if I take it abroad?
Some pet insurance policies allow this giving you cover for emergency expenses abroad, quarantine costs, replacing a lost health certificate, repeat tick and worming treatment, and the cost of laying your pet to rest if the worst happens while you’re both out of the country. There are some restrictions and you’ll have to make sure your pet is microchipped before your trip. Check out the terms and conditions of your pet insurance policy to find out more.

What's not covered?
The normal exclusions are any existing condition your pet has, any illness or disease in the first 14 days of cover, routine treatments like flea cover, neutering or vaccinations, behavioural problems,
pregnancy or food and dental treatment (unless due to accidental external injury).

Are there age limits for pet insurance?
These vary between pet insurance provider but the normal valid age when pet insurance can begin is between 8 weeks and 9 years. Once your pet is insured you can normally continue receiving pet insurance cover until any age - but check with your pet insurance provider.

Can I insure more than one pet?
Yes, you can normally insure more than one pet with each provider. Some pet insurance providers will give you a discount on second and subsequent pets insured with them.

To get a pet insurance quote now, select from our range of pet insurance providers and never have to worry about high vets' fees - whatever happens. Choose from household names such as Tesco, More Than, Petplan, Direct Line, Argos, Liverpool Victoria, Marks & Spencer, Petguard, Helpucover.co.uk (formerly Pinnacle Pet Insurance), Halifax pet insurance, Asda, PDSA, E&L and Homebase - pet insurance providers you can trust.

What does Pet Insurance cost?
Prices start from just £2.92 per month for cats and kittens and £4.50 per month for dogs and puppies.

Pet Health Insurance aims to give you as much information as possible about pet insurance and why you should have it for your pet. We have gathered together links to many of the top online pet insurers but we do not provide or endorse any particular product or make recommendations in any way. Please ensure that the pet insurance product that you purchase from any online provider meets your needs and that the provider is correctly regulated by the Financial Services Authority (FSA).