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Treatment for accidental injury, although exactly how much you can claim, and for how long, depends on the type of policy you have.
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Treatment for unexpected illnesses, if you have a policy that covers illnesses as well as accidents. What illness are covered will depend on your policy.
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Boarding fees for kennels or catteries if your pet has to spend time away from home unexpectedly, if you're hospitalised and unable to care for them, for example.
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Liability cover if your pet causes damage to a third party and they decide to take action against you.
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Advertising and reward costs if your cat or dog goes missing or is stolen.
What types of pet insurance are there?
Here at Confused.com, we compare 4 types of pet insurance. These each work in slightly different ways:
Accident only
Time limited
Maximum benefit
Lifetime
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What our pet insurance expert says
What does pet insurance cover?
All pet insurance policies cover treatment costs for accidental injury.
Depending on your policy you could get cover for much more too.
Exactly what is covered can differ from insurer to insurer, so check your policy documents to see what you can claim for.
What if my pet has a pre-existing condition?
Common pre-existing conditions:
Diabetes
Airway problems
Joint issues
Most pet insurance policies will not cover pre-existing conditions.
A pre-existing condition is any health condition your pet is diagnosed with before you take out a pet insurance policy.
Any condition you’ve previously claimed for through pet insurance is also classed as a pre-existing condition.
If you have lifetime pet insurance, things are different. Here, a previously claimed-for condition should be covered again when you renew your policy, as long as you remain with the same provider.
Cover for pre-existing conditions will usually still be excluded if you take out a new policy with a new provider.
Learn more about pet insurance for pre-existing conditionsHow much is pet insurance?
To give you an idea of what you're likely to pay, here's the average monthly price pet owners pay for their insurance:
Policy type | Dog | Cat |
---|---|---|
Accident only
|
£7
|
£5
|
Time limited
|
£13
|
£8
|
Maximum benefit
|
£12
|
£9
|
Lifetime
|
£19
|
£12
|
Prices based on Confused.com data taken between 01/06/23 - 31/08/23. Costs shown are based on the average price paid for cover across all ages, breeds and in all locations.
How much you'll pay for your pet insurance is based on:
The type of policy you choose, as policies that cover more tend to cost more.
The amount of cover you want, as the higher the amount of treatment you can claim for, the more you'll typically pay for your policy.
Your pet’s age, breed and species, as older pets, certain breeds, and certain types of pet are more prone to health issues than others.
Whether your pet is neutered or spayed, as this can help prevent things like testicular cancer.
Whether your pet is vaccinated, as this can protect them from certain illnesses, and lower the risk to insure them.
The excess on your policy, as the more you're willing to pay towards the cost of a claim, the cheaper your policy will tend to be.
How much cover should I take out?
According to the Association of British Insurers, the average pet insurance claim is £848*.
But this is only an average, and more complicated issues could cost thousands.
Spinal surgery, which is the most common high value claim, costs between £8,000 and £10,000**, for example.
Here at Confused.com, you can select between a cover level of at least £1,000, £2,000, £3,000 or £4,000 - giving you real flexibility over your pet's cover.
*Association of British Insurers study, looking at 1,029,000 pet insurance claims filed in 2021.
**ABI study 2022
Taking out enough cover is important.
But taking out too much cover can be a problem too, as this can leave you with a policy that you can't afford.
To ensure you get the right amount of cover, think about:
- What you want your policy to cover, whether that’s just minor accidents and illness, or extensive treatment for serious conditions.
- How much you can afford to pay, as the higher your claim amount, the more you’ll pay in premiums.
This should help you get the right cover amount when the time comes.
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Page last reviewed: 12 October 2023
Reviewed by: Matthew Harwood