Pet insurance

A pre-existing condition is an illness or injury your pet is already suffering with before you take out a pet insurance policy.

Common pre-existing conditions include diabetes, arthritis and breathing problems.

In most cases, you’ll struggle to get cover for these as they can be pricey to treat - but this doesn’t mean it’s impossible to find. Some insurers will offer at least partial cover to help with the costs of treatment, while others may cover certain conditions in full.

This differs from insurer to insurer, so it’s worth contacting any potential policy providers you’re looking at if your pet has a pre-existing condition. 

If you already have insurance in place, but you’re concerned your pet’s condition may not be covered when you renew, it can also be worth contacting your insurer to see if they can help.

While there are some factors out of your control, there are a few things you can do to cut the cost of your pet insurance. So you get the right cover for you and at the right price.

Compare pet insurance to find the best deal for you. Think about the type of cover you want, the excess you’re willing to pay and your monthly premium cost.

Do some research and pick out what policy type best suits your needs and have a look at what you’re likely to pay based on your pet’s age and your location. Also, have a think about your pet’s breed and whether that could drive up your premiums too.

Keep your pet healthy with vaccinations, nutrition, exercise and all the other things that go into being a responsible pet owner can pay off in the long run – not just with a happier, healthier pet, but with lower pet insurance costs too. Keep your pet healthy and you’re less likely to make a claim, keeping your renewal costs lower. Win-win!

A Multi-pet insurance policy is perfect for those with several pets. It allows you to cover up to 7 pets on a single policy – meaning lower premiums for you with the same level of cover for your furry friends.

Think about the excess as the higher the excess you can afford, the lower your premiums will be.

Before you start, you’ll need:

• Your pet’s name
• Its gender
• Its breed
• To know whether it’s been neutered or spayed
• Its vaccination history

Having the information ready can help speed up getting a quote, finding you the cover you need as quickly as possible.

Ultimately, whether you need pet insurance or not is up to you. But with vet bills for even common issues like breathing difficulties costing £1,686 on average***, covering your pet against the worst can pay off in the long run. No one wants to be hit with a costly vet bill out of the blue.

Pet insurance can help give you a little peace of mind that if the worst does happen, you’ll be able to afford the care your pet needs to get back on its feet (or paws). For a more detailed look at vet treatment prices, check out our guide.

*** Treatment prices based on a study of 2,000 participants, conducted by our partner Scratch & Patch. Data is taken from claim costs between 2019 and 2020.

There are several types of pet insurance, but most pet cover works by helping you with any unexpected vet bills should your pet fall sick or sustain an injury.

Take a look at our ‘what does pet insurance cover’ section above for an overview of the extras cat or dog insurance can sometimes cover. Or take a look at our pet insurance guides for tips, tricks and the essential information you need to know before taking out a pet insurance policy. 

According to our partner Scratch & Patch, the average claim for vet treatment is £822***, with some conditions like gastroenteritis costing up to £8,000***!

So it’s often worthwhile to have pet cover, if only to ensure you can afford the treatment your pet needs should the worst happen. For a closer look at vet prices, check out our guide.

***Treatment prices based on a study of 2,000 participants, conducted by our partner Scratch & Patch. Data is taken from claim costs between 2019 and 2020.

Neutering, spaying and other 'preventative treatments' aren't covered by pet insurance. This also extends to things like vaccines and routine dental work that can prevent your pet falling sick in the first place.

Making sure your pet is up to date on its vaccinations – and other health essentials – could help keep your premiums low, as your furry friend is less likely to develop a costly illness. So it's always worthwhile.

Generally, the younger your pet is, the cheaper it will be to insure – so getting a policy early make sense financially. But getting cover ASAP is the smart choice for a number of other reasons too. Sadly, there’s no guarantee that a younger pet is a healthier pet, and your cat or dog could need costly treatment at any age.

And as all pet owners know, puppies and kittens are furry bundles of energy, making them more accident prone than older and more placid pets. So getting insurance early is always a good idea.

To choose the right pet insurance for you, think about the amount of cover you need, whether you want both accident and injury to be covered, what you’re willing to pay as a monthly premium, and the excess you’re able to cover.

It’s a balancing act between getting the right deal for you, and the right level of cover for your pet. So consider your options, and read the section above on ‘types of pet insurance’ for a closer look at the cover available.