Pet insurance

A pet policy protects the furriest (and arguably most adorable), member of your family. Should they suddenly need medical attention after an accident or illness, could you meet the costs of their treatment? The last thing you want to be worrying about is vet fees when your pet is unwell. 

Above all, having cover in place could give you peace of mind in the knowledge that your cat or dog is well-protected. 

There are four main policy types you might want to consider for your pet;

• Lifetime – to ensure your pet is covered you must renew your policy every year. This type of policy should cover any new medical illness or injury with a set amount of money each year. As long as the policy is renewed it will provide cover for long-term or recurring illnesses for the length of the policy.
• Maximum benefit – a maximum set amount of money is made available to cover each illness or injury your pet may suffer. Once the amount has been paid out, the treatment won’t be covered again.
• Time limited - also known as a 12 month policy. This is different from a maximum benefit policy as there is a fixed sum of money made available for each separate illness or injury, and it will only cover treatment for a specific period of time (usually 12 months from the start of the illness or injury).
• Accident only – this type of policy provides a fixed sum of money for each accidental injury to help towards your pet’s treatment. This will only cover accidents and not illnesses, with some policies having a time limit on treatment.

If you've got more than one cat or dog, you might want to consider a multi-pet policy. You could cover multiple pets at the same time and have all of your documents in one place.

We know that your pet is part of the family and in just a few clicks you could find the right level of cover to protect your furry friend. Compare policies from top UK brands such as Legal & General and Animal Friends to find a great deal on pet insurance.

Here are a few things you may need to know to help you along;

• Your pet’s personal details e.g. name, breed, gender and date of birth.
• Their vaccination history, are they up to date with their vaccines?
• Have they been neutered?
• Have they been micro-chipped?

If you’re about to become the proud owner of a kitten or puppy, why not use our pet name generator for name ideas!

There are many factors which could affect the price you pay for pet insurance. For example if you live in an area where vet fees are high, you might end up paying more than if you lived in an area where fees are lower. 

It might seem obvious, but the type of pet, its age and breed will impact the price. As with most other insurance types, premiums are based on risk factors. So for example, if your breed of dog has a tendency towards a medical condition that’s particularly expensive to treat, the price of your premium will rise.

Ways that could reduce the cost of pet insurance;

• Do your research - if you already own a pet then we know you wouldn't change them for the world. However, if you’re looking to buy one it might be worth doing some research to find out which breeds are prone to certain medical conditions or are the most expensive to insure.
• Multi-pet insurance - if you have more than one cat or dog, consider taking out a multi-pet policy. Some providers offer a discount if you take out more than one pet insurance policy with them. 
• Microchipping - installing extra security for your pets, such as getting him or her microchipped, could mean you are offered cheaper insurance.
• Vaccinations - it is worth keeping your pets vaccinations up to date as this could lower your premium. 
• Increase your excess - affordable policies usually include a higher than usual excess. If you can afford to pay an increased excess, it can lower your premiums.