Multi-pet insurance

How does multi-pet insurance work?

Multi-pet insurance works similarly to single pet insurance. You choose the level of cover you want for your pets and the insurer will give you a quote.

This quote will be based on the risk of you making a claim on the policy. An insurer will ask you lots of questions about your pet, like their age and breed. You'll also give details about yourself, like where you live.

When you choose multi-pet insurance, all pets on the policy are covered. They are usually given the same level of cover, which isn't always suitable. But some insurers let you choose different cover levels for each pet on the policy.

You can usually change the cover level when you renew the policy if needed. This usually applies to all the pets on the policy, depending on the insurer.

You can also link two policies with some insurers, which is sometimes called dual pet insurance. These policies may offer different levels of cover. This is sometimes called multi-pet insurance, depending on the insurer.

What type of multi-pet insurance do I need?

Regardless of whether you have several dogs or a cats, there are several types of multi-pet insurance available. The policy you choose will depend on your budget and how much cover you'd like for your pets. Remember, with a multi-pet policy all pets on the policy will usually have the same level of cover.

You can choose from:

• Accident only, which is the most basic level of cover available, and usually the cheapest. It only pays out for accidents, up to a limit each year.
• Time-limited cover, which covers your pets for accidents and emergencies, up to a limit, for the year of the policy. After this, you'll need to renew the policy and any new conditions that your pets have developed won't be covered.
• Maximum benefit cover which has a maximum amount of money per year you can claim for the cost of accidents or emergencies for your pets.
• Lifetime cover, the highest level of cover available, which covers your pets for their whole lives (up to a yearly limit). It's usually the most expensive option. But it will cover any conditions your pets develop in their lives, as long as the policy was in place when they did.

What are the benefits of multi-pet insurance?

The benefits of multi-pet insurance can include:

• Discount for insuring more than one pet, usually of around 10%. This isn't guaranteed but a nice bonus some insurers offer.
• Less paperwork as it’s all included under one policy instead of having different insurers and policies for each pet. You'll also just have one renewal date to remember.
• Same level of cover for any pets that are listed on the policy with most multi-pet insurance policies.

Before choosing a multi-pet policy, it's worth checking the price of two separate policies. There's no guarantee a multi-pet policy will be cheaper, even with the discount. So it's important to compare multi-pet insurance prices and policies before you buy.