Page 5 - Small Talk - Spring 2014

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Some policies cover
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Dental treatments
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Treatment relating to breeding
e.g. caesarean section
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Emergency home visits
Routine treatments e.g. neutering, vaccinations
and wormers are not included.
Annual or lifetime cover?
Annual policies cover your pet for a 12 month
period and pay for treatment needed during
that time. After a year the policy expires and
you will need to take out another policy. Any
pre-existing conditions will be excluded,
meaning that you have to pay for any further
treatment for this condition.
Lifetime policies cover your pet for the duration
of their life. If you renew your policy each year
with the same company they will continue to
pay out for any long term conditions which
may require ongoing treatment, e.g. diabetes
or arthritis.
What is the total level of cover?
Most policies have an upper limit of between
£1500 and £8000 per condition.
What is the excess?
As with car or home insurance you will have to
pay an excess for each condition that you claim
for. This is generally in the range of £50-£100
but varies with different policies. Some policies
also request you pay a small percentage of
the total bill.
Does age matter?
Older animals are more likely to fall ill than
younger animals, so cover often costs more for
older pets. Some policies will only cover pets
up until a certain age.
Does breed matter?
Some pedigree breeds may be more prone to
certain illnesses than crossbreeds so cover
may cost more for pedigree pets.
Pet insurance gives you the peace of
mind that you will be able to give your
pet the best possible treatment when
they need it most.