When a furry member of the family suddenly gets sick or has an accident, it’s an extremely traumatic time. Juggling vet appointments with work and family life can be difficult but add to that the financial implications of getting them back on their paws, and it can be overwhelming.
Pet insurance can help at this stressful time by providing financial help to power your pet back to tip-top health.
What is Pet Insurance?
Pet insurance helps to manage healthcare costs for your pets. Much like private health insurance for humans, it usually involves paying a monthly premium which provides cover for veterinary treatments.
There are different types of pet insurance, so it’s important to do your research and choose what is right for you and your four paws. Do you want to just cover accidents and emergencies, or do you want something that would support a long-term medical condition?
We've summarised the four main types of cover offered by most pet insurance providers across the UK, below, but you can find more information on them in our recent article on understanding what type of pet insurance you should choose.
Lifetime Cover Pet Insurance:
Considered the most comprehensive pet insurance as it not only covers emergency issues, but if your dog or cat develops a long-term illness or condition, their treatment and medication will still be covered year after year, as long as you continue to renew your policy.
Lifetime Cover is the only cover we offer here at Insure Your Paws, as we believe it is the best policy for pet owners to protect their beloved furry friend.
Accident-Only Pet Insurance:
This type of pet insurance does exactly what it says on the tin – it covers accidents only. Accident-Only Pet Insurance will give a fixed sum for each injury that your dog or cat suffers, but if the treatment goes over the set limit, the extra cost will need to come out of the pet parent’s pocket.
Time-Limited Pet Insurance:
This type of pet insurance provides a fixed sum for accidents and illnesses, usually within a set 12-month period. However, after this 12 month period, existing conditions will then be considered a pre-existing condition and will not be covered in future policy years.
Time-Limited pet insurance is a more affordable option but also gives much more restricted coverage, as this cover type expires either when you reach the policy’s annual cover limit or after the fixed time-limit ends.
Maximum Benefit Pet Insurance:
This covers your cat or dog up to a fixed amount for each illness or injury it suffers. However, once you have claimed up to the set limit for a particular condition, that condition will no longer be covered by the policy. Any new conditions will still be covered up to the set limits.
The cost of pet insurance will also depend on the age, health and breed of your dog or cat. With Insure Your Paws, premiums can also be tailored depending on the level of cover you want, the amount of excess you are willing to pay, and co-payment options, where you agree to pay a percentage of the final bill.
The Benefits of Pet Insurance
Cats and dogs can't tell us what's wrong, making it tough for vets to always know what’s going on. Our feline friends, in particular, can be in pain but won’t show it, which makes diagnosis difficult. This means vets will often need to conduct tests, such as blood tests, scans and x-rays, and these can be pricey.
Pet insurance helps to cover the cost of vet bills for everything from stick injuries to swallowing socks, eye infections to allergies, being involved in an accident, diagnosed with diabetes, or needing cancer treatment. Having pet insurance means pet owners can ensure they get the best care and treatment for their furry friends, rather than thinking about what they can afford.
Coverage isn’t limited to physical health issues. Emergency boarding, behavioural treatments, and even third-party liability (eligible dogs only) are part of Insure Your Paws’ comprehensive plans, ensuring your pet is covered from whiskers to tail. We also provide a 24/7 direct phone line with vets and nurses, which can be invaluable when your pet is ill, and you don’t know what to do.
Considering the Costs
Is pet insurance worth it if my pet is young and healthy?
All pets will get sick at different times in their life, but it’s no secret that puppies and kittens are particularly accident-prone.
Kittens’ daredevil antics like hanging off curtains and climbing up bookshelves can, unsurprisingly, get themselves into all sorts of sticky situations. And puppies? While they’re adorable clowns, eating garden stones, children’s toys or discarded socks can result in an emergency dash to the vets.
Though it's true that younger pets generally face fewer health issues, if they do become ill, most insurance won’t cover pre-existing conditions. It can be a good idea to get pet insurance as soon as your new furry family member comes home, so they’re covered from the get-go for all eventualities.
At Insure Your Paws, we only offer Lifetime Cover Pet Insurance as we believe it is the best policy to protect your beloved family member for the whole of its life.
Is pet insurance worth it if my pet is old?
As your pet ages, they are more likely to develop chronic conditions like arthritis, heart problems, thyroid, or renal problems. Cancer is also unfortunately all too common, and the risk increases with age. Costs for ongoing treatments can be substantial but keeping your senior pet insured ensures that they have a happy and rewarding retirement.
Is pet insurance worth it if I have savings to fall back on?
Caring for your beloved pet over its lifetime, not only includes making sure it’s up to date with its yearly vaccinations, but there may be sudden costs that you may not have allowed for. For example, it may be diagnosed with a long-term illness or condition or may need expensive surgery due to an accident. These costs could run into thousands and quickly deplete hard-earned savings.
Is pet insurance worth it if I have a breed with few health conditions?
Some breeds are more likely to have specific health conditions, but avoiding these doesn’t mean there won’t be unwelcome health surprises in the future. Insurance is crucial even for breeds considered 'healthier' or less prone to genetic conditions. It's also wise for owners of breeds prone to specific health issues - like Bulldogs with respiratory problems - to consider insurance plans that cover genetic conditions.
Our pets are our best friends, companions and family members. We would do anything to protect our paws.
Pet insurance offers peace of mind but also ensures that your pet gets the best possible care when needed.
At Insure Your Paws, we’re here every paw-step of the way to protect and care for your cats and dogs.
Ready to explore pet insurance options? Visit the Insure Your Paws website, or have a read of our previous article diving into which type of pet insurance you should choose.
