In my opinion as a vet physio.
I get lots of questions regarding pet insurance and its one of the things that can cause frustration in my clients too. So I thought it was about time to take a look at the 3 features both me and my clients speak most about when it comes to pet insurance to help you choose the best policy for you and your pets.
3 features you need to check for in your next pet insurance policy are….
The short version:
Lifetime policy
Complementary therapies cover
Quick claims procedure with good customer service
The long version:
1. Lifetime policies cover your pet for any conditions covered for their whole life. This means that the amount for each condition renews and it does not become a preexisting condition unless you change insurance providers or is otherwise excluded from your policy.
Please check which conditions and injuries are included/excluded as this will change from policy to policy.
Top Tip- look at your local referral vet’s fees for common procedures to find out what level of cover you need.
2. Complementary therapies usually include hydrotherapy, physiotherapy, chiropractors and massage therapists but again check each individual policy for any exclusions. You will also want to check the cover amount as this will be different to the the policy cover amount for vets fees. Some policies will cover a set number of sessions and some will only cover sessions carried out by members of certain professional bodies or registered therapists.
Top Tip- also check your therapist is approved by your insurer and is insured!
3. Insurers with the easiest claims procedures and good customer service will ensure that you get paid quickly and that your vets will be happy to work with them.
Top Tip-check customer reviews before you buy.
Want to know what else I suggest you check for?
Always check the exclusions this can include certain breeds of dogs, sports or medical conditions
Check the cover amount per condition and if they count conditions as bilateral or unilateral. For example, if your dog suffers a cruciate rupture to the RH and then later the LH some companies will view this as the same condition.
Be sure to check how to make a claim you don’t want to wait until you need to and then panic and miss information thats needed leading to a delay in the payout
Check your policy documents as they arrive- recently I had a policy with the wrong date of birth for my dog despite me putting it in correctly, mistakes happen when information is copied over so always double-check
Check with your vets to see if they do direct claims with the insurance providers you are considering - not all vets do direct claims with all insurers meaning you would have to pay upfront for treatment and then claim it back yourself
If you have questions about a policy don’t hesitate to contact the provider and ask your questions before purchase. And remember your policy actually starts 2 weeks after the start date/purchase date so be sure to get your policy before you purchase or adopt your pet.