Complete guide to pet insurance in the UK: protect your furry friends
Pet insurance is essential for pet owners who see their pets as extended family.
While it’s natural to love and care for them, unexpected medical bills and other expenses can arise, often when you least expect it.
Pet insurance offers crucial financial support, helping you cover these costs while ensuring your pet receives the best possible care.
With the right policy, you can focus on your pet’s health without worrying about the financial strain.
What is pet insurance?
Pet insurance covers the cost of the treatment in case your pet gets sick or injured in an accident.
If your pet needs to go to the hospital due to illness, injury, or any other medical care, then you might end up feeling bad due to the potentially high medical bills.
To keep your pet and finances both in good health, pet insurance comes to the rescue.
Although it depends on what type of coverage you have, here’s what you get when you purchase pet insurance:
- Dental care
- Medical treatment
- Liability covers-that includes the damage to someone else’s property or an injury to another person or pet, where your pet is involved.
- Illness or injury that leads to death
- Loss or theft
- Behavioral treatment
What does pet insurance do?
In the UK, paying for regular expenses requires hard work and long hours of work. In such a situation, if your pet gets sick, you will end up being broke as these vet medical bills cost you a fortune.
Pet insurance policies are the policies that come to the rescue when your pet gets sick or injured in an accident.
Paying for the veterinary bills and medical expenses is basically what pet insurance does. But there could be more, depending on the cover you have for your pet.
Pet insurance policies differ from each other based on the cost, what’s included, and what’s not.
Pet insurance also involves dental care and liability covers meaning damage to someone else’s property or injury to another person or pet, that involves your pet
What can pet insurance cover?
Living in the UK is a privilege to many, but at the same time, many people are hardly making it to the end of the month with groceries, utility bills, etc.
Pets are affectionate companions that keep you accompanied and good and bad times, making it easier for you to handle stress with their affection and love.
So when your affectionate partner needs some extra attention or care, you should be able to do that without taking a financial hit. Pet insurance can ensure that.
You may not even know that pet insurance exists. Well; it does! And can be beneficial for you if you own a pet.
Pet insurance coverage varies based on the cost and coverage type. Here’s the basic knowledge of what pet insurance can cover:
Vet bills:
All the vet bills are covered, including dental care, homeopathy, physiotherapy, breeding risks and costs, etc.
It also includes hereditary conditions and ongoing medical conditions like allergies etc.
Behavioral treatment
A treatment of approximately £500 done by a professional under your vet’s supervision will also be covered in a good policy.
Loss or theft
In case of loss or theft of your pet, the insurance company will pay the purchase price of your pet if you have proof of it, if not, they will give you market value.
Insurers also cover the cost of advertisement if you lose your pet, which is approximately £300, and the cost of reward as well, which is almost £250.
Damage to third party
Any or all damage done to a third party; person or pet or physical injury to either of them involving your pet will be covered.
Emergency treatment on holiday
Most people take their pet along on a vacation, and if your pet gets sick abroad, any emergency treatment will also be covered by your insurance, which will be around £1500.
Types of pet insurance
Pet insurance is not available in all countries, so it is another one of the perks of living in the UK.
There are different types of pet insurance just like car insurance. You can purchase an insurance policy according to your needs and budget.
Here are the four main types of pet insurance:
- Accidents only – Just as the name of the policy claims, this insurance type only covers the cost of your pet getting involved in an accident.
- Limited time offer – Time limit may vary from company to company, but usually this type of pet insurance covers illness and injuries of pets for up to 12 months only.
- Maximum advantage – Now this one is beneficial for those who keep renewing the policy so they get the advantage of being paid for sickness or injury for indefinite time. But there is also a cost limit to that, and when you reach that limit, you can’t claim anymore.
- Lifetime – This policy keeps you covered for the sickness, injury, and accidents of your pet for a lifetime as long as you keep paying your premiums.
How much does pet insurance cost?
The cost of pet insurance varies just like any other insurance based on what’s included in the coverage.
Pet insurance can cost a lot, so it is important to check the market before you purchase one, this way you will be able to find the best policy according to your needs.
Is it possible to save money on pet insurance?
In addition to getting a quote from the best retailer, there are a few ways to save more money on your pet insurance:
- Buy a crossbreed pet as they are less prone to being stolen and hereditary problems and sickness.
- Nurture your pet to avoid pregnancy-related health issues and expenses.
- Do not wait for your pet to get old or sick to buy insurance, it would be more expensive.
- Multi-pet insurance will also save you money as many insurance companies offer discounts on getting more than one pet insured.
Is Pet Insurance Worth It?
Yes, the estimates suggest that getting pet insurance can save you a lot of trouble and money in case your pet gets sick or has an accident.
Pet insurance can save the large bills that can empty your pocket at unexpected times in different ways.
Is there free healthcare for pets in the UK?
Yes, PDSA (People’s Dispensary For Sick Animals) offers low-cost as well as free treatments to sick and injured pets in the UK.
Do I need pet insurance?
It depends on how you will deal with the unexpected costs of your pet’s treatment or any other issues regarding your pet.
Depending on several factors, like the kind of pet you have how old is your pet and, how risky your pet is.
It is easier to decide whether you need pet insurance or not, as the medical bills can go from hundreds to thousands.
How to cancel pet insurance?
Canceling pet insurance is not a big deal unless you know the rules and regulations.
You can ask your insurer to cancel the policy anytime, but you will have to pay the cancellation fee, or you can avoid that if you cancel the policy at the time of renewal.
Final words:
Getting your pet insured is worth it if you live in the UK. Having pets is not cheap itself, they need regular care, medical checkups, etc.
Also, emergencies happen all the time. To avoid the consequences of an accident or sickness, causing huge bills that you are unable to pay yourself, pet insurance is what you need.
Enjoyed this article? Then also read – Complete guide to life insurance in the UK: protect your family’s future
