Pet insurance How it works
A pet insurance policy will cover medical expenses if your pet becomes ill or is injured in an accident. However, it won't cover routine visits to the vet or events that you could have anticipated, such as routine vaccinations or neutering.
A top level policy will give your pet comprehensive protection
The most comprehensive 'top level' policies offer lifetime cover and reinstate benefits at the start of each year. This means that, as long as the policy is renewed every 12 months, you are able to claim up to the full vet fees benefit, year after year, even for a recurring or ongoing illness. This type of policy can be invaluable if your let develops a long-term condition such as arthritis or eczema.
The next best option is a 'mid-level' policy that places a monetary limit on treatment per condition, but without a time restriction. For example, if the policy offers a £4,000 limit per condition, cover for a particular ailment will only run out when you reach this limit, regardless of how long your pet has been receiving treatment.This type of policy is usually less expensive than a lifetime policy.
There are cheaper policies available, which limit cover to a maximum 12-month period per condition. They may be of interest to pet owners who are more interested in protecting against high initial costs of treatment after an injury or illness. However, we believe these policies generally offer inadequate cover and so have excluded them from our Best Buy tables.
- For impartial help with any insurance problems, call the Which? Money Helpline
- Making a complaint to your insurance company? Use our handy template letter
- Pet at home? Take a look at our grooming tool reviews
