1300 489 873If you’re on the hunt for the right pet insurance policy, it’s always wise to check out real, honest reviews. This will help you read between the lines and decide which policy and provider is suited to your needs.
In this guide, we provide a complete review based on the feedback of real pet owners. We explore whether pet insurance is necessary, what different policies offer, and if those enticing add-ons are actually worth your money.
Check out our unfiltered and 100% transparent pet insurance reviews today!
Does Your Pet Really Need Pet Insurance?
As fellow pet parents, we get the pain of constantly being sold unnecessary extras, like that toy your cat never touches or those gourmet treats your dog always spits out. But there is one thing that most pet parents can agree is essential: pet insurance!
Pet insurance ensures your fur baby is covered for any unexpected health issues that might come up, be it an accidental injury or a sudden illness. While you might think paying a monthly premium is costly, we promise you that you’ll be paying way more out of pocket without any cover.
It’s good to know that pet insurance isn’t always super expensive. In fact, many providers offer a bunch of perks and treats that can actually help you save money on more than just pet insurance.
For example, many pet insurers offer discounts for multiple pets and provide exclusive deals on extra pet services, like dog walking or cat sitting. These exclusive treats make pet insurance that extra bit more worth it!
A Review of Pet Insurance Policy Options
Expert reviews can really help when it comes to comparing pet insurance policies. While most pet insurance policies can entice you with their own unique treats and perks, it’s always important to focus on the important bits, like value for money, customer service, annual limit, pet insurer reputation, and so on.
If you’re determined to find the best pet insurance, it’s super important to consider what you and your fur baby need, as well as review the pros and cons of the different pet insurance plans available.
Based on all the reviews from real customers, we’ve figured out how different pet insurance policies are best suited to certain pets and pet parents. Here’s our honest review of every pet insurance premium you can get out there:
#1 Accident-Only Coverage
Accident-only policies give you the most basic level of coverage. They only let you make a claim for emergency vet bills due to accidental injuries, like broken or fractured bones and bites.
Because accident-only policies give you the least coverage, they tend to be the cheapest choice.
What Pet Parents Think:
Pet owners agree that accident-only coverage is super budget-friendly and great for low-maintenance pets who rarely fall sick and aren’t prone to hereditary disease. However, just because it’s the cheapest choice doesn’t mean it will necessarily help you save money.
If your pet needs medical attention for other reasons, like a sudden illness, you’ll be left to pay out of pocket.
#2 Accident and Illness Coverage (Comprehensive)
Accident and illness coverage offers a decent level of protection against a range of eligible vet bills. This comprehensive policy usually has a greater annual benefit limit compared to other policy types, so you can claim more.
Because of the extensive coverage you get, this type of policy does come with more costly premiums. However, these can save you $1,000s on veterinary costs, especially if your pet is prone to certain health conditions.
What Pet Parents Think:
Because accident and illness coverage offers the full package of protection, it’s a go-to choice for pet parents who want to play it safe. It’s particularly suited to senior pets who are more likely to become unwell and injured. It’s equally ideal for young pups and kittens who get into mischief and specific breeds that are at risk of developing hereditary conditions.
#3 Condition Limited Coverage
Condition-limited policies equip you with accident and illness coverage, but only up to a set limit for each condition. Once you hit the benefit limit, you won’t be able to claim any veterinary treatment, even if it’s ongoing.
Most pet insurers offer a pretty affordable premium for this coverage option, making it affordable. It’s equally convenient for pets who only need cover for short-term medical needs.
What Pet Parents Think:
For pet parents dealing with a one-off illness or accident, time-limited coverage is a favoured choice. It gives you cover when you need it, for an affordable price. But, if your furry friend is likely to fall unwell again or at a higher risk of developing chronic hereditary conditions, then you might be better off with something more permanent, like a comprehensive policy.
#4 Annual Benefit Coverage
Annual benefit coverage doesn’t have an expiry date but rather a financial limit. This means you can only claim up to a certain amount of eligible vet bills.
What Pet Parents Think:
Because this policy is capped, pet parents often have to pick and choose what bills they want to expense and what costs they will cover out of pocket, to prevent the limit being used up. This can cause some tricky decision making, but many agree that it’s still a great choice for anyone after coverage without strict time limits.
Pet Insurance Add-Ons: Our Honest Review
Depending on the insurer you go for, you can add additional benefits to your chosen policy that cover extra vet expenses. While these extras are great for creating a plan that’s specially tailored to your furry friend, many fellow pet parents often get enticed by unnecessary add-ons that can be a waste of money. Explore which add-on options are suited to you:
- Routine Care & Wellness: Routine care and wellness add-ons typically cover regular check-ups, vaccinations, parasite prevention, and sometimes even spaying/neutering. It’s a favoured choice amongst new pet parents with pups and kittens who need more medical support during the earlier days.
- Dental Illness: While some insurers do offer dental coverage as part of their policies (like PetsOnMe), many don’t. Dental health is pretty important, so it’s always worth adding it to your plan if you’ve got the budget for it.
- Alternative Therapy: Alternative therapies, like hydrotherapy or physiotherapy, aren’t a common need. But, if your vet recommends this kind of treatment for your four-legged pals, it’s definitely worth opting in for this cover as alternative treatments can get pretty expensive.
- Chronic Illness Coverage: If your pet has any pre-existing chronic conditions, such as arthritis, you likely won’t get any related vet bills covered on your insurance plan. But, if you opt for chronic illness coverage, you will be protected.
- Behavioural Therapy: Pet parents dealing with a naughty or cheeky pet often seek behavioural therapy to help train and control their pet. This therapy can cost you a hefty amount, so if you’ve got a problem fur child, this ad-on is a good idea.
- Lost Pet Support: If you have a pet that roams the great outdoors, like a cat, a pup with a knack for escaping, or perhaps a parrot that is constantly spreading its wings, lost pet support could be a wise choice. This usually covers any related costs that can help reunite you with your fur baby, such as advertising and microchip registration.
- Prescribed Diet Cover: Some pets need special food to combat medical problems. Veterinary-prescribed food is usually much more expensive than the standard stuff you get off a supermarket shelf, so it’s a good idea to add this coverage to your policy.
- Travel Insurance: If you and your pooch are jet-setters, you should absolutely add travel insurance to your policy. This will ensure you are financially covered for any overseas vet bills.
Get Pawsome Pet Insurance With PetsOnMe!
Join our pack of 52,000 happy Aussie pet parents when you join PetsOnMe!
We outshine all the other pet insurance companies out there with our multi-award-winning Pet Insurance Cover. Choose from puppy insurance, dog insurance, and cat insurance, each tailored to your pet’s health needs.
We’ve shaped every policy based on real reviews from our customers, so you’re guaranteed coverage that’s actually tailored to your needs.
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