Pet insurance is a must-have for pet owners. Not only does it protect you against a selection of eligible vet bills, but it also gives you peace of mind, knowing your fur babies can get access to the veterinary care they need, regardless of your financial situation.
Different pet insurance plans cover different vet expenses. Some give you a complete package of coverage, whereas others offer just the basics. It’s important to consider what type of protection your pet needs the most when picking an insurance plan.
For instance, if you have a high-maintenance pooch that’s prone to certain health problems, you’ll be better off with more coverage and higher annual benefit limits. But, if you have an easy-going, low-risk feline, an essential plan with minimal coverage will likely cover your needs.
In this guide, we break down what different pet insurance policies cover and give you handy tips for finding the right plan for your fur baby.
Jump in to find out what pet insurance covers!
Does Your Pet Need Insurance Coverage?
Pet insurance coverage is a must-have for every pet parent. With so many coverage options out there, you can easily find a policy that’s right for your four-legged companion and worth your money.
By getting pet insurance, you can rest assured that your fur baby gets access to quality care regardless of your financial situation, so you can enjoy peace of mind knowing that you’re protected if your pet gets injured or sick.
By covering the costs of vet treatments, you can save $1,000s each year on bills you otherwise would have to pay out of pocket!
Common Pet Insurance Coverage Options
While every pet insurer offers its own unique policies, you’ll typically find that most offer one of five levels of cover, ranging from accident-only to comprehensive cover. Understanding what each coverage option offers will help you find the right plan that accommodates your pet’s needs.
Here’s a full breakdown of what each pet insurance policy type covers:
Accident-Only Cover
Accident-only cover is the most basic and affordable protection you can get. It covers any accident-related injury treatment costs, typically including diagnostics, emergency care, medication, and surgery. It’s great for any pet parents with adventurous fur babies that are prone to the occasional accident, but otherwise healthy.
Accident and Illness Cover
Accident and illness cover is a superb choice if you want to play it safe with comprehensive protection, while keeping monthly premiums within your budget. With this plan, you get a decent range of medical treatment costs covered for both accidental injuries and common illnesses, including diagnostic tests, medications, hospital stays, and surgery.
Maximum Benefit Cover
Maximum benefit covers everything you need, such as accidental injuries and common illnesses, while giving you the flexibility of short-term care that’s budget-friendly. This option works by giving you a fixed financial limit for each condition, such as a certain chronic condition or illness. Once you reach the limit for a given condition, your coverage stops.
If you don’t want to commit to lifetime benefits but still need comprehensive coverage, this is the plan for you.
Time-Limited Cover
Time-limited cover financially protects you against select treatment costs for injuries and illnesses, within a specific time-frame, such as 12-months. This option is affordable and convenient for pet parents who need cover for a limited time. If your pet is generally healthy, but has stumbled into a temporary health mishap, limited-time cover is likely the right plan for you.
Comprehensive (Lifetime) Cover
Comprehensive cover, also known as lifetime cover, is the most extensive plan you can get. This insurance cover offers a full package of protection against accidental injuries and common illnesses.
If your four-legged companion is prone to illness or accidents and regularly goes to the vet, comprehensive cover is a wise choice that will save you $1,000s on vet bills each year, while ensuring your pet gets the exact care when they need it the most.
Getting Extra Pet Insurance Coverage
You can upgrade your pet insurance plan with add-on coverage. This lets you create a tailored policy that meets every single health-related need your pet has. Common add-ons include:
- Routine Care Cover: Routine care cover is ideal for pups and kittens, as well as elderly pets, who need regular check-ups and routine treatments, like de-worming and flea treatments. Whether your pet’s life has just started or they’re entering their senior years, routine care is a brilliant add-on worth choosing.
- Dental Care Cover: Just like us, our furry friends need to look after their teeth. Dental care cover protects you against a range of dental procedures, such as extractions, cleaning, and dental illness treatment.
- Alternative and Holistic Therapy Cover: If your pooch or feline requires alternative or holistic therapies, such as chiropractic care, hydrotherapy, or physiotherapy, this coverage will help take care of any related charges.
- Third-Party Liability: Third-party liability helps cover any legal costs if your pet causes trouble, such as an injury or damage to property. If you have a cheeky pooch, this is a must-have add-on – PetsOnMe offers third-party liability coverage at no extra cost on select plans!
- Prescription Diets & Supplements: Vets will sometimes prescribe special diets and supplements to help chronic conditions allergies, support recovery, and boost overall health. If your pet needs special food or health supplements, this cover will help you save money on any ongoing nutritional expenses.
- Behavioural Treatment Cover: Behavioural treatment coverage reimburses for therapeutic treatments and training for behavioural conditions like aggression, hyperactivity, and anxiety.
- Lost Pet Advertising & Rewards: Some add-ons include lost pet advertising and rewards if your fur baby goes missing.
- Travel & Overseas Coverage: If you and your furry companion are a couple of jet setters, travel and overseas coverage is a wise choice. This covers eligible vet bills if your pet gets sick or injured while overseas.
Choosing the Right Cover for Your Furry Friends: Top Tips
When shopping around for pet insurance, there are a few important factors to consider, such as the overall health of your pet, your budget, terms and conditions, and more. Making sure you carefully think about every aspect will ensure you choose the exact plan your pet needs.
Here are expert tips to help you find the right cover for your furry friend:
- Determine a Budget: Before you get your fur baby covered, make sure you set a realistic budget. Figuring out how much you can afford in pet insurance premiums, deductibles, and potential out-of-pocket costs will help you avoid financial stress while ensuring your pet gets the cover they need for important vet expenses.
- Put Your Pet’s Needs First: Assess your pet’s overall health to inform your search for the right coverage. For instance, if you have a maintenance fur baby who rarely runs into health trouble, a basic plan, like accident-only cover, is likely all they need. Whereas if your pet is prone to hereditary disease or mature and likely to get sick or injured more, comprehensive policies are a wise choice.
- Compare Different Plans and Providers: Don’t settle for the first plan you find. Shop around and compare policies from different pet insurers to find the best possible value – you might find that you can get more coverage for less with a different insurer!
- Research Providers: Before you sign up for a policy, always double-check the provider you’re investing in. Check for customer reviews and satisfaction to ensure you’re choosing an insurer that’s reliable and worth your money. Keep your eyes peeled for any complaints relating to claim denials and premium increases, as these tend to be the most common issues that pet parents have to deal with when seeking insurance.
- Check for Special Deals and Inclusivities: Get the most out of your policy by looking for special deals and inclusivities. For example, if you choose a PetsOnMe policy, you get a 5% discount for paying annually upfront and a further 5% off if you have 2 or more pets on your policy. We also give our customers 12% off select pet services, including pet sitting and dog walking!
- Always Double-Check Terms and Conditions: Pet insurers set their own terms and conditions, so it’s essential to double-check the fine print to avoid any surprises. For instance, most insurers detail in the terms and conditions that they won’t cover veterinary treatment costs for a pre-existing condition. Many policies also have an applicable waiting period, meaning you must wait a certain amount of time before claiming eligible vet bills.
- Ask Your Vet: Your vet can steer you towards the right coverage that aligns with your pet’s health needs, so it’s always worth asking them before choosing a plan. They can provide helpful insights, like whether your pet’s age or breed makes them more susceptible to certain illnesses and accidents, which can help you choose the most relevant coverage.
Do Specific Animals Need Different Coverage?
Every animal is unique and susceptible to different illnesses and injuries, which is why you need a policy that specific tailors to your pet’s needs.
Dogs, cats, reptiles, rodents, and birds all have different health risks and medical needs, and specific breeds of the same species can be prone to hereditary conditions, such as hip dysplasia in German Shepherds.
Your pet’s age is also a key factor that will determine how much coverage they need. For example, younger pets, like puppies and kittens, often need more routine care cover, as do senior pets.
The type of vet care your pet needs will depend on their species, breed, and age which is why it’s so important to get the right plan that’s designed for your pet’s specific needs. This will ensure you get coverage on eligible claims that accommodate certain health conditions and treatment costs.
Find the Right Cover for Your Fur Baby at PetsOnMe!
PetsOnMe has a selection of three, multi-award-winning pet insurance plans, each suited to different pet needs. We’ve tailored each plan with pet owners in mind, ensuring you get straightforward, transparent, and budget-friendly pet insurance cover – without the jargon!
You get to choose from our bespoke Puppy, Dog, and Cat plans, all of which offer up to 80% benefit percentage and reimbursements on eligible vet expenses as soon as the next working day.
Unlike other pet insurance providers, we offer flexible pet insurance products that you can cancel, upgrade, and downgrade anytime.
If you’re switching over from another insurer that you’ve been with for 12+ months with no interruption in cover, we’ll waive our waiting periods, ensuring a smooth transition with instant coverage, so you needn’t worry about gaps in protection.
Join over 52,000 happy pet parents when you choose PetsOnMe insurance. Explore and compare our plans today and get a free quote!
Got questions? Find out more about how our pet insurance works on our FAQs page.