When shopping for pet insurance on the Internet, it’s important to realise that cover can vary enormously between insurance providers; what is a standard feature on one policy may not be on another so don’t assume that a basic pet insurance policy will give you all the protection you need. Always check for the following features before you buy.
Veterinary Care
You’ll need to make sure that the policy provides adequate cover for the obvious accident and illness situations (including help with finding an emergency vet), checking any restrictions for existing conditions, new conditions and time limits.
Some vets provide additional services, such as nutritional advice and specialist dietary care, and behavioural treatment and holistic therapies like physiotherapy or acupuncture. Do check whether these extra treatment options are included or excluded.
Care is not limited to day surgery or medicines so make sure your pet is covered for boarding should they require overnight or extended treatment or observation – for major operations, kennel or cattery fees could run into thousands of pounds.
Death or Loss Cover
If the worst happens and your pet dies, there are few things you need to look for. Are you covered for cremation or disposal costs? Will the policy pay out for the initial purchase price of your pet? If your pet goes missing or is stolen, some policies will pay rewards fees and advertising costs. Many policies also offer advice and support in the event of the death of your pet.
Liability Cover
As a pet owner it’s important to have third-party liability cover included in your pet insurance policy. This will protect you should your animal damage, destroy or injure another person, animal or their property and it covers any legal costs that may arise.
Holiday and Care Cover.
If you need to cancel any planned holidays or trips because your pet has fallen ill, been involved in an accident or gone missing, then some extended policies may offer reimbursement for travel expenses that may not be recoverable under your travel insurance policy. This level of cover may come with some restrictions so do ensure you read the small print carefully.