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Pet InsuranceThis is an attempt to untangle the knots in your pet insurance. Pet insurance is definitely worth having. Our biggest bill to date has been £1800, presented to us when our Golden Retriever ate something she shouldn’t have and needed to be operated on.
It happened over a Bank Holiday weekend which of course was more expensive and she spent two nights at the vets.
Although we had to pay the whole amount up front (luckily we had a credit card!), our excess was £40 and this was all we finally had to pay.
Here are some pet insurance tips that will ensure you have the right policy. Check the following things:
Veterinary Fees
Most basic
Medium level of cover
Higher level of cover
If you have a pedigree dog this may be a better option since they are more prone to developing on-going conditions such as arthritis. There is something to be said for finding a company who will cover you for life and sticking with them.
Sometimes there are different types of excess. Tesco have a very clear and well-presented pet insurance section. This is taken from their page: Different companies offer different types of excess: Fixed excess - This type of excess is fixed at the outset, say at £50, and stays the same regardless of the size of your claim.
Percentage excess - This is where the excess is based on a percentage of your claim (usually after a fixed minimum has been applied), so the more you claim the higher the excess.
Annual excess - If a single condition spans two policy years the excess will be taken twice.
Variable excess - The excess can vary according to the area in which the pet lives and/or the pet's age.
Most companies will charge you an excess for each condition you claim for, so if you have to claim for two different problems in one year, you'll have to pay two excesses.
For example, if your dog was to get hit by a car, you'd have to cover the cost of your pet's injuries, but you may also be liable to cover the cost of damage to the car - which could be thousands of pounds.
Usually this is included in the most basic kind of insurance but it may be worth asking. Extra featuresThe following features are often extra so if you consider them important, do make sure they are included in the price. Some companies will not cover you if your pet is ill whilst on holiday abroad. If you are planning to take your pet on holiday, make sure you ask about this. Considerations could be: - Veterinary fees if your pet should fall ill or have an accident - Public liability (if your dog causes an accident or damages someone’s property) - Quarantine costs if you need to use them - Cover for loss of your pet’s passport Do you want your pet to be able to receive Complementary Treatment? If so make sure you are covered for it.
Dental treatment associated with an illness is unlikely to be included in a basic package. Exclusions Be very clear what the company’s exclusions are before you take out insurance.
If your pet has suffered from a particular condition in the past, it is highly unlikely that you will be able to find cover for that condition again with another company. When deciding on a new pet insurance you will be asked what pre-existing conditions your pet has suffered from.
Other considerations
Think carefully if you are thinking of changing your pet insurance company when your dog is above say eight years old. It may not seem old but if it’s past a certain age you may not be able to get insurance.
Good luck!
And the best scenario of all is that your pet stays healthy and happy and you don’t need to use the insurance at all!
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