Should I insure my pet?

This is a tricky question, but one that we are often asked here at the surgery ...  

There have been many advances in pet healthcare in the past few decades. While this is great for your pet, the cost of treatment can quickly mount up. Having insurance in place allows referral of more complicated (and possibly very expensive) problems and avoids large, unexpected bills should your pet need emergency treatment. It also means that cost is less of a factor when deciding on the best treatment, and there is less chance of having to make upsetting decisions if the required treatment is not affordable.

Some owners choose instead to put some money aside each month instead or are happy that they could cover the cost of a large, unexpected bill if they needed too, so it does depend on your individual circumstances.

If you do opt for insurance, choosing the right policy can be confusing. The level of cover varies hugely so it is worth comparing carefully and checking factors such as:

·      How long is the cover for each condition? 

·      What is the maximum level of cover per condition?

·      How much is the excess and the monthly premium?

·      Is there a co-payment as well as the excess?

·      Is there a time limit for making a claim?

Insurers will not usually cover pre-existing conditions so bear this in mind if you are thinking of changing providers and your pet has an ongoing condition.

Routine healthcare, such as boosters, flea and worm treatment, dentals and neutering are not generally covered, unless there is an underlying medical reason for the procedure. Many practices now offer healthcare plans to spread the cost of routine treaments .

We hope this short guide is helpful! If you need further advice on pet insurance or any other aspect of pet care, please do give us a call on (01223) 776773.