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Many of us
love our pets and want to make sure they stay healthy,
but we often fail to consider the possibility of
obtaining veterinarian insurance. Some types of vet
treatment for our pets can get quite expensive. Bills to
treat serious conditions, especially those that require
surgery, can quickly pile up.
Vet insurance provides a safety net for situations in
which the cost of medical care for your pet could
overwhelm your budget. There are many different types of
pet insurance, and policies can vary as much as health
insurance policies for humans. Specific cover exists for
different types of pets, for example, dog insurance, cat
insurance, horse insurance, etc.
Most types of vet insurance charge a monthly fee, which
will vary depending on the type of cover involved.
Usually polices will cover most vet expenses for
accidents and ailments. Some insurance policies also
cover other items that do not involve medical treatment
like boarding, liability against damage caused by your
pets, or the costs of finding a lost pet.
The general types of cover available for pet insurance
include:
Medical fees including costs to treat illness and
accidents
Dental fees
Behavioural treatment fees
Alternative treatment like naturopathy and homeopathy
Hydrotherapy fees
Physical therapy fees
Acupuncture, massage and similar treatments
Boarding fees
Costs for recovered lost or stolen pet
Holiday cancellation costs
Third Party Liability
Accidental damage costs
Transportation costs
Helpline or help-desk services
Costs of carrying for pet in case owner should become
ill
Death benefit
Insurance policies in the UK tend to cover 100 percent
of the costs involved compared to some other countries
that usually charge a deductible before the insurance
kicks in. Although dog and cat insurance are the most
common types of policies, you can insure nearly every
type of pet from snakes to rabbits.
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The general cost of a basic insurance policy in the
United Kingdom is around £60 to £85 per year but the
actual cost will depend on the specific cover selected
and the age, physical condition and other peculiarities
of the pet that is to be insured.
Policies also differ in terms of duration. The most
common types of policies are a 12 month term policy, and
life cover. Note that if you choose a limited term
policy, the cover may expire before the treatment of
your pet is completed. Life cover policies tend to pay
for all types of treatment for the entire life of your
pet. However, life policies may limit the number of
treatments covered per year. So, it is always advisable
to read the fine print of any insurance policy before
signing and paying.
Generally most people will want to have the basic vet
fees along with certain types of alternative treatments
covered. Liability cover is for dogs only so if you
dont have to worry about this if you do not have a dog.
Many people also decide to include cover for the loss or
death of a pet. Other more optional types of cover would
include things like cover for treatment while traveling
with a pet abroad, or transportation cost cover.
Note that most insurance companies have exclusion
policies that reject certain pets or conditions. For
example, you pet may either be excluded if it is too old
or your premiums may suddenly go up for the same reason.
Some polices may exclude pre-existing conditions or
preventative treatments like vaccinations, worming,
grooming and neutering. Some animals like wolf-dogs or
certain dangerous wild animals may not be covered by
certain policies. Also working animals may be excluded.
Again, it pays to carefully read the fine print, and to
thoroughly discuss the policy with the insurance broker
before making any final decision.
According to research, out of the UKs 7.97 million cats
and 4.63 million dogs, about 17 per cent of cats and 32
per cent of dogs are covered by vet insurance.
Here is a list of some vet insurance providers available
in the United Kingdom:
AAIS
AA Pet Insurance
Animal Friends Insurance
Argos Pet Insurance
AXA Insurance UK
BDML Connect
Churchill
Equine and Livestock Insurance
Halifax Pet Insurance
Healthy Pets
Helpucover
Jardine Lloyd Thompson
Liverpool Victoria Pet Insurance
London & Edinburgh Insurance
MORE TH>N
NFU Mutual
PDSA Pet Insurance
Pet Protect
Petline
PetPartners
Petplan
Royal & SunAlliance Insurance
Sainsburys Finance
Stoneways Insurance Services
Thornside
UK Insurance
Virgin Money
Your M&S
If you are an experienced pet owner, just think about
the type of expenses you encountered in keeping your
pets healthy in the past. You may quickly find that
purchasing vet insurance is a good idea that will save
you money in the future and give you peace of mind.
Fortunately, you can easily find vet insurance
information online. All major pet insurance companies
have their own websites, and there are many sites that
allow you to easily compare the best available policies.
Carefully consider the types of cover you will need
depending on the type of pet you have, the amount of
travel you do, etc. when shopping around for a good
policy.
Always compare policies because prices and services can
vary quite significantly. You might want to ask your
family, friends or associates who have similar pets
about their experiences with different vet insurance
companies. Sometimes an insurance policy can look very
attractive in terms of pricing until one reads the fine
print very closely.
Of course, in addition to making sure you have all the
right cover you need, you should carefully go over
exclusions and policy regarding pre-existing conditions.
Make sure you know what happens to the policy when your
dog reaches an advanced age.
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