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Treatment for accidental injury, although exactly how much you can claim for, and for how long, can vary.
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Treatment for unexpected illnesses, unless you buy an accident only policy.
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Diagnostic tests to determine what treatment your pet requires.
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Boarding fees for kennels or catteries if you have to spend time away from home unexpectedly, and need somewhere to care for your pet.
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Liability cover if your pet causes damage to a third party.
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Advertising costs to cover production and distribution of posters if your pet goes missing.
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Reward if you decide to incentivise the efforts to locate and return your pet if they go missing.
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Hydrotherapy to help relieve pain, reduce swelling and recover following surgery.
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Euthanasia, or putting your pet to sleep to ease their pain and suffering from an illness or injury.
What types of pet insurance are there?
Accident only
These policies generally offer the lowest cover level. In the event of an accident, treatment costs are covered by your insurer. There's normally a cap on how much you can claim per injury. If you reach this limit, you won't be able to claim for any further treatment for that injury.
Illnesses or pre-existing conditions aren't covered with this type of insurance, so you have to pay for any treatment for these.
Time limited
Illnesses are covered as well as accidents, but there is a set period of time in which you can make a claim.
Your cover period is typically 12 months. During this you can claim for any condition your pet develops.
Once your policy ends, any conditions you've claimed for are considered 'pre-existing'. This means they aren't covered by any new policies you take out.
Maximum benefit
Maximum benefit policies cover injuries and illnesses for the duration of your policy, up to a set limit. There's no set time period in which you need to claim, unlike time limited policies. But, there is a cap on how much you can claim for each injury or illness.
Once you've reached this limit for a certain condition, you aren't able to claim for that condition again. So, if your pet requires further treatment, you need to pay for it.
Lifetime
These policies are designed to offer the most comprehensive cover and last for the duration of a pet's life, as long as it's renewed each year.
Unlike other policy types, lifetime pet insurance continues to cover conditions that you've already claimed for, as long as you renew your policy with the same insurer. If you take out a policy with a new provider, pre-existing conditions are unlikely to be covered.
How do I compare pet insurance quotes?
Getting pet insurance quotes only takes a few minutes. Just follow these steps:
Tell us about your pet
Tell us what cover you need
Tell us about you
How to choose the right policy
What does pet insurance cover?
All pet insurance policies cover treatment costs for accidental injury. It's possible to get additional extras and cover, but this generally comes at a higher cost.
Exactly what's covered can differ from insurer to insurer, so check your policy documents to see what you can claim for.
Other types of pet insurance
How much is pet insurance?
The cost of pet insurance varies based on the level of cover you buy and the type of pet you're insuring. To give you an idea of how much you're likely to pay, here's the average monthly price pet owners pay for their insurance*:
Policy type | Dog | Cat |
---|---|---|
Accident only
|
£6.24
|
£4.15
|
Time limited
|
£16.04
|
£10.35
|
Maximum benefit
|
£15.70
|
£9.85
|
Lifetime
|
£21.88
|
£12.27
|
*Prices based on Confused.com data taken between June 2024 - August 2024. Costs shown are based on the average monthly price paid for one pet with no pre-existing conditions. "Accident Only" cover across cats and dogs of all ages, breeds and in all locations. Correct as of October 2024.
What affects the price of pet insurance?
How much you pay for your pet insurance is based on:
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The type of policy you choose: More comprehensive policies that have broader cover tend to cost more. For example, lifetime pet insurance is normally more expensive than other policy types.
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The amount of cover you want: The higher the amount of treatment you can claim for, the more you typically pay for your policy. You can choose the level of cover you need when you get a quote.
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Your pet's age, breed and species: It's generally more expensive to insure older pets because they have a higher risk of illness or injury. If your pet is at higher risk of health issues because of their breed, you might also pay more. An example of this is dogs with short noses or a flat facial shape that are vulnerable to Brachycephalic Obstructive Airway Syndrome (BOAS).
How can I get cheaper pet insurance?
Like other insurance products, the price of pet insurance is based on risk. So, reducing your pet's risk for certain conditions can lower the cost of insurance.
Here are a few things that might help lower the price of insurance:
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Comparing quotes is quick and easy. It means you can compare policy details as well as prices. So, you can find the best deal in minutes for the policy that's best suited to you and your pet.
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Choosing a higher policy excess. This is the amount you pay towards claims. Generally, a higher excess means lower policy costs. Just make sure you set it at a level you could afford to pay if you needed to make a claim.
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Neutering or spaying can lower the risk of your pet developing health problems. For example, it can reduce the risk of testicular cancer in male cats or dogs.
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Vaccinating your pet can help protect them against certain illnesses. This reduces the chance of you needing to seek medical attention for them.
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Keeping your pet a healthy weight can reduce their risk of obesity-related conditions.
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Reducing the risk of them being stolen. Making sure your dog has good recall, keeping them in secure areas and staying vigilant can reduce the risk of your dog being stolen. GPS trackers can help you keep track of your cat's location.
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Multi-pet insurance is also an option if you have more than one pet. These policies often work out cheaper than the cost of several individual policies. But, it's worth comparing quotes for single pet insurance and multi-pet insurance to make sure you're getting the best price.
Why compare pet insurance quotes with Confused.com?
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Compare quotes from up to 261 pet insurance providers
We work closely with a panel of trusted UK pet insurance providers to get you our best deals. We compare your details against all of them to show you our best prices available to you. -
Choose the cover level that suits you
When you compare pet insurance quotes with Confused.com, you can choose the policy type and level of cover you want. So, you can tailor your quotes to suit your needs.
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This means we're not owned by any insurance company. So, the quotes you see are our best available prices based on the information you gave to us, not who they're from.
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Page last reviewed: 24 October 2024
Reviewed by: Faith Tagg