Your pet will naturally get themselves into bumps and scrapes because of their inquisitive and mischievous nature. It’s what we love about them. Having the right pet insurance policy in place can help to support you and your pet should an unexpected vet bill come your way, as you won’t have to worry about how you will pick up the cost. 

It’s also more common than most people realise for a pet to develop a recurring or long-term illness – even in young pets. This is why it is worthwhile thinking about insuring your pet from a young age, whilst they’re fit and healthy, especially if you opt for a lifetime policy. 

With this kind of policy, you can keep claiming for treatment of recurring illnesses or injuries throughout your pet’s lifetime, providing the policy is renewed each year without a break. Most pet insurance policies will cover your from just six weeks of age. 

This can seem a bit of a minefield, and the true cost of veterinary care is often a surprise to many people. Pets, just like their owners, can develop illnesses that need lifelong treatment, such as diabetes or skin conditions, from a very young age. Not every pet insurance policy is the same, so it’s important to choose carefully. 

Here are ten questions to ask before taking out pet insurance for your pet: 

Will this policy cover ongoing conditions for the rest of my pet’s life? Some policies might only cover for conditions for a 12-month period, and for a young pet contracting a lifetime condition, this could mean your cover only lasts until your next renewal date. 

Does it cover congenital and hereditary illness? Some policies exclude these types of illnesses, so it’s important to talk to a potential insurer about your options before you take out cover. 

Does it cover dental treatment and behavioural problems? Ensuring that these essential features are covered by your policy is important and something that can quite easily be overlooked when choosing. 

Does it include added-value features? Some policies offer added-value features such as dental treatment and complementary treatments such as acupuncture and homeopathy. Other policies even cover the cost of advertising and a reward if your pup gets lost or is stolen. 

Can I choose the level of cover? By making sure you can pick just the level of cover your pet’s needs, you can avoid having to pay for cover that you don’t actually need. 

Does the cover include Third Party Liability (dog only)? With Third Party Liability, the policy will cover legal costs if your dog causes accidents, injury or damage to a person or their property. 

Does the policy offer good value for money? Like all types of insurance, good pet insurance is very different from the cheapest pet insurance. Make sure you consider the insurer’s reputation and level of cover offered, rather than price alone. 

Will the insurer place exclusions at renewal on this policy? Some policies only let you claim for treatment for a particular condition for 12 months, and exclude the condition from your policy when you come to renew. 

What about the small print? We always recommend reading the small print before you take out a pet insurance policy, so you can be sure your pet has the right level of cover before you commit. 

Does your pet have a pre-existing condition? If so, a new policy may not cover the costs of that specific condition. So if you already have a lifetime policy, we would usually recommend you stay with your current insurer.