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Best Pet Insurance For Dogs

2016/5/4 10:09:31

Getting the best pet insurance for dogs is an important decision to make. Coming with an annual or monthly premium, insurance for your pets can be expensive. As with most things, the price of vets bills keeps increasing year after year. If your dog was to fall ill or have an accident you could be faced with a large bill or saying goodbye to your dog which is a tough decision.

Pet insurance is designed to cushion the financial blow of expenses arising from your dog. As with most kinds of insurance you pay a premium as well as an excess when you make a claim and the cost is covered in part or whole by the insurance company.

What is covered? There are many benefits and items included with pet insurance and you need to shop round to make sure that you get the best pet insurance for dogs. Here is a quick list. If you want something in particular check with the insurer. In general…

Accidents and injuries resulting e.g. a broken leg or cuts and bruisesIllness - short term and treatable such as skin irritationIllness - Long term such as cancer or arthritisEmergency vet care if you are away from homeThe cost of reward and advertising if your dog is lost.

Items that aren't covered are things such as

Regular injections such as annual boosterWorming and flea treatments

What different kinds of cover are there?

Generally there are three kinds of cover and will vary in price

Basic. Covers the basics as above, but has time and financial limits on what you can claim for. Usually 12 months or £1000.Medium Cover. This is a greater financial limit, however no time limit on claiming. E.g. Your dog may have a skin condition that lasts over many years, but so long as you don't reach the financial limit then you can continue to claim.Highest Cover. The most expensive and best pet insurance for dogs cover in the long term for expensive treatments such as accident. Other items may be included in this policy too such as if your dog has behaviour problems or funeral expenses.

Multi pet insurance Although this is an up and coming area, some insurers offer multi pet insurance. This means you could make a saving of ten percent or more on the cost of your overall insurance. Don't be afraid to shop around individually for the best pet insurance for dogs or with the multi pet option. You are not always guaranteed a greater discount, than buying individually, but bear it in mind as a possible option.

Lifetime pet insurance cover may not have time limit exclusions for paying out for ongoing conditions such as diabetes in dogs, make sure you check before changing your pet insurance lifetime cover

Third party only insurance If you have a destructive or clumsy dog then you should consider third party insurance. Most pet insurers offer this but it is worth asking when you take out your policy. Third party insurance covers any damage or injury to anyone except the dog. For example if you take the dog out for a walk and bites the postman or causes a car accident then you are covered for damage to property and person.

Some home contents policies cover this though so it is worth checking first if you need third party insurance.

What to look out for with pet insurance

Age of your dog The older your dog becomes, the more expensive your policy is likely to be as the risk of illness or injury increases with age. Some insurers impose a higher excess to the policy for older animals. You need to decide what is an affordable amount for you to pay when you claim. Some insurers will charge you a percentage of the claim when the dog reaches a certain age. It is worth checking if this is a problem

If you have a pup then it is also wise to check with the insurer. Some insurers will not insure dogs less than eight weeks old, however some will but not for illness, only accidents.

Breed of dog Some breeds of dog are not covered by insurers and it is important to check beforehand if you think your dog may be one of these. Breeds such as Staffordshire terriers and pit bulls are excluded because of their aggressive nature. Also check if you have a cross-breed with this type of dog as you may find the insurance will not cover you for this either.

Pre-existing conditions Be careful if you are shopping around for new insurance and your dog has a pre-existing condition that is currently covered e.g. arthritis. Some insurers limit the payouts overall for pre-existing conditions, or new insurers may not pay out at all if you switch providers. You will be likely to get a price hike on changing policy. If you are unsure check with your existing insurer for what they will continue to pay out for and the new insurer.

Get those vaccinations done regularly As well as insuring your pet, vaccinations need to be done routinely. If you have a claim to make that could have been prevented by a vaccination then you may not be covered. Keep the certificates from your vet safe as you may need to produce them later.

Micro-chipping If your dog has had a micro-chip fitted then some insurers offer discounts because of the chip. This is relatively cheap at about £30 and over the life of your policy could more than pay for itself. Not only that, you are much more likely to be reunited with your dog if he takes himself off for his own walkies one day.

Be Truthful If you lie to insurance companies about your dog and circumstances and they find out then all those premiums will be for nothing and you may only to find out when you need to claim. Insurers will 'validate' a claim before paying out. A cynic might think they are looking for a reason not to pay out, but if they can find it they will. So be honest and open and there should be no problems come claim time.

Lastly, shop round and look at lots of different insurers before you make your decision. Consider what you find most important in a policy and make a note of them. If you are not sure then ask the insurer.

Find out how to get the best pet insurance for dogs and make an informed decision when deciding on lifetime pet insurance and multi pet insurance then visit http://bestpetinsurancefordogs.org.uk