What do I need to know?
Each year 1 in 3 pets are injured or become ill* and need urgent veterinary treatment. Insurance can help you cover the cost of these unexpected bills leaving you free to concentrate on helping an important member of your family recover. (*source: Datamonitor)
We never want money to be an issue should your pet require treatment but there is also no doubt that the provision of high quality veterinary care can be costly. It is for this reason that we strongly recommend to all our clients that they take out a good quality pet insurance product. We recommend that when comparing pet insurance policies you look carefully at the small print, rather than the cost of the premiums on its own. Unlike car insurance, pet insurance is not as straight forward and there are many differences in benefits, terms and conditions between pet insurance companies. Comparison sites don't compare all companies or all their benefits. The following information will help you unpick pet insurance jargon! Please take a few moments to read the information below, it may save you time and money!
We never want money to be an issue should your pet require treatment but there is also no doubt that the provision of high quality veterinary care can be costly. It is for this reason that we strongly recommend to all our clients that they take out a good quality pet insurance product. We recommend that when comparing pet insurance policies you look carefully at the small print, rather than the cost of the premiums on its own. Unlike car insurance, pet insurance is not as straight forward and there are many differences in benefits, terms and conditions between pet insurance companies. Comparison sites don't compare all companies or all their benefits. The following information will help you unpick pet insurance jargon! Please take a few moments to read the information below, it may save you time and money!
What types of pet insurance policies are available?
Time and Benefit Limited
A time limited policy provides insurance for each new and unrelated medical condition, up to a set financial limit. Each condition is covered for 12 months, usually from its onset or diagnosis. If the financial limit is reached within the 12 month period, the insurance will stop paying for that condition. Once the time or financial limit has been reached the condition (and related conditions) becomes excluded from future claims even if you change insurance provider. These are basic insurance policies and are usually among the cheapest available.
Benefit Limited/Maximum Benefit
There is a financial limit for each new condition the animal may suffer. Each condition is insured until the financial limit has been reached. As long as the insurance policy remains in force there is no time limit on your claim. Once the financial limit has been reached, the medical condition becomes excluded from future claims even if you change insurance provider.
Cover for Life
All new medical conditions are insured, up to a set financial limit each year. Where the financial limit has been reached, no further claims will be paid until the policy is renewed, at which point the limit may be fully reinstated (check with the insurer). An ongoing condition that has reached the financial limit will continue to be covered by the policy the following year.
A time limited policy provides insurance for each new and unrelated medical condition, up to a set financial limit. Each condition is covered for 12 months, usually from its onset or diagnosis. If the financial limit is reached within the 12 month period, the insurance will stop paying for that condition. Once the time or financial limit has been reached the condition (and related conditions) becomes excluded from future claims even if you change insurance provider. These are basic insurance policies and are usually among the cheapest available.
Benefit Limited/Maximum Benefit
There is a financial limit for each new condition the animal may suffer. Each condition is insured until the financial limit has been reached. As long as the insurance policy remains in force there is no time limit on your claim. Once the financial limit has been reached, the medical condition becomes excluded from future claims even if you change insurance provider.
Cover for Life
All new medical conditions are insured, up to a set financial limit each year. Where the financial limit has been reached, no further claims will be paid until the policy is renewed, at which point the limit may be fully reinstated (check with the insurer). An ongoing condition that has reached the financial limit will continue to be covered by the policy the following year.
Why might treatment not be covered?
There are a variety of reasons why treatment might not be covered with any type of policy. The most common exclusions on a pet insurance policy include:
- Anything that relates to a pet’s medical history before the policy started. This is known as a pre-existing medical condition.
- Anything related to pregnancy or birth.
- Any routine, preventative and elective treatments. This might include: flea, worm and tick treatments, vaccinations, grooming, claw clipping, dental maintenance, spaying and castration.
- Illness caused by insufficient preventative health. Some insurance companies may dispute a claim if they feel the pets condition was avoidable. Responsible pet ownership includes preventative healthcare measures. For example if a pet is obese and this leads to medical conditions because the pet is over weight, treatment may be excluded. If a pet develops parvovirus and has not / isn't up-to-date with their vaccinations, treatment may be excluded. This is not always obvious when you read the small print of the policy so ask when making your enquiries.
- Miscellaneous items such as veterinary prescription diets and products such as those used to dissolve bladder stones may not be covered or covered in full. Your insurance company will advise you of this.
- The purchase price of a pet if it dies after a certain age is likely to be excluded.
- Most insurance companies will insure your pet for accident and third party from the day you start your policy, e.g. if your pet caused a road traffic accident or suffered injury in the accident they would be covered as this is an 'accident' not an illness.
- Insurance policies also have an illness claim exclusion applicable at the start of the policy, often called a ‘waiting period,’ which typically ranges from 10 to 30 days. Claims can only be made for illnesses that begin to show symptoms after this date. Such ‘waiting periods’ protect the insurer against the possibility of pet owners taking out pet insurance after noticing a potential medical problem.
- If you are changing insurance policies you should consider overlapping the old and new policy so you are not caught out if your pet was to become ill, within this waiting period. If you need to make a claim while these two policies are running, you can only use one of the two policies and cannot claim twice.
- Some policies require payment of the full annual premium if a pet dies and a claim is made. For policies paid by monthly instalments, the outstanding annual amount may be deducted from the claim settlement.
Changing your insurance?
When choosing a policy it is important to check the type of product and the level of vet fees covered to ensure it will meet your needs, now and in the future. If you decide to change your insurance after a medical condition has occurred, that condition will almost certainly be excluded under any new insurance. For this reason it may be unwise to choose a policy solely on price alone or on the basis of generous introductory discounts, free periods etc. Unlike other forms of insurance it may be unfavourable to change at time of renewal due to the likelihood of exclusion of existing medical conditions.
Excess and Co-payments
Excess and Co-payments
Most policies have an excess. This is a sum that the policyholder must pay towards the cost of their insurance claim. Excesses can vary so refer to your policy terms and conditions. For claims made on a repeat basis for the treatment of ongoing conditions most insurers will apply the excess once per year per condition.
Insurers also commonly ask for co-payments – where the policy holder pays a percentage of the overall veterinary treatment bill. This commonly applies from eight years of age but can be seen in some policies after only one year of age.
The cost of insurance – Premiums
Insurers also commonly ask for co-payments – where the policy holder pays a percentage of the overall veterinary treatment bill. This commonly applies from eight years of age but can be seen in some policies after only one year of age.
The cost of insurance – Premiums
As a pet ages the premium and policy excess are likely to increase because, like humans, the risk of illness increases. With many providers there is a tiered increase in premiums at eight years of age but the approach taken by insurers varies widely. Some breeds of dogs and cats are normally more expensive to cover than crossbreeds because many pedigrees have a predisposition to certain medical conditions.
Age of pet
Age of pet
Most policies will exclude cover for pets under eight weeks of age. When a pet reaches a certain age, typically 8-10 years old, pet insurance is more difficult to find, as some companies will not offer new insurance for this age and above.
REMEMBER
REMEMBER
Always read the policy summary or Key Facts document for details of the benefits and significant exclusions of the policy. If you can't find the information you want, e.g. is there a waiting period before your pet is fully insured - ask! Shop around for the policy that best meets your needs. Always answer the insurer’s questions to the best of your knowledge. If you do not, the insurer may refuse to pay your claim.
Claiming
Claiming
Payment for treatments need to be made by the client to us, at the time of treatment. The treatment costs are then claimed back from the insurer by the client. Most insurers suggest that they will ‘allow’ direct claims meaning that the client would only have to pay us the excess and any co-payments for eligible treatments. Direct claims need to be authorised by your insurance company AND us and are not exclusive of each other. Please visit our How to claim page: click here.
Please note
Please note
Some dog breeds are entirely excluded from pet insurance cover - please research your chosen breed before taking on your pet.
You will always remain liable for all fees relating to any treatments. We can never guarantee you will be covered for a particular claim. Claims can be declined by your insurer for a variety of reasons. It is important that you read your policy document and check it for stated exclusions. The pet name, specific breed / breed mix /crossbred, owner name and address on your policy documents MUST match the pet name, pet specific breed / breed mix, owner name and address recorded on our records.
Insurers will have access to your pet’s full clinical records so they will be able to see any conditions previously showing clinical signs so please make sure these have all been declared to your insurance company to guard against unexpected claim rejections and disappointment. If you want to discuss whether or not you are covered, you will need to speak to your insurers first, ideally before seeking treatment.
And finally ......we are only able to state facts on claim forms. We can not alter clinical records, knowingly omit relevant data or be complicit in other dishonest acts. Insurance fraud is a criminal offence.
To contact us direct regarding your pet insurance queries or claims please email insurance@millenniumvets.co.uk
You will always remain liable for all fees relating to any treatments. We can never guarantee you will be covered for a particular claim. Claims can be declined by your insurer for a variety of reasons. It is important that you read your policy document and check it for stated exclusions. The pet name, specific breed / breed mix /crossbred, owner name and address on your policy documents MUST match the pet name, pet specific breed / breed mix, owner name and address recorded on our records.
Insurers will have access to your pet’s full clinical records so they will be able to see any conditions previously showing clinical signs so please make sure these have all been declared to your insurance company to guard against unexpected claim rejections and disappointment. If you want to discuss whether or not you are covered, you will need to speak to your insurers first, ideally before seeking treatment.
And finally ......we are only able to state facts on claim forms. We can not alter clinical records, knowingly omit relevant data or be complicit in other dishonest acts. Insurance fraud is a criminal offence.
To contact us direct regarding your pet insurance queries or claims please email insurance@millenniumvets.co.uk