How cover works
How pet insurance works
Five parts of a policy decide what a claim pays. Here is what each one does.
Accident-only or accident and illness cover
The first choice every policy makes for you, and the one that decides what a claim can be for.
Annual limits, excess and co-payment
Three numbers decide how much of a vet bill comes back to you. They interact, and most people only look at one.
Waiting periods (stand-downs)
The days at the start of a policy when an illness will not be covered. Insurers apply them strictly.
Pre-existing conditions
Why a condition your pet already has is usually not covered, and what “already has” means.
Age limits for starting cover
Most policies have a youngest and an oldest age to start. The oldest age is the one that catches people out.
Want the specifics for your pet? Insuring a dog or insuring a cat.