We are a nation of animal lovers. Indeed, plenty of surveys suggest people feel as strongly about their pets as they do members of the family, so you naturally want the best for them. However, vet bills have been climbing rapidly in recent years and so too have insurance premiums. That’s all the more disturbing when you take into account that many insurance policies are next to useless.
Ian’s tale
Take the story of Ian who is besotted with his King Charles Spaniel. He needed to have an operation, but was appalled to find that his insurance policy wouldn’t cover it. Ian encountered one of the more unpleasant facts about pet insurers – they can be masters of the small print.
Knowledge is power
The big problem is that many pet owners are not fully prepared for how much an illness might cost. They might not have any idea how much vet bills could potentially be. Average fees recently hit over £800 for an uninsured pet. When it’s a matter of life and death it’s a very distressing position to be in. Even small procedures can be costly.
An insurance policy for your pet is therefore the sensible and safe option, but even then you should take nothing for granted. The pet insurance landscape can be complicated. Policies can vary depending on the conditions covered, the level of excess you’re willing to pay, the age of your pet and other factors. Some may only cover accidents; others may be limited by time.
So, if you take insurance out for a certain condition, this may only cover you for 12 months. It’s all too easy to forget about this and assume you’re covered long after that period has expired.
Get the right cover
When you take out pet insurance it’s therefore critical to ensure the policy will be of use when you need it. Look at the small print. Check what is and what is not covered; make sure you know when the time expires on any individual condition.
It’s tempting to push down on price especially as premiums have increased by more than 200% in recent years, but doing so can leave you exposed in an emergency.
It’s all about balancing risk. If you economise on the price of a premium you risk leaving yourself exposed to a large medical bill if an emergency occurs. It’s all a matter of choice. You can save money now and hope all works out well or spend money and have peace of mind. The most important thing is that you know what your policy does and does not cover. That way you won’t be in for any surprises.
Find the right policy
Once you know what you want, it’s time to find the best policy – one which provides the right balance of cover for the most affordable price. To get started why not head over to our pet insurance comparison tool to get a quote.
