Best pet insurance

Pet insurance is worth it for most pet owners. Vet bills can run into thousands of pounds - a single emergency surgery can easily cost £2,000–5,000 - and the best pet insurance policies cover a significant portion of these costs. Without insurance, you’d either have to pay out of pocket or make difficult decisions about your pet’s care. The younger and healthier your pet is when you take out a policy, the lower the premiums tend to be.

Pet insurance works in a similar way to private health insurance for humans. You pay a monthly or annual premium, and in return your insurer covers a proportion of your vet bills if your pet becomes ill or is injured. Most policies have an excess (the amount you pay towards each claim) and may have limits on how much they’ll pay per condition or per year. Some policies also include public liability cover for dogs.

Most pet insurers don't cover vaccinations, neutering or spaying, because they're routine or preventive treatments. Some policies will require you to keep up with pet vaccinations, as they may not cover the cost if your pet falls ill with something that could have been prevented with inoculation. It's worth comparing pet insurance policies, as some offer optional wellness add-ons to cover non-essential treatments.

Lifetime pet insurance provides ongoing cover for long-term or recurring conditions, renewing the financial limit each year. Unlike time-limited or maximum benefit policies, lifetime cover doesn’t cut off after a set period or once a condition has reached its payout limit. It’s generally the most comprehensive type of pet insurance and is particularly valuable for breeds prone to hereditary or chronic conditions. It also tends to be the most expensive type of policy.

Yes, you can get pet insurance for older pets, though the options become more limited and premiums are typically higher as pets age. Many insurers set an upper age limit for new applications, often around 8 years for dogs and 10 years for cats, and pre-existing conditions are usually excluded. It’s still worth comparing providers as some specialise in cover for senior pets.

There are four main types of pet insurance: accident only (covers injuries but not illness), time-limited (covers conditions for up to 12 months from first treatment), maximum benefit (covers each condition up to a set financial limit, then excludes it), and lifetime (renews the financial limit each year for ongoing conditions). Lifetime cover is the most comprehensive; accident only is the cheapest. Check which type you’re buying as it makes a significant difference to what you’ll be covered for.