Best pet insurance for dogs

In this article, we’ve answered some of the most popular questions about pet insurance for dogs.  

Is dog insurance worth paying for?

If your pet insurance is up for renewal or you’re about to welcome a new dog into the family, you may be wondering if dog insurance is worth paying for.

Some people prefer to pay money regularly into an easy access savings account and use it as a pet fund so they can earn interest on their money. But this can be a risky strategy if faced with an expensive operation or an ongoing course of treatment where savings can soon be used up.

Some pedigree dogs can be prone to certain medical conditions, so if your dog falls into this category, could you afford on-going treatment costs without insurance?

Without public liability cover that can form part of pet insurance cover, you leave yourself open to additional costs if your dog causes injury or accident to someone else.

What level of protection does your dog need?

Generally, dog insurance is offered in different tiers.

Lifetime cover protects your pet for their entire life, even in some cases if they have an on-going medical condition, you just have to renew each year. Time-limited cover means you can claim for a medical condition up to a specified amount and for a specific time period. As you would expect, accident only covers the cost of unexpected incidents. Maximum benefit covers every new condition for the length of the policy, up to a certain amount.

Some policies include extras like boarding cover to help if you need to spend time in hospital and need care for your dog. You can also opt to have holiday cancellation protection that pays out if you need to stay at home because your dog is ill. Some insurers also include a budget for promotional materials to help find lost dogs.

If you want to take your dog away with you, there are some policies that cover trips. You’ll need to have their pet passport in place and check whether your policy has any restrictions on the length of holiday or the countries you’ll be visiting.

What’s not covered for dog insurance?

You can get cover for older dogs but it’s likely to be more expensive and your dog might not be covered for pre-existing conditions.

Dogs that are classified as dangerous dogs may not be eligible for cover.

Some common conditions among specific pedigree breeds are not always covered or could be capped. If your pet ends up ill as a result of a non-essential operation you could be solely liable for that bill too.

Some dog owners have seen partnerships between insurers and vet networks result in them having to pay at least part of the bill if they don’t take their pet to visit preferred professionals. This leaves the potential of travelling further with a poorly dog or having them treated by an unfamiliar vet. As with all financial products, it’s important to check all the terms and conditions before you buy a policy.

How to save on dog insurance

Premiums can be expensive for pet insurance, but there are ways to make savings.

You could qualify for a discount if you use an insurer that you have another policy with or you may find a welcome offer where you get a gift card which lowers the equivalent cost of the policy.

The other way to save is to increase the excess amount. This will lower the premiums you’ll pay but does mean you’ll be responsible for a higher proportion of vet bills. Select an excess amount that you know you can afford to cover if something unexpected happens.

How to find the best pet insurance for dogs

Comparison websites will help you evaluate different policies in terms of price and cover. But it’s also important to know what to expect as a customer. Reading pet insurance reviews will help you compare dog insurance policies and understand the experience you’re likely to get.