How to get the best pet insurance

For pet owners, their animals are part of the family, but they’re not cheap to take care of, especially when it comes to medical treatment. Vet bills for dogs, cats and small animals can easily go into the thousands, and yet, pet insurance isn't always a product that's bought.

We asked Jonathan, the Editor-in-Chief of Everything Reptiles, to share six top tips on how you can avoid common mistakes so you can find the best pet insurance.

Should you have pet insurance?

Unfortunately, situations where your pet will need medical help will happen. And the effects and distress of dealing with these times are often escalated when faced with trying to pay a large vet bill. But this can be alleviated when you have pet insurance. It can give you peace of mind about your animals, whether you have small, inexpensive lizards, or an expensive, rare breed of dog. Here are Jonathan's six tips on avoiding common mistakes so you can find the best pet insurance.

1. Not knowing what your policy covers

Insurance is complicated. If you asked a number of people for detail about what their car insurance covers, many of them wouldn’t be able to give you an exact answer. Insurance policies are different, each with their own exclusions and rules and this is the same for pet insurance.

Before buying pet insurance, make sure you do enough research so that you actually know what you’re paying for and what’s covered. If you're not sure, check the insurance company’s website or give them a call so they can explain things in more detail.

2. Paying too much

Like all insurance companies, pet insurers decide their own pricing, so premiums will vary for the exact same coverage. Compare different pet insurance companies before you buy so you can feel confident you're getting the best price for the cover you need. There are plenty of websites and services online that help you to compare different rates for comparable (or identical) coverage. 

3. Paying too little

Although we want to pay as little as possible for insurance premiums, make sure that the pet insurance you get is enough to cover what you need for your pet. No one wants to have a pet emergency and then find out that the insurance won’t pay as much as they thought.

If you buy a policy that's too cheap, you may find that you have to cover a large part of the bill yourself. Speak to insurance providers, ask questions and explain what you need, so you're comfortable that your pets are adequately covered. 

4. Misinterpreting your excess

By definition, an excess is the amount you have to pay yourself before the insurance company starts paying. A low excess sounds great, but this often means a higher monthly payment. Similarly, a higher excess can reduce your monthly payment but means you're responsible for more of the vet bill. Balance your excess amount and monthly payment so that it's a price you can afford but with the cover you need. 

5. Misunderstanding exclusions 

Knowing what your insurance excludes under your policy is just as important as knowing what the policy includes. The following are some common things that insurance companies may not cover as standard. Every pet insurer will vary though, so check the conditions before you buy.

• Pre-existing medical conditions: (anything on your pet’s medical record that's documented before you begin the insurance policy).
• Day-to-day pet care: this involves procedures that help to prevent illness in your pet, including:
  • Spaying/neutering, checkups, vaccinations, parasite control, heartworm medication, dental cleaning, ear cleaning, and microchipping.
• Visits to the vet: At most vets you'll pay a flat consultation fee and for most pet insurance policies, this fee won't be covered.

Make sure you understand what exclusions are a part of your pet’s policy, so that there's no confusion, and you don't have to pay out for something you thought was covered by your pet insurance policy. 

6. Insuring already sick pets

You can’t usually buy pet insurance for a pet that’s already sick. Pet insurance is usually for covering potential future medical issues. Pet insurance policies typically have waiting periods, where cover won't start for a certain amount of time after the policy starts. That said, there are pet insurance companies who do cover pre-existing medical conditions. But usually there will be a waiting period before you can claim, or a set amount of time that has to have passed since the last episode of illness.

Avoid these common mistakes to help you feel more confident about insuring your furry, feathery or scaly friend. Do your research before buying a pet, or pet insurance, so that you get the cover you need. 

Top ten best and worst pet insurance providers

Our pet insurance rankings share the pet insurers our community love and who they think could do better. At the time of writing, Agria pet insurance is coming out on top with an average of 4.89 / 5. One of our reviewers said "My cat was involved in a serious accident and had to have major surgery to survive. I was extremely glad I had Agria pet insurance in place for him. The claim process was so easy and they paid out swiftly, ensuring my cat got the very best care and is now thriving."

At the lower end of the scale is Co-op pet insurance with an average score of 1.21 / 5. One reviewer said "Been waiting over 9 weeks for a claim to be assessed (not 4 weeks as they claim when the policy is bought). Been told they are 'very busy' with no estimate of how long it will take to assess my claim. Currently over £1000 out of pocket."

You can see who the top 10 best and worst pet insurance providers are by visiting our rankings pages.

Research to find the best pet insurance 

Reading pet insurance reviews left by real customers complements your wider research. Our Smart Money People reviewers have shared their honest feedback so you know what they think of their pet insurance providers, helping you make a smarter buying decision.