Whatever happens, make sure your dog can get the care they need by picking an insurance policy you can trust.
We’ve been working with pets and their owners for over 40 years and we know that more people claim on their pet insurance every year than their house or car insurance. That’s why, if you’re preparing to bring home a new pup – or even looking to rehome an older one – you can’t afford to leave insurance off your to-do list.
A good policy will cover you for accidents, illnesses, damage to property and much more. Certain policies may initially appear cheaper, but could place restrictive limits on the conditions you can make a claim for or the amount that they will pay out in vet fees.
Long-term or chronic conditions such as arthritis and diabetes could mean your dog needs treatment for life. What’s more, they could have more than one different health condition at the same time. Costs can really mount up and insurance is the best way to ensure your dog gets the treatment they need.
Not all policies are created equal, however. Some insurers’ plans don’t pay out for long-term or recurring health conditions or even dental work. As well as restrictions on cover, some insurers also have low limits on the amount of money they will pay out for vet bills. This could mean you end up needing to pay a large chunk of the bill out of your own pocket, even though you are insured.
Take out Petplan’s Covered For Life® policy and we’ll pay the ongoing costs for any new illnesses your dog develops while insured with us as long as you renew without a break in cover. Your dog will receive the best care, year after year.
When you factor in everything from diagnosis to treatment and medication, the cost of getting your dog the care they need may be more than you expect. Some insurers place limits on how much they will pay to treat a certain condition, meaning you might have to make a choice about the treatment your pet can receive based on your finances.
We don’t think owners should have to compromise their pet’s care, that’s why our insurance allows you to focus on getting your dog back to good health – not on worrying about the vet bills you might need to pay out for.
Some pet owners decide to ‘self insure’ – in other words, to put away money each month themselves for vets bills. But sadly, it is not just older dogs that get ill or injured.
If your puppy were to need an operation in its first few years, you might find you don’t have enough money saved to cover the costs of their care. And if they developed a chronic condition that required treatment and medication over many years, insurance would offer better value in the long term.
We love our dog’s quirks, but certain breeds are at higher risk of ongoing health conditions because of their genetics. Don’t let your policy leave you out of pocket.
For example, we find that smaller breeds such as Border Terriers and Cockapoos are prone to dislocated kneecaps, also known as patella luxation, while Labradors often eat things they shouldn’t thanks to their big appetites and end up with gastrointestinal problems.
Your dog's breed also has an impact on how much you will pay for insurance. For example, owning a pedigree will usually mean higher premiums. This is because such breeds are more prone to long-term health conditions, which can quickly result in mounting veterinary costs. Ensuring that your policy covers everything you might need will enable you to avoid unexpected bills and focus on keeping your dog happy and healthy
Find out what to look out for with our dog breed advice pages below.
Not only do we cover vet fees as standard but we also offer a range of other benefits that you may never think of needing to make a claim for. For example, could you afford to pay a reward if your dog was lost or stolen, or if they needed to stay in a kennel if you fell ill and were unable to care for them? Pet insurance can help cover you for such instances.
Along with vet fees our policies also cover you for:
Insuring your dog allows you to budget monthly for unexpected veterinary bills. Petplan allows you to pay monthly or yearly instalments via direct debit at no additional cost, helping you budget for your pet’s care in a way that works for you.
If you have more than one pet, you’ll be eligible for a yearly discount per pet through our Multi-pet insurance cover.
When you’re choosing dog insurance, it’s important to pick a policy that’s tailored to your dog’s specific needs. Here are some key considerations to think about:
There are two things to look at here. The first is the overall vet bill benefit – what type of cover is it and what is the overall limit. For example, a £4,000 Lifetime policy would allow you to claim up to £4,000 every year for as long as you renewed, where as a £4,000 Maximum Benefit policy would allow you to claim up to £4,000 for each condition and once that limit is reached you would need to cover the cost of continuing to treat that condition yourself.
The second thing to look at is whether there are any additional limits within the cover for veterinary care. For example a limit on how much the insurer will pay towards certain diagnostic tools or towards treating specific conditions.
Some policies don’t cover illness at all, only injury, while others may exclude chronic conditions, for example diabetes or epilepsy.
Many insurers won’t cover you for any condition that your pet already has when you take out the policy. It can be difficult to switch insurers if your pet has an existing condition, so make sure you won’t be stuck with skyrocketing costs.
Regular routine dental checks are important for dogs, however you should check that cover can be provided for non-routine dental treatment, as well as for dental illnesses.
Some insurers increase the amount you pay for your insurance if you claim. When shopping around it’s important to ask if you will pay more for claiming so you can consider the long term implications of the policy you choose.
We’ll cover vet’s bills up to £12,000 per year depending on the plan you choose
We cover MRI and CT scans as standard
We can pay your vet directly
We settle 90% of claims in 5 working days
Our insurance offers peace of mind for owners. Get a quote with us today and you are one step closer to knowing your dog will get the best care when they need it most.
Pet insurance policies are as unique as pets themselves. At Petplan, we calculate your premium based upon a range of factors such as your dog’s age and breed, and where you live. What you pay will also depend on what policy you choose.
At Petplan, we offer two types of policies: lifetime and time-limited.
Our Covered For Life® policy is a lifetime policy, which enables you to claim for ongoing conditions up to a limit of £4,000, £7,000 or £12,000 depending on the level of cover you choose. We cover both illness and injuries year after year, as long as you renew your policy with no break in cover.
Time-limited policies allow you to claim for each illness or injury for up to 12 months or £3,000. Once you have reached either the time or monetary limit, the condition will be excluded from your policy and you will need to cover any further costs yourself.
At Petplan, we like to be transparent. We’re open about what isn’t included in your policy, and if we place any extra exclusions on your cover for any reason, we will clearly state them on your Certificate of Insurance.
Insurance is designed to cover unforeseen incidents which means we don’t cover the general costs of looking after a pet such as vaccinations, spaying/neutering, worming, and flea treatments. Like most pet insurance providers, we do not cover illnesses and injuries your pet had before you took out a policy with us.
Many other insurers restrict cover with hidden limits and caveats in an effort to create cheaper products, or pricing to attract new business and then rocketing up premiums when customers claim. We do things a little differently – offering breadth of veterinary fee cover by not increasing premiums based on individual claims.
We won’t penalise you for claiming. Your policy premium will increase as your pet grows older but we won’t suddenly hike your premium simply because you’ve claimed. We believe pet ownership is a long-term commitment, and we’re here with long-term support to help you give your pet the best care possible.
If your vet permits it, we can cover the costs of your bills by making a direct payment to them, which would mean you only have to cover the excess charge (if one applies) and any other deductions at the time of your appointment. Your vet will be able to explain their policy on taking payments in this way.
