Pet Insurance

General Information on Pet Insurance

There is no NHS for pets. We rely on our fees to fund the necessary staff and facilities to provide
the best possible treatment and personal care. We try to keep our fees competitive and are always
happy to provide an estimate.

Many pet owners take out insurance policies to cover medical expenses if their pet becomes ill, or is injured in an accident; these policies mostly apply to cats and dogs. However, remember
that policies don't cover routine visits to the vet for treatments such as vaccinations or
neutering for this, we run a Pet Health Club which provides discounts on preventative
health care and helps to spread the cost - you can read more about this here.

There are very many companies offering pet insurance, but the policies do vary a lot so make sure you read the small print. We have chosen to work with PetProactive pet insurance who offer simple, fairer, pet insurance to customers at our practice.
For new puppies and kittens examined at the practice we can usually arrange immediate insurance through PetProactive which is free for four weeks.

  You can read more about this insurance here

Not all insurance is the same!
There are many different types of policy, and levels of cover. The four main types are:
1. Accident: covers accidents only, not ill health.
2. Time Limited: provides cover for a set amount of time (usually 12months), after that the
condition can no longer be insured.
3. Maximum Benefit: provides cover up to a set financial amount, once that is reached the
condition can no longer be insured.
4. Lifetime: provides a set financial amount each year, that is refreshed at each annual renewal
of the policy, allowing ongoing insurance cover for the condition.

Unlike other insurance, it is difficult to switch pet insurance in the future as any medical problems
will be noted as pre-existing’ and not insured.
Choosing the right cover for you at the start is important, and remember to consider both the policy
limits and overall value, not just the price. When comparing policies it may be helpful to ask:

• Does the policy cover congenital, hereditary, hip-related, dental or behavioural conditions?
• Are there hidden limits in the policies that cap the amount the policy will pay for specific illness or types of treatment?
• Is there a time or financial limit for ongoing conditions?
• Will the premiums increase if I claim?