By Chris Fairfax, Legal Director, Animal Friends InsuranceYou could have a hard job to ensure that you are getting what you think and that you dont fall foul of the small print when you come to make a claim. In this article I will help you steer through the Pet Insurance maze so you will at least know what to look for and what pitfalls to avoid.The cost of Pet CareAnd what happens if your pet is diagnosed with an ongoing illness, such as arthritis or diabetes? You may have many years to provide medical care for your pet once again totalling thousands of pounds in medicines and vet fees.OK, you say, its your job to sell pet insurance. Wouldnt it be cheaper for me to put some money away each month to cover the cost of any vets fees that I may have to pay?What if your dog bites someone or causes a traffic accident? Simple, you may be personally liable to pay the injured party damages. Such a claim may cost you your house as damages for personal injury can run into hundreds of thousands of pounds even millions! With pet insurance you have Third Party liability cover which would protect you and your home in such a case. Seems worth it now doesnt it?The cost of covering you and your pet can be minimal as little as around 5 per month for cat insurance and 8 per month for dog insurance. But much will depend on the extent of the pet insurance cover you want. Ill give you some pointers so you can ask the right questions and make sure you buy the right cover at the right price!(1) Do you want full lifetime cover for your pet? If your pet was diagnosed with an ongoing illness like diabetes or arthritis that needed treatment for several years only lifetime cover would pay for it. Beware! Insurers offer all sots of cover here is what you will find:-(c) Other policies offer a fixed amount (e.g. 5,000) per condition however this will not cover every year. Again using my example, this would not cover heart condition medication for the rest of the dogs life as the treatments over 10 years.
(d) Genuine lifetime cover will offer a fixed amount (e.g. 4,000) per condition, per year. So, in my example, the owner would have 10 years worth of 4000 a year (i.e. 40,000) to cover the heart condition treatment; any other conditions would have the same levels of cover.(3) If you want to insure an older pet for the first time will the pet insurer take you on? Dont worry, there are companies who will.(5) If you make a claim will your premiums automatically go up?(7) Can you spread you premium over 12 months with interest free direct debits?Bear these questions in mind and you should find insurance to fit your needs at a price you can easily afford.

Pet health insurance usually covers common illness, medical problems associated with the pet’s type or breed, together with accidents or mishaps, optional vaccination, routine care, medication and diagnostic testing. Each of us should evaluate a number of pet insurances and choose a plan that is ideal for our pets and our financial circumstances. There are many eligibility factors and plan intricacies to understand when it comes to any kind of pet insurance.  Read more...

Most pet owners today know that when taking your pet to a vet it will often cost a much larger sum than anticipated. Maybe your pet will need a vaccine because the local area is infected with a new type of disease or bacteria or you have forgotten that you pet needed some kind of treatment to keep it healthy. This is often the case and the result is a bill that a lot of people can have a hard time paying out of their pocket. This is where it can be money well spent to have a pet insurance.  Read more...

At a time when health insurance coverage is the number one debate, there is another type of insurance which has not been discussed. Are you a pet owner? If you are, undoubtedly you are just as concerned about your pet’s wellbeing. In this regard, have you considered purchasing coverage through a veterinary pet insurance company?  Read more...

While most of us never think twice about getting home contents insurance – after all, it is not compulsory – it is surprising how many pet owners do not take out pet insurance.  Read more...

Are you one of the million of Britons famous the world over for being a pet owner and lover? If so, do you have pet insurance? If not, you may well want to read on if you want to save yourself millions of pounds….  Read more...

With so many options available, looking for the very best pet insurance for your furry friend can be confusing. In order to find the best pet insurance and value for money means that you are going to have research several pet insurance companies and compare their policies side-by-side. This isn’t necessarily a difficult process as there are pet insurance websites available that can help you to quickly and easily compare pet insurance companies. However, before you start your research you’ll need to know a few things first.  Read more...

Are you one of the million of Britons famous the world over for being a pet owner and lover? If so, do you have pet insurance? If not, you may well want to read on if you want to save yourself millions of pounds….  Read more...

What is Pet Insurance?

Pet insurance is a health plan for your pet to insure against large and small unexpected veterinary bills over the life of your pet.  Read more...

Wanting to make sure we take care of our pets is nothing new. But for some people, the idea of pet insurance is unexplored territory. If you have been toying with the idea of getting quotes for pet insurance, there are several factors to take into consideration. Here are a few tips to help you pick the pet insurance policy that is right for you and your animal.  Read more...