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I wrote an article some time back for another forum that I occationally use and thought that it maybe useful here as a point of reference. Let me know what you guys think:
I have read today that there are approximately 250 different dog and cat insurance on the market. So I have put together a little idiots guide to dog insurance that may help anyone who is confused as I was when I was looking. The information is based on my experience so it may differ slightly, so if you spot anything please let me know and Ill update it. Please fire away with any questions.
Generally, there are three main types of dog insurance, these are:
Life long cover (or whole of life cover)
Individual condition cover
Annual Cover
Whole of life: In laymans terms this means exactly as it says, whole of life. Although the policy is renewed annually, you are generally covered for the life time of the dog, assuming of course you keep up to date with your premiums. Some companies will offer the option to pay monthly to spread the cost of the premium. Check their small print to ensure there is no extra charge to do this.
Usually with whole of life policies there is a limit in which a policy holder can claim in any give policy year. Sometime this limit is restricted to an overall claim cost, however more generally it is limited per condition. With most whole of life policies this limit will refresh/renew each year, giving you that extra piece of mind should your dog develop a lifetime condition.
Individual Condition Cover: Again this is usually annually. Very similar to the whole of life policy in that a condition is covered for the life of the pet. Except however, the claim limit does not renew/refresh annually. This means that if a claim is made for a condition and that limit is exceed the condition will no longer be covered. In essence a condition is limited only to the cost amount during the lifetime of the dog.
Annually: The cheaper one of the three. Everything is effectively rolled over annually. This means that if a claim is made for a condition it will only be covered for the rest of that 12 month policy. Once the existing policy expires, the condition then becomes pre existing and therefore no longer covered.
Generally, pet insurance will not cover for any pre existing medial conditions. So if you have adopted an older dog with a medial history for example, anything that they have been treated for in the past (and any related medical conditions) may not be covered in any future insurance policies. These are usually excluded separately in the policy documentation. CARE: insurance companies do and will share information in regards to a dogs medical history. Although our own personal information is protected, your dogs medical history is not bound by the data protection laws that protect us.
Some insurance companies will cover pre-existing conditions providing that they are clear of any symptoms for a set number of months/years and usually require a certificate from your vet to confirm this. These insurance companies are very few and far between. The best bet is to ask the insurance company directly for any exclusions.
An excess (if a claim is made) is payable and again this can vary from a per condition excess to an excess that is payable annually.
Occasionally, some insurance companies will exclude any genetic diseases such as hip dysplasia in Labradors is one example. Again, read the small print to make sure there are no exclusions.
Amounts of cover are important not only for general medical conditions but also for any referrals to specialists. Make sure you read the differing limits in regards to different types of claims.
Generally, neutering and general help like claw clipping are not covered by insurance.
My personal opinion is that (if affordable) a whole of life policy would suit most circumstances and is a must for any new puppy owner. Should you have a happy and healthy dog that doesnt require vet treatment (other than for standard requirements like injections etc) then that does give you a little bit of flexibly when it comes to renewing your insurance as you will be able to shop around.
The example I like to give is from my own personal experience. I adopted Oreo at the age of 4, and did not come with any medical history. Fortunately, this was deemed by the insurance company as having no existing medical conditions. Within a few months she developed skin allergies meaning that the vet bills started to add up. I have now made claims in excess of £1,000 in the space of 8 months. Come renewal, I will be able to continue Oreos cover as she will have whole of life cover. Unfortunately, the premium it will cost to insure her will go up slightly, but it is a small price to pay for the reassurance that I can afford further bills.
Lastly, recently a lot of high street business have been pulling the plug on their lifetime polices meaning that those people are left with no insurance and also a dog or dogs that has pre existing conditions. The most recent was last year with Halifax that left a lot of there customers with dogs that they could not insure. Personally, I would stick with a specialist insurance company that specialises in that area as they are less likely to want to pull out of that market area.
I have read today that there are approximately 250 different dog and cat insurance on the market. So I have put together a little idiots guide to dog insurance that may help anyone who is confused as I was when I was looking. The information is based on my experience so it may differ slightly, so if you spot anything please let me know and Ill update it. Please fire away with any questions.
Generally, there are three main types of dog insurance, these are:
Life long cover (or whole of life cover)
Individual condition cover
Annual Cover
Whole of life: In laymans terms this means exactly as it says, whole of life. Although the policy is renewed annually, you are generally covered for the life time of the dog, assuming of course you keep up to date with your premiums. Some companies will offer the option to pay monthly to spread the cost of the premium. Check their small print to ensure there is no extra charge to do this.
Usually with whole of life policies there is a limit in which a policy holder can claim in any give policy year. Sometime this limit is restricted to an overall claim cost, however more generally it is limited per condition. With most whole of life policies this limit will refresh/renew each year, giving you that extra piece of mind should your dog develop a lifetime condition.
Individual Condition Cover: Again this is usually annually. Very similar to the whole of life policy in that a condition is covered for the life of the pet. Except however, the claim limit does not renew/refresh annually. This means that if a claim is made for a condition and that limit is exceed the condition will no longer be covered. In essence a condition is limited only to the cost amount during the lifetime of the dog.
Annually: The cheaper one of the three. Everything is effectively rolled over annually. This means that if a claim is made for a condition it will only be covered for the rest of that 12 month policy. Once the existing policy expires, the condition then becomes pre existing and therefore no longer covered.
Generally, pet insurance will not cover for any pre existing medial conditions. So if you have adopted an older dog with a medial history for example, anything that they have been treated for in the past (and any related medical conditions) may not be covered in any future insurance policies. These are usually excluded separately in the policy documentation. CARE: insurance companies do and will share information in regards to a dogs medical history. Although our own personal information is protected, your dogs medical history is not bound by the data protection laws that protect us.
Some insurance companies will cover pre-existing conditions providing that they are clear of any symptoms for a set number of months/years and usually require a certificate from your vet to confirm this. These insurance companies are very few and far between. The best bet is to ask the insurance company directly for any exclusions.
An excess (if a claim is made) is payable and again this can vary from a per condition excess to an excess that is payable annually.
Occasionally, some insurance companies will exclude any genetic diseases such as hip dysplasia in Labradors is one example. Again, read the small print to make sure there are no exclusions.
Amounts of cover are important not only for general medical conditions but also for any referrals to specialists. Make sure you read the differing limits in regards to different types of claims.
Generally, neutering and general help like claw clipping are not covered by insurance.
My personal opinion is that (if affordable) a whole of life policy would suit most circumstances and is a must for any new puppy owner. Should you have a happy and healthy dog that doesnt require vet treatment (other than for standard requirements like injections etc) then that does give you a little bit of flexibly when it comes to renewing your insurance as you will be able to shop around.
The example I like to give is from my own personal experience. I adopted Oreo at the age of 4, and did not come with any medical history. Fortunately, this was deemed by the insurance company as having no existing medical conditions. Within a few months she developed skin allergies meaning that the vet bills started to add up. I have now made claims in excess of £1,000 in the space of 8 months. Come renewal, I will be able to continue Oreos cover as she will have whole of life cover. Unfortunately, the premium it will cost to insure her will go up slightly, but it is a small price to pay for the reassurance that I can afford further bills.
Lastly, recently a lot of high street business have been pulling the plug on their lifetime polices meaning that those people are left with no insurance and also a dog or dogs that has pre existing conditions. The most recent was last year with Halifax that left a lot of there customers with dogs that they could not insure. Personally, I would stick with a specialist insurance company that specialises in that area as they are less likely to want to pull out of that market area.
