Five Questions About: Pet insurance

 

Kate Hughes
Saturday 11 August 2012 00:02 BST
Comments

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

Why do I need to insure my pet?

Treating a pet for an illness or accident can be phenomenally expensive. You could pay £40 for a booster jab, £400 for an overnight stay and more than £800 for surgery on a dog.

What kinds of policy are out there?

Cover ranges from one-off policies for one type of treatment over a short period to those with no time limit or whole-of-life cover.

Are any animals tough to insure?

Yes, just like humans, older animals, and those with previous conditions are either expensive or impossible to insure. Read the small print very carefully, because unusual species, working dogs or dangerous breeds may not be covered. Also beware of exclusions including holiday cover, accommodation and accidental damage when Fido adopts your Jimmy Choo.

How can I reduce the premiums?

Everyone from banks to supermarkets offer pet insurance so shopping around for the best deal is a must, though you'll struggle to compare costs for anything other than a cat or dog. Upping your excess to reduce premiums will probably give you better peace of mind than cutting the limit on claims.

Policy or pet savings fund?

It's tempting to put cash aside rather than paying for a policy, but bear in mind that you could have to fork out sooner rather than later.

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in