Why have pet insurance?

Vet treatment can be expensive, especially for serious illness or injury. Pet insurance helps with those costs so you can focus on getting your pet the treatment they need.

What is lifetime cover?

Lifetime cover is generally the most comprehensive type of pet insurance. It sets a limit for vet fees each year. Once the limit is reached, no more claims can be made until the policy renews, when the limit is reset, as long as the policy has stayed in force with no break in cover, premiums are up to date and the insurer offers renewal. This means ongoing conditions can continue to be covered year after year.

Insurance basics

Pet insurance

A plain guide to pet insurance for cats and dogs: why owners take it out, how lifetime cover works and why premiums tend to rise with age.

Pets are part of the family, so it hits close to home when they are ill or injured, and the vet bills that follow can be expensive. Pet insurance helps with the cost of treatment for cats and dogs.

What pet insurance does

A pet insurance policy pays towards the cost of vet treatment for illness and injury, up to the limits set out in the policy. Most policies let you choose a level of cover and an excess, which is the amount you pay towards each claim. If you have more than one cat or dog, some insurers let you cover them together.

The main types of cover

Policies are usually grouped by how they handle long-term conditions.

Lifetime

Lifetime cover is generally the most comprehensive option. It gives you a limit for vet fees for all accidents and illnesses each year. When the limit is reached, no more claims can be made until the policy renews, at which point the limit is reinstated, provided there has been no break in cover, premiums are up to date and the insurer offers renewal.

Other types

Some policies instead set a limit per condition, or only cover a condition for a fixed period such as 12 months. These can cost less, but may not cover an ongoing condition in later years. Accident-only cover is the most basic option.

Why premiums rise

Like people, pets are more likely to become ill as they get older. That means premiums usually rise every year even if you have not claimed, and the increase can be larger after a claim. It is worth reading the policy terms carefully, especially around existing conditions and age limits.

Where Kompare fits in

Kompare doesn't currently offer quotes for pet insurance. For the types of cover we can help with, see how we work or browse our blog.