Pet Insurance Comparison
Unexpected trips to the vet can quickly become costly. Compare expert-rated pet insurance policies to find the perfect paw-tection for your furry friend when they may need it most.
Instantly compare 127+ Canstar expert rated policies based on the inputs below
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- Tick paralysis
- Car accident
- Poisoning
- Skin conditions
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- Tick paralysis
- Car accident
- Poisoning
- Skin conditions
You choose $7500 $12500 or 25k at 70% 80% or 90%
Excess nil, $100 or $200 paid once annually only
- Tick paralysis
- Car accident
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- Skin conditions
3 levels of cover to suit your needs
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- Tick paralysis
- Car accident
- Poisoning
- Skin conditions
- Tick paralysis
- Car accident
- Poisoning
- Skin conditions
- Tick paralysis
- Car accident
- Poisoning
- Skin conditions
- Tick paralysis
- Car accident
- Poisoning
- Skin conditions
- Tick paralysis
- Car accident
- Poisoning
- Skin conditions
- Tick paralysis
- Car accident
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- Skin conditions
- Tick paralysis
- Car accident
- Poisoning
- Skin conditions
- Tick paralysis
- Car accident
- Poisoning
- Skin conditions
- Tick paralysis
- Car accident
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- Tick paralysis
- Car accident
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- Tick paralysis
- Car accident
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Aussie vet nurse support + can pay vets direct
No vet sub-limits (obvs!) & dental, physio inc.
- Tick paralysis
- Car accident
- Poisoning
- Skin conditions
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The initial results in the table above are sorted by Star Rating (High-Low) , then Annual benefit limit (High-Low) , then Provider Name (Alphabetical) . Additional filters may have been applied, see top of table for details.
What does pet insurance cover?
There are three main types of pet insurance in Australia: policies that offer cover accidents only, policies that offer cover accidents and illnesses, and comprehensive policies that cover both of these things as well as a range of other treatments. Here’s how they differ, and what each typically covers:
Accident-only pet insurance
This tier of pet insurance offers coverage for accidents and emergencies only. Say for example your pet is injured in a fight at the dog park, or is hit by a car, this kind of insurance may cover some or all of the costs associated with emergency surgery.
Accident and illness pet insurance
In addition to coverage for accidents, this tier of insurance can cover some or all of the treatment costs for illnesses and diseases suffered by your pet. This can mean anything from cancer through to eye and ear conditions and even infectious diseases.
Comprehensive pet insurance
In addition to all the things previously mentioned, comprehensive pet insurance can also cover what’s known as ‘routine care’ procedures, which can include such things as vaccinations, worming treatments, dental care, flea and tick control and even desexing and microchipping.
How much does pet insurance cost?
The cost of pet insurance in Australia is determined by a number of factors, ranging from the level of cover you choose to the type of pet you wish to insure. As a general rule, basic cover for accidents only is the least expensive kind of pet insurance, while comprehensive cover costs the most.
Across both accident and illness cover and comprehensive cover, small dogs tend to be the most expensive to insure- perhaps because of the more complex health needs of some small dogs – with medium and large breeds having roughly equivalent costs.
The age of your pet can also affect the cost of premiums. As your pet gets older, its health needs may change and become more complex, and because of the potential costs associated with this, your insurance provider may charge more in premiums.
Moneysmart advises that it may even be difficult to obtain insurance for some older pets for this reason.
Of course, the cost is also influenced by which provider you choose. It can be worth doing a quick pet insurance comparison to among a number of providers to ensure the policy you choose is offering good value for money.
Does pet insurance have waiting periods?
Much like health insurance for humans, pet insurance will typically come with waiting periods for certain conditions. A waiting period is the gap between when you sign up for an insurance product and when you can make a claim for it.
The RSPCA says that pet insurance typically comes with a 30-day waiting period for illness conditions, and up to a six-month waiting period for ‘cruciate’ conditions, or those associated with the cruciate ligament in the knee.
The RSPCA also says that some providers may be willing to waive certain waiting periods, but this will be at their discretion, and you will need to ask your individual insurance provider if they are willing to do this.
What does pet insurance not cover?
Depending on your level of cover, there are a number of things that may be excluded from your pet insurance. These include:
- Pre-existing conditions (conditions that your pet has already been treated for or is showing symptoms of)
- Pregnancy and obstetrics
- Elective treatments to improve your pet’s quality of life
- Preventative care such as teeth-cleaning, vaccinations and desexing (procedures of this type can be covered on comprehensive policies under ‘routine care’)
- Harm that has been caused to your pet deliberately or by negligence
- Non-emergency at-home vet visits or transportation to the vet
- Non-emergency boarding
Make sure you review the policy’s product disclosure statement (PDS) and target market determination (TMD) to get a good understanding of what is and isn’t covered and whether the insurance on offer is suitable for your pet and your situation more generally.
Is pet insurance compulsory?
Pet insurance is not compulsory in Australia. It exists to help owners cover the cost of veterinary treatments for their pets, and whether you take it out is entirely up to you.
Pet insurance can help cover the cost of treatment for both illnesses and accidents, so if you feel your pet is at risk (for example, if your breed of animal is known for having health conditions, or even if you live near a busy road) you may find peace of mind in taking it out.
When it comes to paying vet bills, some pet owners choose to forego pet insurance, and instead put the money they would spend on premiums into a savings account, to draw upon if and when their animal needs treatment.
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About our finance experts
Nina Rinella, Editor-in-Chief
As Canstar’s Editor-in-Chief, Nina heads up a team of talented journalists committed to helping empower consumers to take greater control of their finances. Previously Nina founded her own agency where she provided content and communications support to clients around Australia for eight years. She also spent four years as the PR Manager for American Express Australia, and has worked at a Brisbane communications agency where she supported dozens of clients, including Sunsuper and Suncorp.
Nina has ghostwritten dozens of opinion pieces for publications including The Australian and has been interviewed on finance topics by the Herald Sun and the Sydney Morning Herald. When she’s not dreaming up ways to put a fresh spin on finance, she’s taking her own advice by trying to pay her house off as quickly as possible and raising two money-savvy kids.
Nina has a Bachelor of Journalism and a Bachelor of Arts with a double major in English Literature from the University of Queensland. She’s also an experienced presenter, and has hosted numerous events and YouTube series.
You can follow her on Instagram or Twitter, or Canstar on Facebook.
You can also read more about Canstar’s editorial team and our robust fact-checking process.
Josh Sale, Pet Insurance Ratings Manager
As Canstar’s Ratings Manager, Josh Sale is responsible for the methodology and delivery of Canstar’s Pet Insurance Star Ratings. With tertiary qualifications in economics and finance, Josh has worked behind the scenes for the last five years to develop Star Ratings and Awards that help connect consumers with the right product for them.
Josh is passionate about helping consumers get hands-on with their finances. Josh has been interviewed by media outlets such as the Australian Financial Review, news.com.au and Money Magazine.
You can follow Josh on LinkedIn, and Canstar on Twitter and Facebook.
This content was reviewed by Deputy Editor Sean Callery and Sub-Editor Tom Letts as part of our fact-checking process.
Important information
For those that love the detail
This advice is general and has not taken into account your objectives, financial situation or needs. Consider whether this advice is right for you.