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What does dog insurance cover?
If you’re looking to compare dog insurance, then it’s important to know what you’ll actually be covered for, and it’s important to read the policy documentation and accompanying product disclosure statement (PDS) to be sure of this. That said, there are three standard levels of pet insurance cover across Australia, as well as some optional extras, and broadly speaking, each one covers the following:
Accident-only cover
This is a basic type of pet insurance that covers accidental injuries only – for example, this could provide cover towards expenses for surgery if your dog is hit by a vehicle or suffers a snake bite.
Accident and illness cover
In addition to accidents and injuries, this kind of insurance can help cover expenses if your dog contracts an illness like a skin, eye or ear condition, or requires treatment for cancer. The exact conditions covered can differ between providers.
Comprehensive cover
As the name suggests, this is the highest level of insurance you can typically purchase for your dog. It will generally have higher annual benefit limits for treatments, and cover a broader range of treatments than more basic policies.
Routine care
This is an optional extra that can be added to a pet insurance policy, and it covers a variety of routine procedures ranging from desexing and microchipping through to vaccinations, teeth cleaning and even training, depending on the policy.
How does pet insurance for dogs work?
Generally speaking, pet insurance for dogs will cover your vet bills up to an agreed percentage, and you will need to pay the remainder. The percentage covered will typically range from 70%-90%, depending on the insurance provider and the type of treatment.
It’s also important to understand that pet insurance tends to have limits, and even sub-limits for certain kinds of treatments. For example, your policy may allow you to claim up to a limit of $10,000 annually, after which any vet bills would need to be paid out of pocket.
Similarly, pet insurance for dogs may have sub-limits, which are caps on how much you can claim for certain procedures. For example, if your policy has a sub-limit of $3,000 for tick paralysis treatments, then you would only be able to claim up to this amount.
When comparing dog insurance, it’s important to carefully consider the limits and sub-limits of any policy. Some pet insurance providers offer coverage with no sub-limits, although the trade-off is that these kinds of policies may be more expensive.
It’s also important to keep in mind that pet insurance policies may have an excess, which is an amount you’ll need to pay upfront before your benefits kick in. Generally speaking, the higher the excess, the lower your monthly premiums might be.
What does dog insurance not cover?
There are a number of common exclusions when it comes to pet insurance, so before taking out a policy, it pays to understand what is not covered. Here are some common exclusions when it comes to pet insurance for dogs:
- Pre-existing conditions
- Elective surgeries and treatments
- Diseases with a known vaccine
- Dental illnesses (some of which can be covered as an optional extra)
- Pregnancy and birth-related expenses
- Procedures such as transplants
When taking out pet insurance for your dog, it’s likely that your provider will undertake a check for pre-existing symptoms and conditions. For this reason, some providers say that it is worth taking out insurance early for your new puppy, to avoid exclusions for pre-existing conditions later in life.
Is dog insurance worth the cost?
Whether dog insurance is worth the cost is up to you, but it’s worth keeping in mind that vet bills can be very expensive. For example, if your dog is diagnosed with cancer, treatment options may be in the tens of thousands of dollars. Pet insurance can help defray the cost of these treatments, and the cost of monthly premiums could save you from a big expense down the line.
It’s worth keeping in mind, though, that pet insurance policies have limits and sub-limits, meaning that you can only claim up to a certain amount annually, and the amount you can claim for individual procedures may also be capped. Before taking out a policy, it’s worth checking these limits carefully, to make sure that the amount you’ll pay in premiums will not outweigh the amount you might be able to claim back.
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