Guide Dogs Pet Insurance

Guide Dogs expressly lists some illnesses and injuries as exclusions that are not covered by its pet insurance.

• Pre-existing conditions – if your furry friend has suffered or undergone treatment for a particular condition, and you decide to switch pet insurance providers, it may not be covered under your new policy. Always declare pre-existing conditions when first making an application.
• Day-to-day care – Guide Dogs won’t cover the regular day-to-day expenses of owning a pet, which can include; regular or dietary pet food, vaccinations, micro chipping, flea/worm/tick control, shampoo, collars/leads and dog beds, etc.
• Breeding – If you have bought dogs or cats with the specific purpose of breeding them, Guide Dogs won’t cover any injuries or conditions that arise as a result.
• Dental care – This can include dental procedures, gingivitis and treatment of diseases or fractures, teeth cleaning or teeth removal.
• Failure to take care – Guide Dogs won’t cover any treatment of conditions caused either deliberately or negligently, by you towards your pet. A few examples of this include leaving the gate open, forgetting to feed your pet, the ingestion of hazardous substances and an unsafe living area.

It’s important to read the Product Disclosure Statement (PDS) to find any exclusions listed in a policy and to also consider what illnesses your pet may need coverage for. For more information about what’s not covered by some pet insurance policies, check out our list of 13 common pet insurance exclusions.

Guide Dogs actually has no age limit for its Basic Cover option. Its Comprehensive and Premium Cover options specify dogs and cats between eight weeks and nine years old. You can find more details about this in the Product Disclosure Statement.

It’s important to check with your chosen provider to see if they have an age limit on their policies – older pets tend to be more expensive to cover as they are much more likely to suffer from illness or injury than younger pets.

Alternatively, you can look for a policy that offers lifetime renewal, which means your provider won’t cancel your policy due to an ageing pet, as long as you continue to meet your requirements as a customer.

Every pet insurance provider is different, and while many don’t require medical records, you may be asked a few questions upon application. These are usually to determine any pre-existing conditions your pet may have, and whether they will be covered under your policy.

Yes, Guide Dogs allow you to use any veterinarian that you prefer, provided they are licensed to legally practise in Australia.

Yes, it does. Its Basic and Comprehensive Cover Options have an annual benefit limit of $15,000. The Superior Care Cover has an annual benefit limit of $20,000.

The annual benefit limit and claim terms and conditions for Guide Dogs pet insurance is outlined in the Product Disclosure Statement (PDS). Find out more about pet insurance benefit limits and how much you can claim here.

For the Basic Cover, you will get back up to 75% of fees; for the Comprehensive Cover you will get back up to 80% of fees and the Premium you will get back 95% of vet fees reimbursed. Make sure to read the PDS as the full reimbursement you receive, and premiums you pay, will depend on the age of your pet and your level of cover.

You can lodge a claim with Guide Dogs by completing and submitting a pet insurance claim form, which can be found online. You must submit the claim within 90 days of the appointment or when the treatment was received and make sure you bring the claim form to the appointment with you as the vet has to fill out a section and sign it.

Your Guide Dogs pet insurance policy will automatically renew if you choose not to alter or cancel it after receiving your renewal notice. If you’re not sure whether to renew or switch, here’s our guide to renewing your pet insurance policy.

Make sure you compare pet insurance policies before simply renewing the same policy, so that you continue to get outstanding value insurance at the right price:

Compare Pet Insurance

Did you know that it takes over $35,000 and two years to fully train a puppy into a guide dog?

Guide Dogs change the lives of Australians daily, particularly those who have low vision or sight loss. By taking out a Guide Dogs Pet Insurance policy, you’re helping these playful pups and their disadvantaged owners to reach their full potential.

Guide Dogs Pet Insurance understands that our dogs and cats are more than just pets – they’re family!