What you need to know about choosing pet insurance

We know better than anyone that caring for pets can be expensive. Although we are covered by Medicare, our pets aren’t. You never want to be put in a position where you can’t afford your pet’s medical treatment, so pet insurance is a great way to safeguard against the possible high costs of veterinary bills.

What is pet insurance?

Pet insurance works like other insurance where you pay a premium, and when you need it, your pet insurance will cover the cost of the veterinary bill in part or full (depending on the level of cover). 

What does pet insurance cover?

This will depend entirely on the level of cover you choose and the pet insurance company. What can be covered:

Accidental only

This means your pet will only be covered if accidental harm or injury occurs. This may include injuries from car accidents, animal fights, and snake and spider bites. Check with your pet insurance company if it includes tick and flea bites or pre-existing injuries.

Accident and illness

This level covers the accidents mentioned above as well as if your pet gets sick or is diagnosed with a disease. This may include skin conditions, cancer, infectious diseases and viral diseases. Check with your pet insurance company if it covers pre-existing conditions or diseases that they can be vaccinated against. 

Comprehensive Cover

This covers both accidents and illness, and can often provide a rebate for routine care like vaccinations or parasite prevention. 

How much does pet insurance cost?

Pet insurance comes in a variety of levels; therefore you have a choice of the amount you spend. It also can depend on the age of your pet, how many times you’ve claimed, and even your pet’s breed. Most pet insurance cover is billed fortnightly, so you aren’t hit with one giant upfront cost when you join. 

What is the best pet insurance?

The best pet insurance is entirely subjective. It will depend entirely on what you need cover for, how much you want to spend, and what you expect from your pet insurance company. 

If you need help choosing the right one for you, it’s best to visit a comparison website and spend time researching them and talking to the providers. Ask lots of questions about what you can and can’t claim, what your pet will be covered for and what the process is for submitting a claim. 

At Doncaster Vet Hospital, we can submit your pet insurance claims as soon as you have finished your appointment! Our system means that once the vet has written their consultation notes, we can submit your claim through our system so you can get your claim back as soon as possible. 

If you want to learn more about submitting your insurance claims through our system, contact us on 9842 5330 or by email at doncastervethospital@gmail.com.