Frequently asked questions about pet insurance

Pets enrich the lives of many Australians, but no matter how much we love our pets, sometimes we can’t control what they do, and what could make them sick. The costs for treatment can tally up to thousands of dollars in out-of-pocket expenses. However, pet insurance can help ease the burden of these expenses.

To start your search for a great-value pet insurance policy, you can try our pet insurance comparison service. With us, you can compare products from a range of reputable pet insurance brands in just minutes. Best of all, it’s free to complete a quote, so why not try to find a policy for your furry friend today?

If you take out a basic accident-only cover option, your pet is only covered if it’s injured in an accident. Higher-level policy options cover accidental injuries and certain illnesses at a minimum. However, the breadth of cover in these policies will depend on the type of policy you take out and that policy’s annual claim limits.

Depending on the level of cover and the insurer you choose, your pet may be covered for things like (but not limited to):

• Medication
• Tick paralysis
• Hereditary and congenital conditions (not including pre-existing conditions)
• Ingestion of foreign objects
• Eye and ear conditions
• Emergency boarding
• Essential euthanasia
• Routine care (e.g. worming and vaccinations).

You should always read the policy’s Product Disclosure Document (PDS) before purchasing to learn about any exclusions, waiting periods and other terms and conditions that apply.

Still unsure about which policy would suit your pet? Learn more about the different types of pet insurance.

Depending on your insurer and specific policy, pet insurance coverage generally starts on your chosen policy commencement date (this will be confirmed once you’ve bought a policy and will be listed on your certificate of insurance).

For accidental injuries, you can typically start claiming as soon as your policy starts, but you may need to wait a period (e.g. 30 days) for any illness claims, including claims for tick paralysis.

Cruciate ligament claims usually have a six-month waiting period, but this can sometimes be waived when you apply for your policy; you’ll need to submit a cruciate ligament waiver form, which should be available through your insurance provider. To complete this form, you’ll need your vet to answer questions regarding your pet’s medical history and sign an examining veterinarian’s declaration.

If you want to serve the waiting periods sooner rather than later, you may wish to purchase cover right away. Our pet insurance comparison service allows you to compare policies from a variety of reputable brands. Best of all, it’s free to use.

Accident only cover is a basic, no-frills policy that’s designed to cover your pet if it’s injured in an accident.

Your insurer typically covers a portion of costs for eligible treatment (e.g. up to 60% of the costs); this percentage will vary depending on the insurer and the policy. You’ll also have annual claim limits up to a certain dollar figure, so this policy may not work for you if your pet has a lot of health issues.

However, if taking out a policy for the first time for an older pet, a basic pet insurance policy can cover older pets (unlike higher levels of pet insurance), so long as your pet is typically under 16 years old.

For a mid-range option, you could consider accident and illness cover. As its name suggests, this type of policy covers your pet if it’s injured in an accident or falls ill.

There are typically fewer condition limits than accident-only cover, and you’ll be able to claim up to a higher percentage back on eligible vet bills. Depending on the insurer, you can typically claim from 60-90% on eligible vet bills, but you can usually only insure younger pets (e.g. under nine years old).

Accident and illness policies may also include higher annual limits, and you may have an option to add routine care for an additional premium to cover things like worming and vaccinations.

Depending on the insurer, you can typically insure your pet if they’re under a certain age (e.g. 16 years old). However, keep in mind that the older your pet, the more likely you’ll be limited to more basic policies, like accident only cover. Most insurers will start restricting the levels of cover on offer for pets from typically around nine years old.

Due to these limitations, you may wish to get cover as soon as possible for your pet. Usually, your cat or dog can be insured when they reach eight weeks old, which is generally the time breeders allow you to take home your fur-friend.

Furthermore, if you purchase a policy before your pet turns nine, your cover should roll over every year at renewal. This means your pet will be covered regardless of its age, as long as you stay with the same policy and you don’t break your cover.

If you do cease cover, you may not be able to take the same policy out again if your pet doesn’t satisfy the insurer’s age restrictions.

To see which options are available for your pet, try our pet insurance comparison service. By entering details such as your pet’s breed and its birth date, you can compare policies specific to your pet’s needs.

What you should look for in a pet insurance policy depends on your individual circumstances and needs. Some common things you might want to consider when you’re shopping around for a pet insurance policy include:

Routine care

Do you want coverage for vaccinations, worming and other routine procedures performed during regular vet check-ups? Most comprehensive policies allow you to add this cover as an optional benefit for an additional premium.

Exclusions

Exclusions are what insurers may not cover in their- policies, such as pre-existing conditions, certain illnesses, dental care, and elective treatments, among others. Always read your PDS to know what is and is not covered in your pet insurance policy.

Waiting periods

You’ll typically need to serve a few waiting periods before you can claim on your policy. While cover for accidental injuries usually starts as soon as your policy is active, you may need to wait at least 30 days to claim on any illness treatment (pre-existing conditions, whether injury or illness, are excluded).

No, pet insurance policies don’t typically cover pre-existing conditions. It’s also worth noting that, generally, any related conditions or conditions that arise during any applicable waiting periods are also excluded. Ensure you read your policy’s Product Disclosure Statement (PDS) to understand what’s defined as a pre-existing condition and a related condition.

If your pet’s breed is known to have hereditary conditions, but is relatively healthy now, taking out a policy when they’re young could be a good idea. This could help assist in partially covering their medical costs in the future, should these issues arise.

Some insurers may also allow you to appeal pre-existing conditions after your pet has been fully cured of the symptoms for a certain amount of time, provided additional documentation from the vet verifying that the symptoms are cured are submitted.

Generally, pet insurance doesn’t cover pregnancy. Pregnancy expenses can be substantial, particularly since specific breeds might have more complicated pregnancies and may require caesareans when giving birth.

To avoid major vet costs that aren’t covered, owners are advised to de-sex their pets. If you’re looking for pregnancy cover, talk to your insurer; they may be able to provide further assistance.

MRI and CT scans may be covered by your pet insurance policy, provided the scan required to diagnose an injury/illness, and the costs don’t exceed the balance left on your annual limit. However, it’s vital you check the policy’s terms and conditions to be certain.

For more information on how much you can claim, read your policy booklet containing the Product Disclosure Statement (PDS).

Yes, allergy testing can be covered, typically through the optional routine care add-on of a comprehensive policy. However, your ability to claim on this service will depend on your annual limits, which should be stipulated in the policy’s Product Disclosure Statement (PDS).

Yes, comprehensive pet insurance policies can cover de-sexing (or spaying) under the optional routine care cover add-on. This add-on can come with an annual limit, meaning you can only claim up to this limit amount for the year. If you’ve already exceeded this amount, you’ll have to pay out-of-pocket. Depending on the age of your pet, you can potentially claim this straight away, as it isn’t technically a condition that requires a waiting period.

Dental may be covered under comprehensive pet insurance policies or under the optional routine care cover add-on. However, there are usually waiting periods before you can claim for any dental treatments, and these periods are typically between six months and two years.

Pet insurance policies also often exclude routine dental care, such as regular cleanings and checkups. While some pet insurance providers may offer optional extra or preventive care add-ons that could cover routine dental treatments, these are generally not included in standard policies.

Comprehensive pet insurance policies or policies with a routine care cover add-on may cover annual vaccinations for your pets. However, there is usually a sub-limit for routine care cover, and if you have already used up the amount on the sub-limit, you may not be able to claim for the vaccination.