Compare accident-only pet insurance

Accident-only pet insurance helps cover the costs of unexpected injuries caused by accidents, such as broken bones or bite wounds as defined in the PDS. It does not cover illness, routine care or any pre-existing condition. It is designed so you are more protected financially if your furry friend is suddenly injured but will not help with any ongoing or illness-related vet costs.

An accident-only pet insurance policy can help cover specified accidental injuries, such as:

• car accidents
• ingestion of foreign objects
• poisoning
• burns or electric shock
• bone fractures
• cuts, bite wounds or fight-wound abscesses
• snake bites
• allergic reactions to insect or arachnid bites
• eye, nail and mouth injuries.

Inclusions and benefit limits may vary depending on your specific policy and insurer, so be sure to check your policy’s Product Disclosure Statement (PDS) to find out what you’re covered for.

Accident-only pet insurance doesn’t cover illnesses, routine or preventative care, or any sort of pre-existing condition. In insurance, a pre-existing condition is defined as any injury, illness or health issue that your pet showed signs of or was treated for before the policy started, or in the waiting period.

Other common exclusions that apply to most pet insurance policies include:

• elective treatments
• treatment for vaccine-preventable diseases (unvaccinated pets can still receive coverage for other treatments)
• behavioural problems
• breeding and pregnancy
• dental illness and treatments.

Some insurers will offer optional extras on more comprehensive accident and illness policies that provide a benefit towards treatments commonly excluded from accident-only policies. This may include cover for vaccinations and routine care procedures such as de-sexing, worming and dental care.

Accident-only pet insurance will cover common pets such as dogs or cats. If you’re looking to cover a different animal (like a horse), you’ll need to seek a policy from a specialist insurance provider.

Remember that certain dog breeds are banned in Australia and therefore won’t be covered by pet insurance, including dogs considered dangerous by authorities.

Most pet insurance policies include an annual limit, a benefit percentage and your choice of vet. It’s important to know that pet insurance coverage will differ between insurers, but you can generally expect a policy to include the following:

• Lower premiums. Accident-only insurance is typically the cheapest level of cover for your pet as it excludes illnesses entirely. It is seen as a budget coverage option for pet owners who still want some level of cover for their pet.
• Cover for unexpected injuries. This policy is useful as a safety net for unforeseen accidents like snake bites, broken bones or bite wounds, which can be possible if your pet is out and about. It’s important to remember though, on this policy there is no cover for chronic or ongoing conditions, and if this is a concern it may be worth looking at a different plan.
• Faster assessment. Due to the cover of the policy being limited to only accidental injuries, on average, there is less need for long-term medical history review by insurers. This means that claims can typically be processed faster as the process is more straightforward.
• Optional extras. Depending on the insurer and your policy, you can include optional covers for extended benefits in your accident-only policy. Keep in mind that including optional extras like routine care in your policy will add to your premium.

Your pet’s age, current health status and medical or claims history are all factors that can affect the cost of premiums and the policies available to them. The location, level of cover and excess amount may increase premiums if you choose higher cover limits and lower out-of-pocket costs.

Factors that could affect your pet’s premium include:

• the age of your pet
• your pet’s breed and overall health
• past claims or medical history
• your location and the location of your vet
• the level of cover you select
• the policy excess.

If you feel your pet needs protection for more than just accidents, you could benefit from a more comprehensive pet insurance policy.

An excess is the set amount you agree to pay when making a claim, while an out-of-pocket expense is any cost that is not reimbursed by the insurer. These can include your excess, any co-payments and costs that exceed your policy’s limits or exclusions. While the excess is a set amount per claim, other out-of-pocket expenses will change in line with the treatment’s cost.

Some vets may offer new payment processing, where claims are processed upfront and you only pay the remaining amount, reducing reimbursement wait times. Participating vets can calculate all the fees stated in your policy, such as the excess and limits, so you only need to pay the “gap”, resulting in lower upfront costs.

Waiting periods are the set timeframe after purchase of the policy before the cover begins, usually up to 2 days for accident-only plans.

Some insurers may waive the waiting times when it comes to accidents, which means you and your pet are covered from as soon as you buy your policy.

If you’re looking to get your pet covered for illnesses, you can read about accident and illness cover and comprehensive coverage in our guide to different types of pet insurance.

Pre-existing conditions are injuries or health conditions your pet showed signs of, was diagnosed with or received treatment for before the policy started (including during the waiting period) and are often excluded from cover. Pre-existing conditions will be defined consistently across cover types but could vary from insurer to insurer.

Many vets will recommend it’s wise to insure your dog or cat while they’re young and healthy, as it means they are less likely to have a pre-existing condition that will not be covered going forward in the policy. This is important if your pet is known to have genetic or hereditary issues, such as cruciate ligament conditions.

Insurers may cover pets with pre-existing conditions that have been cured or resolved for 12-18 months, typically.