Owning a pet can be fun and rewarding, but if your pet suffers from an illness or injury, it can also be expensive. Every pet owner should consider pet insurance, even if you believe you have enough money to cover veterinary costs. Pet insurance could still save you hundreds of pounds if your pet gets sick or injured.

There are many different insurance companies out there, all of which differ, so we have compiled a list of questions to ask companies when you call them.

Can you pay my vet directly?

A direct claim means we claim the money directly from your insurance company. You pay us and your insurance excess and your insurance company pays us the rest directly.

To do a direct claim with us, the full amount of an individual invoice must be over £200. Direct claims have the obvious benefit to you in that you don’t have to pay the large bill. It is also less hassle for you, as we deal with the insurance company. You will need to check with your vets to see which insurance companies they do direct claims with, as not all vets will deal directly with all companies.

Will my premium or excess increase if I make a claim?

Some insurance companies will increase your monthly payments (premium) if you make a claim. It is worth asking the company if this is their policy to avoid high premiums after a claim.

What is the difference between ‘lifetime cover’ and 12-month cover?

Lifetime cover is the recommended option when taking out insurance for the purpose that it covers the animal for life for a condition. For example, if your pet is diagnosed with a heart condition, diabetes, or skin condition it is likely that your pet will be on medication for the rest of its life. A 12-month cover means if it is diagnosed with a health condition once the 12-months is up, they will not cover any further medication or tests for this particular condition. This is called an exclusion. In general, we advise you to take out a lifetime policy.

Does the policy cover dental treatment?

Sadly, not many insurance companies cover dental treatment. Dental care is a massive part of your pet’s health. It is estimated that 75%-90% of our pets suffer from some kind of dental disease. Fractured teeth, gingivitis and oral ulcers can be very painful and would all need veterinary treatment. Certain breeds such as greyhounds are prone to dental disease and need more dental procedures then others so this should be a consideration when choosing a policy.

How much is my excess? Do I have to pay a co-payment?

These are both very important questions. The insurance excess is an amount you have to pay towards the claim. It is usually per condition per policy year and is in the region of £75-100. A co-payment or a percentage excess is a percentage of the full claim amount you also need to pay. When animals get older, a co-payment of 10% is often added to their policy. Again, all insurance companies are different, so you need to check. Generally, a low monthly premium would mean a larger excess and/or percentage excess.

Always read the reviews of the insurance company and try to find out as much information as you can. At the end of the day, you are paying the money and want to make sure you get the full benefits of the insurance for your pet.

Cost of insurance should be considered whilst researching and deciding what breed is suitable for you. Purebred dogs are more prone to certain diseases and conditions and consequently their monthly premiums will be higher. Generally, a cross breed dog will be cheaper to insure than any purebred/pedigree dog.

We all have animals at Coquet Vets and every member of staff has their pets insured. We know accidents and unexpected costs can happen and insurance allows you to budget monthly rather than having to cover the cost of unexpected veterinary bills.

We offer 5 weeks free pet insurance with Vetsure for puppies and kittens. Vetsure are the same company that we have our Coquet Pet Club with, and if you sign up to both, you get a cheaper insurance package.

We also offer 4 weeks free pet insurance for puppies, kittens, and baby rabbits with Petplan.

You can find out more about the Vetsure offer and our Coquet Pet Club on our website, or contact us on 01665 252 250 with any questions.