Pet Insurance
Whether you should pay for pet insurance depends on your personal circumstances, but for most pet owners, it’s a wise investment.
Reasons to Get Pet Insurance
It’s not a legal requirement to have pet insurance in the UK, but it is a good idea. Whether it’s covering emergency surgery, diagnostic tests, or ongoing treatment for chronic conditions, a good insurance policy can help protect both your pet’s health and your finances.
Various types of pet insurance policies are available, so you should compare both cover levels and premiums before buying insurance.
The cost of pet insurance will be affected by the type of animal, its age, and the type of cover required.
Unexpected Vet Bills
Veterinary treatment can be expensive, especially for emergency care, surgeries, or long-term conditions. Insurance helps cover these costs. Insurance premiums often go up as your pet gets older. That’s because they’re more likely to suffer from health conditions, and for insurance providers they’re more of a risk.
Maximum benefit, time-limited or lifetime pet insurance should cover life-threatening injuries or illness.
Chronic Conditions
Some pets develop long-term health issues such as diabetes, arthritis, or heart disease. A lifetime insurance policy can help cover ongoing treatment costs. Typically, most pet insurance policies won’t cover pre-existing conditions.
Accidents & Injuries
If your pet is injured, insurance can significantly reduce the cost of treatment. For most types of pet insurance, you’ll have to pay an excess in the event of a claim.
Third-Party Liability for Dogs
If your dog causes damage or an accident, some policies include liability cover which could save you from expensive legal fees.
Direct Claims
These are submitted at the discretion of Rouken Glen Vets. Any excess, deductions must be paid within 14 days of an invoice. Rouken Glen Vets cannot be responsible for claims that are declined by your insurance company. There is no charge for this service.
If you would like help understanding the best policy for your pet please contact us.
Rouken Glen Veterinary Surgery Guide to Pet Insurance
We insure our pets to protect ourselves from unexpected veterinary bills and to ensure we can always afford the best treatment possible without being restricted by a limited budget.
If you look, you will find many different pet insurance policies in the market. However, the vet’s fees protection they offer will vary, with many significantly restricted by the need to offer the cheapest price.
Different Types of Cover Available
Lifetime Policy
The full veterinary fees benefit is ‘topped’ up each year when you renew your cover. Exclusions will never be applied for a condition that was not present prior to the policy’s commencement.
Maximum Benefit Policy
This policy provides a maximum benefit per condition that may be exhausted over time with the condition then excluded.
Low cost 12 month time limit policy
Veterinary fees cover for on-going or chronic conditions restricted to just 12 months from onset with that condition then excluded.
Accident only policy
Chronic conditions such as allergies, arthritis will not be covered.
Compare the potential claims paid for Barney below….
Barney, a 6 year old German Shepherd Dog, with on-going bills for hip dysplasia and related arthritis:
| Total Payable | Year 1 | Year 2 | Year 3 | Year 4 | Year 5 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lifetime policy | £789 | £2150 | £2700 | £459 | £623 |
| Maximum Benefit Policy £4000 per condition | £789 | £2150 | £1061 | Excluded | Excluded |
| Low cost 12 month time limit policy | £789 | Excluded | Excluded | Excluded | Excluded |
| Accident only | Excluded | Excluded | Excluded | Excluded | Excluded |
Pet insurance gives you peace of mind, and when you do need it, it can be a lifesaver.
Other points to consider when choosing your pet insurance provider.
When obtaining a quotation, we recommend you ask the following questions:
- Are chronic or on-going conditions covered?
- Are hereditary and congenital problems covered?
- Are Third-party liability in the case of your dog injuring somebody or another dog, or even damaging or breaking someone else’s property.
- Are prescribed clinical diets covered?
- Is euthanasia covered?
- Is dental/oral care covered?
- Are behavioural referrals covered?
- Co-payments, policy terms may change as your pet ages. You may be required to pay a contribution towards your claims on top of the yearly excess.
- DO NOT BUY ON PRICE ALONE, THE CHEAPEST PREMIUM MAY LEAVE YOU WITH INADEQUATE COVER.
And Finally Changing your cover…
Please be aware that while moving insurance provider may be cheaper, it is likely that the new policy will not cover any conditions or symptoms your pet has had in the past as this will be deemed a pre-existing condition.
Case Example
Poppy is 6 years old and has just been diagnosed with Arthritis in her joints. Her owners would like to claim on her insurance. They changed insurance providers last year. In her history that is sent with the claim submitted she was seen by a vet for an undiagnosed lameness 3 years ago. Unfortunately this is seen as a pre-existing condition and Poppy is not covered for her current Arthritis condition.
For any further questions on Pet Insurance, please email Sara on insurance@roukenglenvets.co.uk
Join our Healthcare Scheme
Our Healthy Pet Club is a pet healthcare plan that’s designed to complement your pet’s insurance policy. It’s designed to help you budget for the regular veterinary care your pet needs to help them stay healthy and happy for longer.
Call us on 0141 620 2580 or come into the practice and we’ll help you complete the short form.