Purchasing Pet Insurance: A nose for great cover - What to look out for when purchasing pet insurance

A NOSE FOR GREAT COVER: WHAT TO LOOK OUT FOR WHEN PURCHASING PET INSURANCE

This guest post comes from www.compareinsurance.com.au and gives pet owners some helpful hints when choosing pet insurance. We often look at what pet insurance covers but we fail to spot what it doesn’t cover. This can be costly. If you are taking out pet insurance for the first time or renewing your insurance, make sure you read these tips…

We all know the feeling. Your fur-baby has caught a mysterious illness, or requires emergency surgery. You’re forced to pay thousands to patch up your poor pooch or moggy and left feeling rather ruff!

Pet insurance will save you an ever-increasing stack of vet bills. However, when it comes to the fine print of your policy it’s important to have a keen eye on any exclusions that could send your claim to the dogs.

What pet insurance doesn’t cover:

Pets of a certain age: Your cat may have nine lives but most insurance policies will not cover cats and dogs aged nine and over. It’s not just senior pets that won’t be insured; pups and kittens under eight weeks won’t be covered either.
Certain elective surgeries: To avoid barking up the wrong tree, take note that certain routine examinations, cosmetic procedures, experimental treatments, desexing and a host of other elective procedures are not covered by most pet insurers.
Pre-existing conditions: Any medical issues that have affected your furry friend before taking out insurance would not be covered by your policy. For example, if your poodle suffers from a heart condition prior to getting cover, it will not be covered for any heart surgeries or treatment. Getting your pet insured whilst young and less prone to illness could save you a shedload of hassle.
Bilateral conditions: It’s a little known fact that any body parts that come in two’s could be difficult to cover. That is, if your pet’s front left paw is injured, you could have issues then insuring the front right paw. The same rule goes for eyes, ears and any other body part that comes in pairs.

For other important pet insurance exclusions, it’s best to refer to your policy’s PDS (Product Disclosure Statement). Comparing pet insurers before purchasing pet insurance can also help you find the best pick of the litter. After all, when it comes to protecting your four-legged friend, only the paw-fect cover will do!