Owners urged to investigate pet insurance choices

Posted : 13-03-2006

Nearly half of all pets in the UK will require some form of veterinary treatment over the course of their lives, according to the Pet Health Council.

The average dog racks up an average of £301 a year in general vet costs, Churchill estimated, rising to £1,396 when special treatments such as X-rays are included.

And in an even more worrying trend for owners, they are increasingly being held liable for their pets' behaviour outside of the home, meaning they may be left with compensation bills even if their pet is not injured.

However, many owners are scrimping on their pet insurance cover, choosing policies that exclude many key provisions such as long-term care that could leave them facing hefty vet's bills if the unexpected happens.

"Watch out for one crucial difference," Michael Powell of Defaqto, the financial research group, said.

He told the Times: "Pre-condition offers will cover treatment for a certain condition up to a set amount. But once your pet has been treated, this condition is no longer covered."

As a result, pets with pre-condition pet insurance are covered only for treatment once, after which the insurance deal would need to be renegotiated. As an alternative, lifetime cover policies usually offer treatment on repeated occasions throughout their life, although premiums are typically higher.

Mr Powell added: "When choosing cover, it is vital to look very carefully at what is available and work out what works best for your particular pet.

"Read through the policy wording and, if in doubt, talk to someone directly. There are no general recipes; pet insurance is very individual."


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