Pet Insurance Comparison and Reviews Australia
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Pet Insurance - Tips To Get The Right CoverageNot all pet health insurance policies are equal. It is important to consider a range of pet insurance covers to make sure that you are getting what you really want. Check out the different options to make sure you get exactly what you want for the prices you can afford. Be careful of high excess amounts when you need to make a claim, and also be aware of what is not covered by your pet health insurance, as you could get a rude shock. Also, many pet health insurance packages have extras included, such as routine vet bill cover for items such as preventative medication, micro chipping, council registration fees and vaccinations to name a few. |
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The second highest cost for your pets behind feeding them is vet costs. That includes both routine vet costs and emergency surgery. Of all your different insurance covers, pet insurance is on average the one most likely to be claimed on, as with most policies you can claim on routine vet bills up to a specified annual amount.
There are a number of potential difference offered by pet insurance providers. First of all, what age is your pet, and will you be able to get coverage? Most policies will provide cover after your pet has reached 8 weeks of age, but if you want coverage after they 9 years old you may miss out. However, if you get coverage before your pet turns 9, most policies will continue to cover your pet. Just dont let your cover lapse after your pet turns 9 and try and reinsure later.
An Excess amount is offered by most pet insurance covers to help spread the risk with you and reduce the pet insurance premium. The higher the excess you select the lower the premium you pay. Some policies may ask that you pay a specified $ amount, or they may pay a given percentage of the vet bill, leaving you to cover the rest.
Most covers will offer different levels of cover, again resulting in different premium costs. You may just want the basic level that will normally cover accidents paying for things like emergency surgery and has an annual payout limit. The next level up normally has a higher annual benefit limit and covers the basics plus illness such as cancer and skin diseases.
Can you get pet health insurance for pre-existing conditions? Check the policy disclosure document to see if you can get cover for any pre-existing conditions, and what the definition of a pre-existing condition is. Generally you can not.
Does the pet insurance cover offer routine coverage for things like de-sexing, preventative medications, teeth cleaning, tick or heart worm control burial, and even council registration fees? Check the annual benefit limits when comparing this benefit.
Check the policy to make sure that you can choose your favorite vet, and are not required to use a vet that may be miles away. Most pet insurance covers will let you use your choose of vet.
Can you get a discount on your premium if you insure more than one pet? Some pet insurance health covers offer a discount. If you have more than one pet, this could be very beneficial.
These are a few of the important questions you need to consider when selecting pet health insurance cover for your pet.
Below is a comparison of 3 of the top pet health insurance covers available, Pet Insurance Australia, RSPCA Pet Insurance and 1300 Pet Insurance. Remember to check the Policy Disclosure Document as benefits and conditions may have recently changed, and to make sure that you get full information about the cover you want.
Benefits |
Pet Insurance Australia |
RSPCA Pet Insurance |
1300 Pet Insurance |
|---|---|---|---|
Annual Benefit Limit |
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Accident Cover Accidental Injury |
$8,000 with excess choice $100/$250 |
$6,300 with excess choice 70% / 80% |
$8,000 with excess choice $100/$250 |
Comprehensive Cover Accidental injury & Illness |
$15,000 with excess choice $100/$250 |
$6,300 with excess choice 70% / 80% |
$15,000 with excess choice $100/$250 |
Major Medical Cover Accidental injury & Illness |
$15,000 with excess $500 |
$8,935 with excess choice 70% / 80% |
$15,000 with excess $500 |
Tick paralysis |
$500 a year |
Tick paralysis Accident cover - nil
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$500 a year |
Overseas pet travel insurance |
Yes |
No |
Yes |
Hospital cover |
yes over 5 nights up to $500 |
yes over 4 nights up to $500 |
yes $20 per night up to $500 |
Routine Cover |
$9.50 month on all covers |
Only with Major medical cover |
Yes - extra |
Ages |
8 weeks to 9 years |
8 weeks to 9 years |
8 weeks to 9 years |
Discounts |
5% each pet up to 15% |
Nil |
5% each pet up to 15% |
Cooling off period |
14 Days |
14 Days |
14 Days |
The premiums or costs of each policy varies between pet insurance providers. You need to consider the level of pet insurance coverage you need, and assess the individual policies to determine which one best meets your needs. As premiums change, I have not listed them here, but below are the links to the different Pet Insurance providers