Taking out pet insurance can save you thousands of pounds in veterinary treatments and consultation fees provided it is purchased at the right time: when pets are still young. Here’s why.

 

Accidents and illnesses strike unexpectedly

Young pets are less likely to develop a medical condition compared to older pets. So you might ask yourself ‘why should I take out cover so early then?’. Well, because you can never predict when an illness or accident may strike. And when it happens it’s too late to get cover.

Recently on Ask the expert, we saw a puppy born with a medical condition (heart murmur). The owner took it to the vet for a health check and discovered the health problem. She was not insured then, and therefore won’t be able to get cover for that specific pre-existing condition. It is too late for her, but it’s not too late for you. The sooner you insure your pet, the better. Cover starts for pets aged 8 weeks onwards.

 

Insurance could save you thousands of pounds

Assume for one second that you didn’t protect your pet and discover an ongoing condition that will require chronic treatment and visits to the vet. How much is that going to cost? £400, £1,000, even £3,000 per year maybe?

How can one afford such expenses for 10 years or more? When you insure your puppy or kitten straightaway, you reduce the risk of paying thousands of pounds worth of vet bills and can make sure you use your savings the way you originally intended. Don’t let vet bills disturb your plans.

 

Cheaper cover

And cover is cheap too. Because in theory young pets are less likely to develop illnesses, they cost less to insure. You can get basic emergency cover from just £4 a month or lifetime cover from £7/£8 a month if you chose the right provider.

In your first year of cover, you also benefit from online discounts, sometimes up to 35% of your premium in year 1.

 

It becomes more difficult to insure an older pet

If you haven’t insured your pet when it was young, you can still get insurance for your older pet. However, the options are limited.

Only a few pet insurance companies provide insure for older cats and dogs, with high premiums and high excess, often including a % excess – meaning that you have to pay the normal excess and then a % of the remaining vet bills before the insurer reimburses you. By insuring your pet when it’s still young, you can ensure you actually get a good cover.

 

What next?

So, if you’re looking to protect your pet, here are a few options for you:

If you have any pet insurance question, you can also contact me here.