Best Pet Insurance
If you're a pet owner, you probably agree there’s nothing worse than your dog or cat getting sick or hurt. But what happens when vet bills are sky high? Pet insurance can grant you peace of mind, helping your pet get the treatment they deserve, without sending you broke. Continue Reading...
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Petsy Pet Insurance
· includes 11 listingsLatest review: Above & beyond.. I was very sceptical but the affordable premiums, no sub limits & lovely helpful people answering all questions gave some peace of mind. A few weeks after taking out the policy my
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- Transparency 4.8 (94)
- Customer Service4.9 (116)
- Value for Money4.8 (99)
- Claim ApprovedYes (38) · No (5)
- UnderwriterHollard
- Annual Benefit Limits $6,000 to $25,000
- Amount of Vet Bill Covered Up to 80% to Up to 100%
- Illness CoverIncluded and Not Included
- Routine Care CoverNot Included and Optional Extra
- Tick Paralysis $1500, Included and Not Included
- Accidental Injury Cover Included and Not Included
Latest review: Awesome, friendly customer service. Very knowledgeable and informative customer service. Insurance here is a lot better value than my current insurer for less
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- Transparency 4.6 (218)
- Customer Service4.7 (231)
- Value for Money4.6 (231)
- Claim ApprovedYes (177) · No (5)
- UnderwriterAllied World
- Annual Benefit Limits $25,000
- Amount of Vet Bill Covered Up to 90%
- Minimum Pet Age 6 weeks
- Maximum Pet Age 8 years
- Illness CoverIncluded
- Routine Care CoverNot Included
- Accidental Injury Cover Included
Whether it’s treating accidental injury, sickness or doing everyday treatments, Seniors Pet Insurance helps you take care of your pet’s health with 3 different levels of cover to suit different breeds and budgets.
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- Transparency 4.5 (235)
- Customer Service4.6 (265)
- Value for Money4.3 (265)
- Claim ApprovedYes (164) · No (13)
- UnderwriterHollard
- Annual Benefit Limits $12,000
- Amount of Vet Bill Covered Up to 60% to Up to 80%
- Illness CoverIncluded
- Routine Care CoverIncluded and Not Included
- Tick Paralysis $1,000, $1,200 and $2,000
- Accidental Injury Cover Included
With four different levels of cover for you to choose from, RSPCA lets you cover up to 80% of eligible vet bills with no excess to pay, so you can have some peace of mind for your furry friend.
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- Transparency 4.4 (4,921)
- Customer Service4.5 (5,251)
- Value for Money4.3 (5,261)
- Claim ApprovedYes (3,349) · No (244)
- UnderwriterHollard
- Annual Benefit Limits $11,000 to $20,000
- Amount of Vet Bill Covered Up to 60% to Up to 80%
- Illness CoverIncluded and Not Included
- Routine Care CoverNot Included and Optional Extra
- Tick Paralysis $1,000, $2,000 (annual condition limit applies), 1,200 and Subject to overall annual limit
- Accidental Injury Cover Included
Bow Wow Meow Pet Insurance provides cover for cats and dogs, letting you get up to 80% of vet bills reimbursed, so that you can rest easy knowing your furry companion is protected.
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- Transparency 4.5 (1,014)
- Customer Service4.5 (1,119)
- Value for Money4.3 (1,139)
- Claim ApprovedYes (993) · No (51)
- UnderwriterHollard
- Annual Benefit Limits $10,000 to $20,000
- Amount of Vet Bill Covered Up to 80%
- Illness CoverIncluded and Not Included
- Routine Care CoverIncluded
- Tick Paralysis $1,200, $2,000 and $3,000
- Accidental Injury Cover Included
With over 40,000 people signed up with Pet Insurance Australia, it’s clear that the insurer’s outstanding customer service, transparency, and value for money have hit a chord with reviewers.
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- Transparency 4.3 (800)
- Customer Service4.4 (880)
- Value for Money4.2 (881)
- Claim ApprovedYes (771) · No (56)
- UnderwriterHollard
- Annual Benefit Limits $6,000 to $30,000
- Amount of Vet Bill Covered Up to 80% to Up to 90%
- Illness CoverIncluded
- Routine Care CoverIncluded and Not Included
- Tick Paralysis $1,000, $3,000 and Not Included
- Accidental Injury Cover Included
Unlike many other pet insurance companies, Trupanion gives pet owners with dogs and cats unlimited payouts, with no sub-limits for eligible claims.
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- Transparency 4.5 (79)
- Customer Service4.7 (81)
- Value for Money4.5 (82)
- Claim ApprovedYes (68) · No (2)
- UnderwriterHollard
- Annual Benefit Limits $100,000
- Amount of Vet Bill Covered Up to 90%
- Illness CoverIncluded
- Routine Care CoverNot Included
- Tick Paralysis Included
- Accidental Injury Cover Included
Guide Dogs Pet Insurance
· includes 3 listingsLatest review: It is too soon to give an accurate review as I have just taken out cover. However the process of joining was easy and smooth. So that is a good
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- Transparency 3.9 (335)
- Customer Service4.0 (349)
- Value for Money3.9 (350)
- Claim ApprovedYes (184) · No (29)
- UnderwriterHollard
- Annual Benefit Limits $15,000 to $20,000
- Amount of Vet Bill Covered Up to 75% to Up to 85%
- Illness CoverIncluded
- Routine Care CoverNot Included and Optional Extra
- Tick Paralysis $1,500 yearly and $2,000 yearly
- Accidental Injury Cover Included
Real Pet Insurance
· includes 3 listingsLatest review: Fast, easy claims processed and paid within 5-7 days Good value Great customer
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- Transparency 4.4 (263)
- Customer Service4.5 (285)
- Value for Money4.3 (284)
- Claim ApprovedYes (210) · No (13)
- UnderwriterHollard
- Annual Benefit Limits $12,000
- Amount of Vet Bill Covered Up to 60% to Up to 80%
- Illness CoverIncluded
- Routine Care CoverNot Included and Optional Extra
- Tick Paralysis $1,000, $1,200 and Included
- Accidental Injury Cover Included
Petinsurance.com.au
· includes 7 listingsLatest review: Obtained Pet insurance for our Pup. Came in very handy with the few visits to the vet over the last few months. Gap only is very effective as the out of pocket expense at the vet is minimal (20%) and
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- Transparency 4.4 (72)
- Customer Service4.4 (75)
- Value for Money4.3 (75)
- Claim ApprovedYes (40) · No (4)
- UnderwriterHollard
- Annual Benefit Limits $3,000 to $10,000
- Amount of Vet Bill Covered Up to 80%
- Illness CoverIncluded and Not Included
- Routine Care CoverIncluded and Optional Extra
- Tick Paralysis $1,000, $1,500 and $500
- Accidental Injury Cover Included and Not Included
Latest review: My young dog needed unexpected dental work and she had an ear infection. I considered not getting pet insurance for her but so glad I did. Potiki paid out almost instantly with gap only through my
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- Transparency 4.6 (23)
- Customer Service4.7 (24)
- Value for Money4.7 (24)
- Claim ApprovedYes (21) · No (1)
Pet Circle Insurance can provide you with a policy that gives you peace of mind, knowing that your dog or cat will be taken care of in times of need.
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- Transparency 4.5 (30)
- Customer Service4.6 (31)
- Value for Money4.5 (29)
- Claim ApprovedYes (6) · No (1)
- UnderwriterPacific International Insurance
- Annual Benefit Limits $30,000
- Amount of Vet Bill Covered Up to 90%
- Minimum Pet Age 6 weeks
- Maximum Pet Age 8 years
- Illness CoverIncluded
- Routine Care CoverNot Included
- Tick Paralysis Included
- Accidental Injury Cover Included
Latest review: Only just subscribed for two of my dogs, and the price is dramatically cheaper than alot of other insurances on the market. Hopefully their claims process is easy and
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- Transparency 5.0 (13)
- Customer Service4.9 (16)
- Value for Money5.0 (15)
- Claim ApprovedYes (1) · No (0)
- Annual Benefit Limits $30,000
- Minimum Pet Age 8 weeks
- Illness CoverIncluded
- Routine Care CoverNot Included
- Accidental Injury Cover Included
Bupa Pet Insurance
· includes 3 listingsLatest review: We have had Bupa for 7 years and have cover up to $12000, which gave us piece of mind that there would be no nasty surprises. However we should have read the PDS more closely as what they don't make
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- Transparency 2.6 (57)
- Customer Service3.0 (70)
- Value for Money2.9 (66)
- Claim ApprovedYes (41) · No (14)
- UnderwriterHollard
- Annual Benefit Limits $6,000 to $20,000
- Amount of Vet Bill Covered Up to 80%
- Illness CoverIncluded and Not Included
- Routine Care CoverNot Included and Optional Extra
- Tick Paralysis $1,000, $1,500 and Not Included
- Accidental Injury Cover Included
Prosure
· includes 3 listingsLatest review: Ive been a Prosure customer for 16 years are my Labradors have benefited from kind and empathetic service and claims processing that by anyone's standards is rapid. They have been kind and supportive
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- Transparency 4.1 (27)
- Customer Service3.9 (30)
- Value for Money3.8 (29)
- Claim ApprovedYes (18) · No (3)
- UnderwriterHollard
- Annual Benefit Limits $8,000 to $14,500
- Amount of Vet Bill Covered Up to 80%
- Illness CoverIncluded and Not Included
- Tick Paralysis $1,000, $500 and Not Included
- Accidental Injury Cover Included
Petcover
· includes 9 listingsLatest review: Hell, my claim was sent in, assessed, and approved. You do need to be a bit patient as they seem to be a little short staffed, like many places I have seen of late. They are very nice folks, do get
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- Transparency 3.9 (497)
- Customer Service3.8 (532)
- Value for Money3.7 (535)
- Claim ApprovedYes (465) · No (38)
- UnderwriterSovereign Insurance Australia
- Annual Benefit Limits $5,000 to $20,000
- Illness CoverIncluded
- Routine Care CoverNot Included
- Tick Paralysis Not Included
- Accidental Injury Cover Included
Guardian Pet Insurance
· includes 3 listingsLatest review: I have been with Guardian pet insurance for more than a decade now . All of my new pups were covered from the start. They are easy to talk to and the online claiming process is straightforward. I
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- Transparency 4.4 (17)
- Customer Service4.4 (17)
- Value for Money4.3 (19)
- Claim ApprovedYes (16) · No (2)
- UnderwriterHollard
- Annual Benefit Limits $12,000
- Amount of Vet Bill Covered Up to 60% to Up to 80%
- Illness CoverIncluded
- Routine Care CoverIncluded and Not Included
- Tick Paralysis $1,000, $1,200 and $2,000
- Accidental Injury Cover Included
Everyday Pet Insurance
· includes 5 listingsLatest review: I was initially very happy with our Woolworths Pet Insurance and their claim process when I had to make a claim was great. However they have not acted in good faith by changing the use of their
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- Transparency 2.5 (239)
- Customer Service2.6 (260)
- Value for Money2.4 (260)
- Claim ApprovedYes (100) · No (84)
- UnderwriterHollard
- Annual Benefit Limits $5,000 to $30,000
- Amount of Vet Bill Covered Up to 80%
- Illness CoverIncluded and Optional Extra
- Routine Care CoverNot Included and Optional Extra
- Tick Paralysis $1,500, $2,000, $3,000 and Not Included
- Accidental Injury Cover Included and Not Included
Petmed
· includes 2 listingsLatest review: I have been with Petmed insurance for many years now and have never had in issue in any way. Easy service to get in touch with as well if you have any questions direct to a person and not a computer.
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- Transparency 3.9 (11)
- Customer Service3.8 (12)
- Value for Money3.5 (12)
- Claim ApprovedYes (6) · No (1)
- UnderwriterHollard
- Annual Benefit Limits $15,000 to $18,000
- Amount of Vet Bill Covered Up to 65% to Up to 80%
- Illness CoverIncluded
- Routine Care CoverOptional Extra
- Tick Paralysis $500 and $500 or $1,000
- Accidental Injury Cover Included
Latest review: They're selling junk pet insurance policies with so many exclusions that they're not covering anything by the time you come to claim. Do not
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- Transparency 3.7 (10)
- Customer Service3.7 (10)
- Value for Money3.6 (11)
- Claim ApprovedYes (5) · No (0)
- UnderwriterAuto & General Services
- Annual Benefit Limits $12,000
- Amount of Vet Bill Covered Up to 80%
- Minimum Pet Age 8 weeks
- Maximum Pet Age 9 years
- Illness CoverIncluded
- Routine Care CoverNot Included
- Tick Paralysis $1,500
- Accidental Injury Cover Included
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Sign Up Today & Get 2 Months' Free* Pet Insurance. *T&Cs Apply. Winner Of 2023 Product Review Pet Insurance Provider of the Year.
Is pet insurance worth it?
Pet insurance may be worth it if you don't think you'll be able to afford the upfront costs of paying for veterinary treatment when your dog or cat is sick or injured.
This is the primary reason pet insurance exists - to help you afford veterinary costs. The nature of an accident or even an unexpected illness is that it's sudden and unplanned. If you don't have enough money saved up for a rainy day, you could find yourself in a stressful situation, prolonging treatment for your pet until you figure out how to get the money.
How does pet insurance work?
Pet owners pay an insurance premium, which is usually deducted monthly. When the time comes for you to claim, your pet insurer will cover a certain percentage of eligible vet bills, up to the annual limit specified by your policy.
This usually falls within the gambit of 65-85% of the bill, depending on the level of cover you've chosen. For certain conditions, you may have to pay both an excess and a co-payment.
How much is pet insurance in Australia?
MoneySmart estimates that the cost of a monthly pet insurance premium is around $20-60, which amounts to a higher-end figure of $720 per year. This is comparable to the sum you’d spend on ‘premium dog food, plus treats’ which MoneySmart ballparks at $800 per year.
The exact price of a pet insurance premium is tricky to zero in on, as it depends on several factors that make each pet insurance quote unique. Here are some of the primary factors that will affect the price of your premium.
Your pet’s age, breed and species
Age: The best time to insure your pet is when they’re still a puppy or a kitten. Many policies allow coverage from 8 weeks old. Insuring your pet while they're young means they're less likely to develop a pre-existing condition that's excluded from coverage. The older your pet becomes, the more expensive pet insurance becomes, too.
Species: Pet insurance is mainly available for dogs and cats, however some insurers offer coverage for other animals, too (like 'exotic' pet insurance for rabbits or birds).
Cat insurance is generally cheaper than dog insurance, and there’s less of a price discrepancy between cat breeds, whereas for dogs the cost of a premium will fluctuate greatly depending on their breed.
Breed: Some breeds have inherent health conditions that make them more expensive to insure. For example, the average cost of insuring a 1-year old French Bulldog on an annual comprehensive policy is around $1,456, compared to $610 for a Jack Russell terrier.
Excess
The amount of excess you choose to pay also effects the price of your premium (a lower excess equals a higher premium). Some pet insurance plans are 'no excess,' but will cost more each month.
Excesses may be charged as a one-off per condition - letting you claim on the same condition multiple times in a year, while only paying an excess once. They can alterntively be charged each time you claim for that condition. Sometimes an insurer will require a co-payment along with an excess fee.
Discounts
Some pet insurers offer discounts as incentives. For example, you may receive a discount if your pet is desexed and microchipped, if you have multiple pets insured with the same provider (a 'multi-pet policy,') or if you have other active policies with the insurer. For example, some companies offer pet insurance as an add-on to home and contents insurance - however coverage is usually limited.
Your chosen level of cover
There are usually three tiers of pet insurance you can opt for, discussed below. Accident-only coverage is the budget option, whereas a comprehensive policy equates to a higher premium.
Types of Pet Insurance
Accident-only coverage
This most basic policy type covers your pet for accidental injury, but excludes coverage if they become ill. Note that some insurers don’t offer this policy type. Instead, they skip straight up to the next level, which is the case with Seniors Pet Insurance.
Accident and Illness coverage
This provides coverage in the event of accidental injury or illness. This is the mid-tier level of coverage, and often the most popular policy with pet owners in Australia.
Comprehensive Pet Insurance
Comprehensive policies offer coverage for all manner of misfortunes that could befall your pet, including accidents and illnesses. This includes the costs of surgery, hospitalisation, and medication.
Routine care, also called preventative care, may be offered as a standard inclusion or an optional extra as part of a comprehensive policy. The benefit amount isn’t usually very high, and may or may not include treatments or procedures like dental care, vaccinations, flea, tick and worm control.
Note that a routine care benefit is often differentiated from vet’s consultation visits in a policy. Make sure to clarify the difference between them with your insurer before signing up.
Is there anything a pet insurance policy won't cover the cost of?
Yes - there are actually several types of conditions, treatments or circumstances that may exclude you from being reimbursed by a pet insurance provider.
Pet insurance policies can be tricky to navigate, because of the sheer number of exclusions and trying to understand the differences in wording. Make sure to scour a Product Disclosure Statement and know the terms and conditions before committing, to ensure you’re getting the optimum protection for your animal companion.
General Exclusions
While these will be covered in your specific policy, here are some examples of general exclusions commonly found in pet insurance policies:
- Bilateral conditions: These refer to pre-existing conditions that affect two parts of the body. For example, if your pet had a condition in their left eye, they won't be covered if they later develop that same condition in their right eye.
- Elective treatments: These may actually be included - but only in some comprehensive policies. They refer to any treatments that are 'not medically necessary,’ such as de-sexing, orthodontics and check-ups.
- Diseases with a known vaccine: If the disease could have been preventied by a vaccinaton (such as kennel cough) it's excluded.
- Dental treatments: While dental disease is one of the most common medical conditions in dogs over four years old, most pet insurance policies exclude it. This includes cleaning, orthodontics and treatment for gum disease.
Other Exclusions
Pre-existing conditions
This refers to any illnesses or injuries that your pet has, which you’re aware of. You’re required to disclose these to your insurer when applying for pet insurance. They will make the cost of your premium higher.
Pretty much all pet insurance companies will exclude pre-existing conditions from being covered. This is another reason why it’s important to get pet insurance as early as possible into the life of your pet, when they have few to no pre-existing conditions.
Waiting periods
Just like human health insurance, waiting periods also apply for pet insurance. In most cases, for routine treatments you can make a claim after serving a 30-day waiting period. However for more serious health conditions like tick paralysis and cruciate ligament problems, you might have to wait up to 6 months.
Sub-limits
While you'll have an annual benefit limit, which caps the costs you can claim, there are also sub-limits. For certain conditions, you can only claim up to a certain amount each year - even if you have 'spare' money in your overall benefit limit. These include conditions such as tick paralysis and cruciate ligament issues.
Age restrictions on illness cover
Many pet insurers exclude illness coverage for pets nine years and older (however accident cover is always available, regardless of age).
Switching insurance providers when your pet is a senior is often a headache. You'll have to list their medical history as pre-conditions, which makes coverage much more expensive than if you'd stayed on the same policy from the get-go.
Sometimes the only way to avoid this is to sign up to a lifetime pet insurance policy, as opposed to an annual policy, referred to as a time-limited policy. This means your pet will be comprehensively insured throughout their lifetime. Keep in mind though that lifetime policies are dearer than time-limited ones.
Alternatives to Pet Insurance
If the idea of being locked into a monthly pet insurance premium seems daunting, you're not alone. According to the RSPCA, only 30% of dog owners and 21% of cat owners had pet insurance in 2019.
So what are the alternatives?
Dedicated savings account
Some families set money aside into a special savings account for their pet. Whether you'll have enough saved up when the time comes can be hard to predict with this contingency plan. For some pet owners, a temporary savings accounts may be a good option while they sit through longer, 6-month waiting periods at the start of their policies.
Vet payment plans
Some vets offer these, but they exclude a number of the benefits afforded by insurance, such as expensive surgery costs.
Ultimately, while pet insurance can be expensive and confusing, the truth is that some accidents can throw you a real curve ball, like your dog ingesting a foreign object, or your cat falling from a height. It can be heartbreaking to watch your pet suffer without having a means of helping them.
Many pet insurance reviews on ProductReview noted that without pet insurance they might not have been able to ‘keep' their pet. Since around 10% of vet visits result in pets being put to sleep according to Pet Insurance Australia, paying a monthly premium seems like a small price to pay to safeguard the precious life of your fur baby.
The bottom line
Pet insurance can really help ease some of the burden associated with your pet becoming sick or injured unexpectedly. There are different levels of cover that can cater to your budget, however always make sure that the policy you choose is the right match for your pet's age, breed and any existing or foreseeable health conditions.
Know your non-negotiables when it comes to what you want to claim, and always read the PDS carefully to ensure that these benefits are not ruled out by any policy exclusions.
Disclaimer: The information on this website is for general information only. It should not be taken as constituting professional advice from the website owner - ProductReview.com.au. ProductReview.com.au is not a financial adviser. You should consider seeking independent legal, financial, taxation or other advice to check how the website information relates to your unique circumstances. ProductReview.com.au is not liable for any loss caused, whether due to negligence or otherwise arising from the use of, or reliance on, the information provided directly or indirectly, by use of this website.