Pet Insurance Guide

Owning a pet, especially a dog can be an expensive business; particularly when it comes to vet bills; and with reports in the media concerning dog bite attacks on strangers on the increase, owning a dog can also be a potentially serious liability.

That's where pet insurance comes in. Pet insurance policies covers expenses related to household pets
mainly used for dogs and cats, providing payment protection for vet bills and other costs related to your animal.

Main Reasons For Pet Insurance

Pet insurance can be seen as a form of payment plan, and is an important security, especially in the event of ill health or accident affecting your animal.

Pet insurance can also cover other expenses such as emergency kennelling, theft of your animal, travelling requirements and even sudden death.

Pet insurance can also cover you for third party liability in the case of your dog causing an accident, if it runs on to the road, for example; or if it bites someone or another dog. Beware though that the latter cases involving dog bite liability between dogs are sometimes difficult to prove.

Most people take out pet insurance because bills for serious vet treatment can be very expensive; running into thousands of pounds, in serious cases more than owners can afford.

Pet insurance gives you the security and peace of mind that your dog or cat will get the treatment it needs when it needs it.

Pet insurance also offers peace of mind for damage or injury your pet might cause a third party.

In fact, third party liability cover is often included as standard under many pet insurance policies.

Third party liability insurance can also be bought as an optional extra. It could cover you for legal bills or compensation claims arising from your pet causing accident, damage or injury.

Pet Insurance Cover

Many companies have a variety of structured policies from basic to premium insurance plans, covering different aspects of pet medical care.

Some of the other things covered by pet insurance related to injuries to your pet are holiday cancellations
and courts costs. Also, advertising and reward costs if the pet is lost or stolen, often an additional bonus of some policies.

Main areas/types of pet insurance cover are:
- Life cover
- Kennel fees
- Overseas travel
- Emergency treatment
- Vet costs
- Death
- Fixed term
- Legal expenses
- Dental
- Holiday cancellations
- Accidental damage
- Advertising recovery
- Third party liability

Always compare prices and levels of cover carefully before you choose a pet insurance. Check the policy details, especially for exclusions or limits on the levels of payments; or types of injury and liability that are covered.

Assess carefully the details of any insurance policy and do not make assumptions that you are covered for one particular type of incident unless it is clearly stated.