This depends on what you want your policy to cover, and how much you want to cover your pet for.
There are four main types of pet insurance to choose from:
Accident only covers your pet against accidental injury, but not illnesses. Some policies only give you a certain amount of time to seek treatment after your pet's accident. Treatment outside of this time limit might not be covered.
Time-limited covers each illness or injury your pet suffers for a set period of time. So if they break a leg, you may be given 12 months to claim for treatment to fix it. Any treatment needed after this period won’t be covered. You might have a maximum claim amount too, and anything over this amount won't be covered either.
Maximum benefit gives you a set amount of cover for each illness or injury your pet suffers. Once this amount has been reached, any further treatment for that same condition won’t be covered.
Lifetime pet insurance covers long-term conditions or injuries for life, as long as they begin during the cover period. The policy will need to be renewed each year for cover to continue, and you might have a set amount you can claim each year.
To give you an idea of what you're likely to pay, here's the average monthly price pet owners pay for their insurance:
| Policy type | Dog | Cat |
|---|---|---|
|
Accident only
|
£5.63
|
£4.66
|
|
Time limited
|
£14.39
|
£8.29
|
|
Maximum benefit
|
£11.97
|
£8.53
|
|
Lifetime
|
£21.32
|
£13.76
|
*Prices based on Confused.com data taken between November 2023 - January 2024. Costs shown are based on the average price paid for cover across all ages, breeds and in all locations.
How much you'll pay for your pet insurance is based on:
The type of policy you choose, as policies that cover more tend to cost more.
The amount of cover you want, as the higher the amount of treatment you can claim for, the more you'll typically pay for your policy.
Your pet’s age, breed and species, as older pets, certain breeds, and certain types of pet are more prone to health issues than others.
Whether your pet is neutered or spayed, as this can help prevent things like testicular cancer.
Whether your pet is vaccinated, as this can protect them from certain illnesses, and lower the risk to insure them.
The excess on your policy, as the more you're willing to pay towards the cost of a claim, the cheaper your policy will tend to be.
Exactly what your pet insurance covers depends on the type of policy you take out.
All policies should cover accidental injury, but the amount you can claim for treatment varies.
Depending on the type you have, your policy might also cover:
But as with all insurance, it’s important to read the small print to make sure you know what you're covered for.
What isn't covered is a little more straightforward, as most policies typically exclude:
According to the Association of British Insurers, the average pet insurance claim is £848*.
But this is only an average, and more complicated issues could cost thousands.
Spinal surgery, which is the most common high value claim, costs between £8,000 and £10,000**, for example.
Here at Confused.com, you can select between a cover level of at least £1,000, £2,000, £3,000 or £4,000 - giving you real flexibility over your pet's cover.
*Association of British Insurers study, looking at 1,029,000 pet insurance claims filed in 2021.
**ABI study 2022
Taking out enough cover is important.
But taking out too much cover can be a problem too, as this can leave you with a policy that you can't afford.
To ensure you get the right amount of cover, think about:
This should help you get the right cover amount when the time comes.
No, pet insurance doesn't cover vaccination.
But, just like spaying and neutering, vaccinations can help lower your insurance costs, so they're often worth shelling out for.
This is because vaccines help prevent your pet becoming ill in the first place. Insurers then see your pet as less of a risk to cover, and may offer your cheaper insurance as a result.
Plus, vaccines will help protect your pet from some nasty illnesses, so it's a win win.
A pre-existing condition is any health condition your pet has been diagnosed with before you take out a pet insurance policy.
This can include any health issues you've already claimed for. So if your pet develops a skin issue, which you claim for, future treatment for that issue may not be covered once you renew your policy.
This is unless you take out specialist pet insurance for pre-existing conditions. This usually covers your pet's pre-existing condition fully or in part.
Lifetime pet insurance can also help if your pet develops a long-term condition that's likely to need ongoing treatment, like diabetes. Lifetime pet insurance will continue to cover that condition as long as you keep renewing your policy each year. Standard pet insurance may only cover treatment until you renew.
Common pre-existing conditions include:
Vet bills can be expensive. And while you could cover the bill yourself, with some procedures costing thousands, it's not always the most cost-effective move.
Pet insurance can help you ensure your pet gets the treatment they need when they need it most. While a policy might seem like an extra cost you don't need, the peace of mind can often justify the cost.
For a more detailed look at vet bills, check out our guide.
Generally, the younger your pet is, the cheaper they'll be to insure – so getting a policy early makes sense financially.
But getting cover sooner rather than later is the smart choice for many other reasons too.
Sadly, there’s no guarantee that a younger pet is a healthier pet, and your cat or dog could need costly treatment at any age.
And as all pet owners know, puppies and kittens are furry bundles of energy, making them more accident-prone than older pets. So getting insurance early is still a good idea.
Pet insurance usually doesn’t cover pre-existing conditions. Learn more about finding cover for a pet with a pre-existing condition.
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