Get a pet insurance quote

The four numbers that define a plan

Change any one of these and the premium moves. Two plans quoted at different prices are usually just set differently.

• Reimbursement rate — the share of a covered bill the plan pays after your deductible
• Deductible — what you pay first, and whether it resets annually or applies per condition
• Annual limit — the most the plan will pay in a policy year, or whether it's unlimited
• Waiting period — how long after enrolment before coverage begins, often different for accidents, illnesses, and specific conditions

What to have ready

• Your pet's species, breed, and age
• Any conditions they've already been diagnosed with or treated for
• Your vet's practice, if you have a regular one
• Whether you want accident-only or accident and illness coverage
• Whether wellness or routine care matters to you

Pre-existing conditions: ask before you assume

Pet insurance generally does not cover conditions that existed before coverage began or during a waiting period. This is the single biggest source of denied claims and unhappy customers.

How insurers define a pre-existing condition varies, and some distinguish between curable and incurable conditions. If your pet has any history at all, ask specifically how it will be treated before you enrol — not after a claim.

Why enrolling earlier usually matters

Coverage is generally easier and broader when a pet is young and healthy, simply because there's less history to exclude. Every condition that develops before enrolment is a potential exclusion afterwards.

That's not a scare tactic, it's the mechanics of the product — and it's the reason the advice for puppies and kittens differs from the advice for a ten-year-old dog with a known issue.