Start early to get a deal that is the cat’s whiskers
RESEARCH by consumer group Which? shows that dog owners can pay as much as £2,000 a year for cover while cat owners could pay £1,500. But the earlier you buy a policy the cheaper it should be.
Harry Rose, money editor at Which? says: ‘Many pet owners are struggling to keep a lid on insurance costs, particularly after they have made a claim. For new pet owners the earlier you get cover the better. Not only will premiums be cheaper but a younger animal will have few pre-existing conditions, making for fewer exclusions and greater choice of policy.’
A ‘lifetime’ pet insurance policy for a six-month-old male cocker spaniel costs about £130 a year according to comparison website comparethemarket. This cover is from The Insurance Emporium and provides £2,000 of medical cover per condition per year during the policy’s term. There is a claim excess of £85.
This cover then renews for each condition each year – including ongoing conditions. In contrast, trying to get the same level of cover for an eight-year-old male dog of the same breed would cost around £310 per year.
This is with Animal Friends and there is a £99 excess to pay on each claim plus 20 per cent of any vet bill. There is £2,000 of annual cover per condition during the policy’s term and this renews each year.
Once a cat or dog reaches age eight, insurers lift premiums significantly. Alternatively, they ask you to co-insure – so you contribute more towards each medical claim.
Pre-existing conditions pose similar problems. A majority of insurers will not cover them – others require your pet to have finished any treatment and be symptom-free for around two years before they will offer insurance. That is why it is sensible to start insuring cats and dogs when they are young.