Q Should I bother with buying pet insurance?

Spending on health insurance for your animal might feel like another unnecessary cost if you’ve got a young, healthy pet, but trust us – it’s worth it in the long run. Animals can get into all sorts of trouble when they’re out and about and vet bills can be costly. When you’re looking for insurance, it’s best to shop around. Compare various policies from different brands and find out if your existing insurer also covers pets, as you may receive a discount. Also, the earlier you insure your pet the better – premiums will inevitably cost more the older a pet is. If you can afford it, consider taking out lifetime cover. This means that any health issue that your pet may have in the future, regardless of whether it returns or is chronic, will be covered. Most other policies will only cover you for a condition the first time it appears, and not repeatedly. Watch out for low premiums and high excess payments, too. On a bill of £3,000, you could end up having to fork out over £700. Finally, bear in mind that insurers won’t cover dental issues, and preventative treatments or issues like spaying or castration, vaccinations and worming, or flea and tick treatments.