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More and more people are realising the importance of insuring their pets. For years we have routinely insured our houses, cars and health, but it is only relatively recently that we've started to insure our pets too. It certainly makes sense to do so, as an accident or illness can prove very expensive.
Veterinary medicine and treatments have improved vastly in recent years, but they come at a price and can cost over £1000.
Loving owners can find it financially difficult, or impossible, to pay for medical care for their cats, dogs and other pets.
They might not be able to pay for the best treatment, or in the worst case the pet might even need to be put to sleep. |
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This, of course, is extremely distressing when the animal could be saved with treatment. Pet insurance gives you the peace of mind that you can pay whatever is needed.
It is also important to have cover against other events too. They might injure another person and you could be forced to pay compensation to the injured party. Or they might be ill when you're due to go on holiday, meaning you'd have to pay a cancellation fee to the holiday company. Your pet might be lost or stolen and you might need money to pay for advertising to find them and a reward if they are found.
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Policies do vary, though, and you must always check the inclusions. Sometimes you cannot claim for the cost of treatment for a condition which started before you took out the policy, even if it is ongoing. Some policies will pay for treatment for a new and ongoing condition, such as epilepsy, eczema or arthritis for the rest of the pet's life. Others, however, will only pay for the first 12 months, or up to a maximum value. |
Most pet insurance policies provide the following benefits:
- Vet and medical fees
- Boarding fees
- Death benefit
- Theft or loss
- Holiday cancellation
- Advertising and reward
- Third party liability
- Accidental damage
Always check that the amount of veterinary fee cover is adequate – even a single illness can cost hundreds of pounds -, that there is no limit on how long you can claim for each illness, and that your pet will be covered throughout their old age.
Some policies will include cover for flea control, for spaying or castration, and for vaccinations, while others will not.
And it's not always possible to insure every dog. You will find it difficult to insure a racing dog, a guard dog, a working dog, or one registered under the Dangerous Dogs Act.
More people claim on their pet insurance than their house or car insurance, which shows how invaluable it is. The premium will, of course, depend on the amount of cover and benefit, but is a very worthwhile investment, guaranteeing the best care possible for your domestic pet, horse or exotic pet.
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