If you suddenly fall ill or have an accident, you re nearest and dearest will not hesitate to take you to the doctor or to your local hospital where you will be treated for free. If you have medical insurance you might end up in a very nice hospital where there is wine on the menu!
But it is a different story for animals. There is no free treatment available if your pet becomes ill. The cost all has to come out of your pocket, unless you have had the sense to take out pet insurance. It is estimated that of the country s 13 million dog owners, only 12 per cent have done so.
It pays to go for a decent level of cover. A common operation on a dog could cost between five hundred pounds and two and a half thousand, so don t kick yourself later for taking out the cheapest policy if it won t provide enough cover when needed.
Pet insurance is not for the normal veterinary bills associated with owning an animal. It doesn t cover things like worming, vaccinations and booster shots, having its nails cut, or spaying and neutering. You can spend roughly 420 pounds a year on those sorts of things, and you do need to keep up to date with injections to prevent more serious illness.
But you don t want to have to find an extra thousand or more unexpectedly. In fact it is estimated that about 40 per cent of what you pay out for your dog goes on unexpected veterinary bills.
And it is not just medical costs that pet insurance covers. Legal liability is an important concern. If your dog is in the dangerous category according to the Dangerous Dogs Act, you will definitely need insurance in case it harms anyone or their property.
Another benefit is the provision of legal advice and covering legal fees if your dog is a sheep worrier or has a penchant for biting delivery men. Likewise if your dog causes a driver to swerve and crash his car, the right pet insurance could cover you for all the repairs.
Most policies help with the cost of advertising if your pet is lost, and offer a reward as well. Some will even pay financial compensation on the loss through theft or death of your pet, up to the price you paid for it. More expensive policies will have extra features such as paying for Rover s care and accommodation if you go into hospital and there is nobody to look after him; paying for a cancelled holiday due to the pet s health problems; and for an animal behaviourist if he really has problems!
Apart from all the above possibilities, factors that help determine the cost of your policy include what sort of animal it is, its age and postcode. The level of cover you choose is your decision alone, but don t be tempted to stint on the medical cover. You might not be able to find further insurance if you reach your claim limit.
Another thing to watch out for is the animal s weight. Many medical problems are exacerbated by carrying excess weight, and it s no different for our pets. Vets claim that nearly half of all cats and dogs in this country are overweight. You could be accused of not taking good care of your animal if you let it get too fat, and you might even find your policy invalidated.
So there is a wide variety of pet insurance policies available and the best place to look is online. Compare all the details with an independent adviser, and be sure to read all the terms and conditions thoroughly. You need to be very clear on what the excess is and what is excluded.
Author Resource:
Needing to buy a Life Assurance policy, then go to the Life Assurance Protection website ( http://lifeassuranceprotection.co.uk ). Once clicked, you will find an amazing range of information not only on Life Assurance, but also on various other kinds of insurance. So take a look!
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