Pet Insurance

As a vet I know just how expensive veterinary treatment can be. I have so often come across cases where treatment for a pet is available but is too costly for the owner. Where possible I personally always try to keep costs down for owners of sick pets if they are experiencing financial difficulties, but sometimes animals need referral to specialist clinics where treatments may cost thousands of pounds. That is why I would recommend that owners insure their pets.

As veterinary medicine becomes more and more complex and sophisticated so the cost of treatments go up.
Vets are now able to diagnose and treat conditions that in the past would have proved fatal for the animal. Due to these advances in veterinary medicine older pets are also living longer and this in itself means that over the average pet's life-time there will be more vets' bills to pay.

I have known of animals receiving treatment for complex conditions which costs several thousands of pounds. This level of treatment is impossible for most owners to fund from their income or savings. Only if owners of pets requiring such treatment have a pet insurance policy which covers these costs can the treatment be carried out.

I personally find it very sad when I cannot do the absolute best for an animal because the treatment is too expensive for the owner to pay for. That is why I recommend that pets are insured. When veterinary fees are covered by an insurance policy then treatments can be given based on the animal's needs rather than the cost.

There are many different insurance companies and their policies may all be different so check that the one you choose is right for you. Check that the level of veterinary fee cover is adequate and that the excess is reasonable for you to pay. Ensure that there is no limit on the length of time you can claim for a particular condition. Many companies may exclude conditions when you renew the policy annually. Make sure that an older pet will be covered: these animals are more difficult to insure because they are the ones most likely to need veterinary attention.

Pet insurance does not cover routine treatments such as annual vaccination or worming.

Under the new FSA rules vets are generally no longer allowed to recommend particular insurance policies to clients which is a great shame because for a long time we have experienced dealing with them during the claims process. Most vets were happy to recommend the best companies to their clients even though there was no financial incentive to do so. Now even though I know which insurance companies are the best in the event of a claim I am not allowed to recommend them!

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