Nelson Insurance

Getting pet insurance could be the best move you make to ensure that your pet is properly looked after. No one knows for sure how many pets there are in the UK. In fact, there are no official figures according to the Department for Food, the Environment and Rural Affairs (Defra). However, figures from the Pet Food Manufacturers Association show that in 2004 there were some 6.8 million dogs and 9.5 million cats.

In addition, in 2001 there were more than a million rabbits, and almost a million hamsters and guinea pigs. That’s a lot of pets, without taking account of the millions of lizards, snakes and rodents. It’s almost inevitable that a pet will become ill at some time, and vets’ bills can be costly. That’s why it’s a good idea to get pet insurance.

What Is Covered?

So, what does pet insurance cover? Well, it depends on the policy. However, these are some of the areas that pet insurance policies commonly cover. One of the most important is vets’ bills. If your pet needs tests or an operation or has to stay in hospital for several days, most of these expenses will be covered by the right pet insurance policy. Some of the medication may be covered as well. However, if your pet has a condition that predates the start of the policy, this may not be covered. That’s why many people get insurance when their pets are young and healthy. It usually pays off in the long run.

Pet insurance may also pay out in case your pet has an accident or injures somebody. Look out for third party liability or accidental damage as part of your pet insurance policy. If you need to go on holiday, but suddenly have to cancel because of circumstances affecting your pet, then this too may be covered by a suitable policy. Some policies even cover the cost of sending your pet to a boarding kennel, cattery or other pet care facility.

One of a pet owner’s worst nightmares is that a pet may wander off and become lost or that someone might steal a pet. This can be covered by a pet insurance policy, which can also make provision for the cost of advertising your loss and offering a reward for your pet’s return. Finally, you may also get death benefit when your pet passes away, in a similar way to a life insurance policy.

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