Pet Cat Insurance Cover Options
by Tanya in Cheap Cat Insurance
At first glance cover levels for pet cat insurance may seem confusing. In reality their design is uncomplicated—there are three main types of plans with various maximums and excess amounts. Once you understand the three types, it is easy to compare packages and to select a cheap cat insurance plan that meets your needs.
Full and Partial Life Options
Life cover applies to the full course of an eligible illness or injury. This type of plan offers protection in the event of a short-term illness or a condition that lasts for a long time—diabetes and arthritis, for example, may require medications and interventions for the rest of a cat’s life. Annual claim limits per condition range from £2,000 to £7,000 per year.
Cat Insurance Policies
- Lifetime health care cover
- Accident, illness and injury cover
- Emergency boarding fees
- Pet travel cover
- Veterinary nurse 24-hour helpline
- Online discount - 10%
An intermediate option is a life plan with maximum payments for each affliction. This type of policy will cover any condition indefinitely until the maximum payout is reached. Maximums vary—one insurer offers £5,000 to £6,000 per condition.
A Time-Limited Plan Is an Economical Choice
For those interested in cheap cat insurance, a time-limited plan may be the best option. This type of policy limits the period of time each condition will be covered—often the period of cover is 12 months. Although the ongoing expenses of long-term conditions are not paid by this type of pet insurance for cats, a time-limited plan softens the blow of initial diagnostic costs and treatments. As well, short term conditions are fully covered, subject to maximums ranging from £3,000 to £5,000.
How Excess and Co-Insurance Provisions Work
When giving a cat insurance quote, many insurers take into account the age of your pet and where you live, when establishing the amount of an excess and/or co-insurance. They may also allow you to choose a higher excess or co-insurance level, which will lower the premium.
What is an excess? Let’s say you have a bill for a vet exam, X-rays, and pain medication. You pay part of the bill and the insurance covers the other part. When your portion of the bill is a fixed amount it is called an “excess”. An excess may be £50 or more.
Some policies have a co-insurance arrangement, with or without an excess. The principle is the same. Part of the bill is the co-insurance, which you pay, and the insurer pays the remainder. The co-insurance is calculated as a percentage of the bill. For example, the co-insurance might be 20% of the claim, or £35, whichever is more.
Special Options
When selecting a cat health insurance plan, consider whether you want your pet to have complementary care when recommended by the vet. Complementary care includes treatments such as physiotherapy, massage, hydrotherapy, and acupuncture. Each policy defines complementary care differently— so it is best to ask what a policy includes to avoid surprises when making a claim.
Another special consideration is whether you plan to be travelling outside the UK with your cat. If you will be taking your pet overseas it is possible to be insured for emergency care while abroad—a basic cover level is 30 days, but some insurers cover longer trips as well.
Cat Insurance Policies
- Lifetime health care cover
- Accident, illness and injury cover
- Emergency boarding fees
- Pet travel cover
- Veterinary nurse 24-hour helpline
- Online discount - 10%
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