Compare Dog Insurance

The benefit percentage (also known as the reimbursement rate) is the portion of your vet bill your insurer will pay. This generally ranges from 70% to 90% and will depend on your cover level and insurance provider. You’ll need to pay the remainder of your vet bill (known as a gap payment) along with any policy excess.

A recent development in pet insurance means some participating vet clinics are able to calculate the gap payment on the spot. This allows you to pay only your share upfront, instead of claiming the benefit at a later date.

Pet insurance policies include annual benefit limits, which set the maximum amount you can claim in each 12-month policy period. There may also be sub-limits for specific conditions which set a separate cap on the amount you can claim for the diagnosis, treatment or management of those conditions. For example, your policy may have an annual benefit limit of $10,000 but a $500 sub-limit for tick paralysis treatment.

A policy excess is a fixed amount you need to pay towards a vet bill before your insurer will reimburse you for the remaining eligible cost. When submitting an insurance claim, you will pay an excess either upfront at the vet or directly to your insurer. Some insurers will apply the policy excess before the benefit percentage is applied, while others will deduct it after. Keep in mind you can increase your excess to lower your premiums or vice versa.

Dog insurance excludes pre-existing conditions, pregnancy and elective treatments in most cases. Routine and preventative care are also generally not included as standard but can often be added as an optional extra benefit.

Some common exclusions that apply to pet insurance policies include (but aren’t limited to):

• pre-existing conditions
• diseases with a known vaccine
• dental illness or treatment (unless included as an optional cover)
• pregnancy and obstetrics
• transplants, prosthetics and other complex treatments
• elective treatments.

Pet insurance is designed to help cover unexpected risks and policy exclusions help to keep the cost of premiums down.

Read more about common exclusions found in dog insurance policies in the Product Disclosure Statement.

Standard pet insurance policies do not cover vaccinations, as many insurers classify vaccinations as routine or preventative care. Some insurers allow dog owners to add on coverage for vaccinations through a routine care or wellness optional extra benefit, which can also cover other things such as microchipping, tick and flea treatment, desexing and worming.

It’s important to review the Product Disclosure Statement to check your options for covering the cost of vaccinations.

Dog insurance is worth it if the cost of an unexpected vet bill would put significant financial strain on your budget. Accident and illness cover can help lower the risk of a health condition becoming unaffordable for you to treat, while comprehensive cover can provide additional value and peace of mind.

With vet bills potentially reaching several thousands of dollars, pet insurance can be an invaluable financial safety net for you and your furry friend.

Keep in mind that a pet insurance policy usually covers a portion of your pet care expenses. It’s important to compare a range of different policies to see the coverage limits and whether you are required to pay an excess or a co-payment.

No, dental cover is not always included as a standard feature of dog insurance. Although many pet insurance policies may cover dental treatment because of a covered accident or illness, routine dental care is often excluded. This means treatments such as teeth cleaning, scale and polish procedures and preventative dental work are excluded unless a dental benefit add-on applies.

Dental benefits will vary between insurers, but pet insurance can be a great way to help cover the expenses related to keeping your dog’s oral health in good shape. Our guide on dental care for dogs has everything you need to know, from warning signs and cleaning tips to prevention.

Yes, you can get pet insurance for many high-risk breeds in Australia, however insurers may charge higher premiums and apply strict exclusions based on a breed’s known health risks. Purebred and designer breeds may be expensive to insure as they have well-documented hereditary conditions. For example, French Bulldogs, Rottweilers and Dachshunds are considered some of the most expensive breeds to insure as they are genetically predisposed to more severe and costly health conditions.

While insurers cannot refuse to cover a pet based on potential future health issues, some dog breeds may cost more to insure due to their hereditary health issues. Some dangerous and prohibited breeds often cannot be covered.

No, pet insurance does not generally cover pre-existing conditions. A pre-existing condition is any illness, injury or health issue that your pet showed signs of before your policy started or during a waiting period. Most pet insurers will exclude pre-existing conditions from cover.

For example, if your dog was diagnosed with arthritis before you purchased pet insurance, the insurer would consider the arthritis a pre-existing condition and thus exclude treatment costs from cover.

Some insurers may reassess a condition and deem it curable if your dog has been symptom-free for a set period, typically these are illnesses like ear infections or urinary tract infections.

Yes, most dog insurance policies will have a waiting period, which is the length of time you must wait after purchasing the policy before it becomes active. Claims for illnesses, injuries or conditions that occur during the waiting period are generally not covered. Pet insurers will set a waiting period to prevent people from taking out cover after a pet has already become sick or injured. It’s a method that insurers follow to keep premiums fair for everyone, keep monthly costs down and to protect against pre-existing conditions fraud.

Pet insurance waiting periods typically range from a few days to up to 6 months depending on the type of medical condition. Accidental injury policies will have the shortest wait time at only a couple of days, while specialized joint or ligament issues can be several months.

If your dog is injured or falls ill during a pet insurance waiting period, the condition falls within the waiting period and is not covered by the policy. The injury or illness may also be treated as a pre-existing condition, meaning any future claims for the condition could be excluded.

Most pet insurance policies have a 30-day waiting period for illnesses. For accidental injuries it is often much shorter, usually no longer than 2 days. Waiting periods help keep premiums lower by stopping pet owners from only signing up for pet insurance after a problem appears.

Some insurers may waive waiting periods for accidental injury claims. This means, depending on the insurer, you could be able to make a claim straight away if your pet is injured in an accident.