The price you pay to insure your pet is difficult to predict, although the breed of your fur baby will be one factor among others that will influence your pet insurance premiums.
Depending on your pet’s breed, you may have to claim more often than others. Because of this, your insurer has to pay out more in claims, which is why they’ll charge you more to insure that pet.
A catch-all term, ‘mongrels’ (dogs of unknown parentage, mixed breeds or pets that don’t fall within any definable breed category) can be cheaper to insure because there’s been less inbreeding between pets with a similar genetic makeup as you may get with purebreds.
On the other hand, conventional breeds, purebreds and ‘designer dogs’ have well-documented hereditary conditions, so it’s simple enough to know what conditions they’ll likely require treatment for during their lifetime. Pet insurance premiums will likely be higher as these breeds are more susceptible to specified illnesses and conditions.
For dogs, breeds that topped the RSPCA’s list for most pet insurance claims included:1
As for cats, the most-claimed breeds included:
Your pet’s breed will be one of the main contributors to how much you’ll pay for pet insurance. Larger breeds (which tend to have more problems with their joints) and purebreds, which are more susceptible to certain genetic illnesses, will typically cost more to insure.
Yet, this is only one part of the equation. Pet insurance premiums can be influenced by where you live, whether your pet is de-sexed, their gender and size, as well as other factors like your cover type and any optional extras you may choose.
Because of the number of rating factors and the various approaches used by insurers, one of the best ways to save is to compare a range of products, using our comparison tool is a handy way to view multiple policies all in the one place.
Let’s dive into some of the most important factors in more detail below.
If you’re serious about saving on your pet insurance policy, the best place to start is with the type of policy you’ll need. Accident-only insurance covers you in the event your pet is injured. Given the high price of some vet bills, this is the bare minimum cover to protect your pet, especially in their older years as they get more prone to falls. However, standalone accident-only insurance is not widely available because most pet insurance policies cover specified accidents and illnesses.
Accident and illness insurance will help cover a portion of the costs of accidents and treatments for some illnesses and diseases, including cancer, skin conditions and infectious diseases. Keep in mind that most insurers won’t cover pre-existing medical conditions. Check the Product Disclosure Statement (PDS) for all inclusions and exclusions.
If you’re willing to pay more for subsidised routine care, try a comprehensive insurance policy. Learn more about the different types of pet insurance before making your decision.
All pets are loveable and deserving of a good home and care. Still, it’s important to note that dogs are typically slightly more expensive to insure than cats mainly because they’re larger animals, get more outdoor activity which increases the likelihood of injuries, and tend to have more mishaps, not to mention breeding-related issues. However, the price difference between pet insurance for a dog and a cat is minimal.
Age isn’t something you can control – especially if you adopt a rescue pet. However, you should try to get your fur baby covered as early as possible. All pets become more susceptible to injuries and illnesses as they age. As a result, your premiums will probably increase each year. Plus, if they develop a condition before they’re insured, it will likely be considered a pre-existing condition, and you will be unable to claim treatment for it.
Furthermore, you can’t insure older pets with an accident and illness policy. If you commence cover early, however, your pet could be covered for life provided there’s no break in cover.
If you’ve got your heart set on buying a particular pet, a slightly more expensive policy isn’t going to stop you – and nor should it! The benefits of choosing the right pet for your home far outweigh what any insurance policy costs. Plus, there are always a few ways to save on your policy.
There are plenty of differences between each insurer, meaning that shopping around can yield serious savings. With that in mind, our best advice is to compare pet insurance policies against one another – to ensure you’re covered by the best value policy possible.
Make sure you choose the right policy for you. Study up on the particulars of pet insurance.
1RSPCA Pet Insurance claims statistics by pet types in 2018-19.
