Like family, your dog or cat will likely mean the world to you. They’re more than a pet – they’re a friend and a companion that you want to keep safe.
Why choose Asda Pet Insurance?
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The Asda advantage
Known for putting value for money at the centre of everything we do
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You're in control
You can choose your policy cover as well as your excess terms, so you can get the cover your pet needs at a price that suits you
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Asda service, Asda value, expert providers
An insurance offer that's best for you and your circumstances
What is Lifetime Pet Insurance?
So, what does Lifetime Pet Insurance mean?
Lifetime Pet Insurance is the most comprehensive level of cover that is available for your pet. It keeps them protected and covered for life - as long as you renew the policy every year – and helps to pay towards any health condition that develops or worsens during the time of cover.
It also covers both accidents and illnesses, and the amount of money you are able to use on claims each year resets every time you renew your policy. It’s the highest level of cover designed for your pet and is often seen as premium insurance cover option as it covers your furry friend for all and any conditions for life.
How Much Does Lifetime Pet Insurance Cost?
As Lifetime Pet Insurance is the most comprehensive and highest level of cover that is available, it’s also the most expensive one. It covers more than any other pet insurance policy, so it’s obviously going to cost more than other pet insurance policies.
The amount you pay for Lifetime Pet Insurance will also be affected by a number of other factors, such as:
- Location – vet fees and treatment costs vary depending on where you live in the country, and the price of your pet insurance lifetime cover will reflect these costs.
- Age – as the age of your pet increases, so will the amount you pay for their lifetime cover pet insurance. This is because as your pet ages, the chances of them becoming injured or ill increase, meaning you are more likely to make a claim.
- Claim history – if you have made claims on your policy, your insurer will take this into account at renewal date and increase your premium accordingly as you may be likely to make a claim again
- Excess – how much you pay for your excess affects the price of your pet insurance. The higher the excess, the lower your premium, however a higher excess also means paying more when making a claim.
- Pet breed – the breed of your pet will also affect the cost of your insurance, as some breeds are more susceptible to health conditions and are more expensive to insure.
If you’re looking for cheap Lifetime Pet Insurance, there are things you can do to help keep costs down, such as keeping your pet healthy, getting your pet microchipped and neutered or paying a higher excess.
What's included in Lifetime Pet Insurance?
A Lifetime Pet Insurance policy is the most comprehensive level of cover you can get for your pet. Here’s everything that is included in a Pet Insurance Lifetime Policy.
- Vet fees – your Lifetime Pet Insurance policy will cover the cost of treatment that is required for any injury or illness, up to the per condition or per year limit. The limits are reset every year when you renew your policy, so your pet will still be covered for any conditions you claimed for previously
- Boarding costs – cover for costs when putting your dog or cat into a kennel or cattery if you’ve had to stay at the hospital
- Third party liability cover – this covers you for any claims that are made against you for any loss or damage that may have been caused by your pet. Keep in mind that this applies to dog insurance only and not cats
- Dental cover – you will only get dental cover when the issue is a result of accident and injury – routine dental check ups and treatment are not generally covered by pet insurance policies.
- Cover for lost or stolen pets – if your pet has been stolen or gets lost, your insurer may cover the cost of any advertising that is needed to help bring your pet home. Your insurer may also pay a portion of your pets original purchase price if they unfortunately cannot be found.
- Complementary therapies – sometimes, your vet may recommend complementary therapies such as acupuncture or hydrotherapy, which may be covered by your policy
- Euthanasia – if the worst happens, your Lifetime Pet Insurance can cover the cost of putting your pet to sleep.
Lifetime Pet Insurance Exclusions
Whilst Pet Lifetime Insurance is highly comprehensive, there are a few things that are not covered in these policies:
- Dental treatment – pet insurance policies do not cover the cost of routine dental check ups and treatment. The only dental cover you will receive if it is a result of accident or injury.
- Cremation and burial – the cost of cremation and burial is not covered by a Lifetime Insurance Policy
- Pre-existing conditions – treatment and medical care required for a condition that existed before you took out your Lifetime Insurance Policy is not covered.
- Excess and co-payment – with Lifetime Pet Insurance policies, you will need to pay towards the sum of the claim yourself, which is called an excess. Some policies also have what is called a “co-payment”, which is essentially another excess where you pay a percentage of the full cost.
Advantages of Lifetime Pet Cover
Is Lifetime Pet Insurance worth it? Here are some of the many benefits of taking out a Lifetime Pet Insurance policy for your furry friend:
- The most comprehensive level of pet insurance available, giving you peace of mind
- Provides cover for chronic, long-term health conditions that occur during the time of the policy
- Your pet will be covered for life for any chronic conditions, provided the policy is renewed each year
Disadvantages of Lifetime Cover
There are a few things to consider when taking out Lifetime Pet Insurance, such as:
- Higher costs for Lifetime Pet Cover
- Once you reach the per year or per condition limit, you will have to pay for the remaining treatment yourself.
- To get the full benefits of a Lifetime policy, you will have to stay with the same insurer year on year
- The price of Lifetime Pet Insurance policies increases as your pet gets older – it’s not a fixed price and will likely go up each year
Other Pet Insurance Types
Aside from Lifetime Pet Insurance, there are other levels of cover that are available to you that may be a better option for you and your pet.
Time Limited – a Time Limited insurance policy offers a fixed sum for each injury or illness your pet has, and covers vet fees for up to 12 months from the date of your pet’s illness or injury.
To find the best insurance policy for you and your pet, compare different cover types with our handy tool to find exactly what you need.
Top Lifetime Pet Insurance FAQs:
- What does Lifetime cover mean?
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Lifetime insurance for pets means that your pet is able to get the help they need if they suffer from a new illness or injury, with support in paying vet bills up to the cover limit of your policy. Unlike a Time Limited policy, this policy will cover your pet for the entirety of its life, provided your premiums are kept up to date, you renew your policy and the insurer offers renewal.
There are policies that will only protect your pet against accidents or be valid for 12 months at a time, a lifetime insurance policy will give you peace of mind that your cat or dog can get treatment without having to worry about having to cover potentially expensive vet bills on your own. You can learn more about this kind of pet insurance with our helpful guide.
- What levels of Lifetime Pet Insurance are available?
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The limits on a Lifetime policy are reinstated annually, refreshing the amount you can claim each year, updating with any new treatments your pet might need, and help you pay for as much as possible each year.
The five levels of Lifetime Pet Insurance we offer are:
Lifetime £2,000, Lifetime £4,000, Lifetime £6,000, Lifetime £8,000 and Lifetime £10,000. If you choose any of these policies, there is no limit to the number of separate conditions that you can claim for until the total financial limit has been reached.
For all of our Lifetime policies, your pet will be covered for ongoing or future conditions as long as you keep your insurance policy with us.
Take a look at our pet insurance comparison table to help you decide which level of cover is best for you and your pet.
Limitations and exclusions apply, for full details please refer to our policy documents.
- What’s included in Lifetime Pet Insurance?
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There’s a wide range of uses which lifetime pet insurance can have which takes some of the financial strain off of unexpected bills in relation to your pet:
- Veterinary fees
- Third party legal liability and accidental damage costs
- Costs associated with death due to accident or illness
- Loss by theft or straying
- Reimbursement for covering advertising and reward for return of lost pet
- Emergency Boarding Kennel or Cattery fees
- Cremation or burial cover
- Holiday cancellation, as a result of your pet needing lifesaving treatment/surgery
- Unexpected Quarantine costs
Take a look at our pet insurance comparison table to help you decide which which benefits are best for you and your pet.
Please note: all benefits have a policy limit depending on the policy you choose. Certain benefits incur an excess payable by you.
- Will my pet insurance premium increase each year with Lifetime Insurance?
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Like us, our pets are more likely to be affected by illness as they get older. This means that every year, your insurance premium will increase even if you have not made a claim. This increase may be more significant if you have claimed. We’ll limit the amount it goes up by, but your renewal price can also be impacted by:
- Increasing costs/advances in veterinary treatment
- Insurance Premium Tax increases
- Alterations you make to your policy (changing address)
- Changes made to policy pricing
This is typically why people shop around and compare insurance prices at renewal. The advantage of a lifetime pet insurance policy is that on-going conditions or illnesses that your pet develops while insured with us are covered, which you might not be able to get covered elsewhere.
- What’s the difference between Lifetime and annual pet insurance?
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While Lifetime Pet insurance can give your pet cover year on year, taking into account new conditions and any other incidents your pet may experience – Time Limited cover gives you cover for 12 months or until the benefit limit is reached (whichever is sooner) and reviews your pet’s conditions annually.
This means that with Time Limited pet insurance, new conditions will be covered for a maximum of 12 months before becoming pre-existing conditions and won’t be covered once it comes time to renew the pet insurance policy.
This is one of the main benefits of Lifetime pet insurance policies, as they are able to provide cover for on-going conditions your pet has, unlike Time Limited policies which exclude conditions after a year of cover where they’re then seen as pre-existing conditions.
- How much does Lifetime Pet Insurance cost?
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The amount that lifetime insurance costs will be dependent on several factors, including your pet's breed and age and where you live.
The cost of Lifetime Pet Insurance in the UK will vary based on these factors – which include things like age, breed, location etc – so you will have to look carefully into exactly how much it could cost you.
It is worth remembering that prices will vary depending on what level of lifetime insurance policy you chose, as they will offer different cover limits. This is on top of the variation in price when insuring different breed of cats and dogs, as some breeds can cost more to insure than others.
For Lifetime Pet Insurance comparison, use our handy tool to compare different quotes and find what works for you and your pet.
- Does the cost of Lifetime Pet Insurance increase each year?
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Pet Insurance Lifetime Cover in the UK can cost between £22 - £32 per month, according to the Association of British Insurers. However, you’ll likely find that the cost of Lifetime Pet Insurance can go up each year when it comes to renewing your policy.
The reason for this is typically because your pet is getting older, and older pets run a higher risk of being diagnosed with something that requires treatment, but there are other reasons Lifetime Pet Insurance cost can go up. If insurance costs go up across the market then your policy may also increase in price, while making claims on your policy or coming to the end of an introductory offer will also see an effect on the price of your policy.
However, while you might be tempted to shop around for better deals, you may lose out on the cover your current lifetime pet insurance policy offers you if your pet already has a pre-existing condition covered.
Other links
Asda Pet Insurance is arranged and administered by Insurance Factory Limited. Insurance Factory Limited is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. (No. 306164). Registered in England and Wales Number 02982445. Registered Office: Markerstudy House, 45 Westerham Road, Bessels Green, Sevenoaks, Kent, TN13 2QB. You can check this by visiting the Financial Services Register at https://www.fca.org.uk/register