What Does Pet Insurance Cover?
If your cat or dog becomes ill or injured, it's important to understand what pet insurance can help cover. Through Asda Money, there are two types of pet insurance available: Lifetime and Time Limited. In this guide, we'll explain both options and what they cover, helping you make the right choice for you and your pet.
Lifetime Pet Insurance
If you choose Lifetime Pet Insurance for your furry friend, you’ll be covering them for any long-term conditions that may arise. They’ll be protected for life, so long as you renew the policy every year.
Lifetime Pet Insurance can help to pay for health conditions that develop or worsen during the policy period and covers both accidents and illnesses. The amount of money you’re able to use on claims resets every year.
You’ll have the peace of mind of knowing your pet has the most comprehensive level of cover in place.
What does Lifetime Pet Insurance cover?
Lifetime Pet Insurance covers:
Vet fees
Lifetime Pet Insurance can cover the cost of treatment required for injury or illness, up to the condition or yearly limit of your policy. When you renew your policy each year, the time limits are reset. This means your pet will still be covered for any conditions you’ve already claimed for.
Boarding costs
If you’ve had to stay in hospital for a medical emergency, you’ll be covered for the costs of putting your dog or cat into a kennel or cattery.
Third party liability cover
You’ll be covered for any claims for loss or damage to third parties (or their property) caused by your pet. This only applies to dogs.
Dental cover
Routine dental check-ups and treatments aren’t covered. You can only claim for dental issues caused by an accident or injury.
Cover for lost or stolen pets
If your pet gets lost or stolen, you may be able to claim for advertising costs to help bring them home. If they're not found, some insurers may cover a portion of their original price, though this varies by provider.
Complementary therapies
You may be covered for some complementary therapies – like acupuncture or hydrotherapy – if recommended by your vet.
Euthanasia
Your Lifetime Pet Insurance policy may cover the cost of putting your pet to sleep if recommended by your vet.
What isn’t covered by Lifetime Pet Insurance?
Lifetime Pet Insurance typically won’t cover:
- Dental treatment: you won’t be covered for any routine dental checkups or treatment.
- Cremation and burial: these costs won’t be covered by your policy.
- Pre-existing conditions: this includes treatment and medical care for a condition that existed before you took out the policy.
- Excess and co-payment: you will need to pay towards the sum of the claim yourself (the excess). With some policies you may have to pay a co-payment – where you pay a percentage of the full cost, essentially, another excess.
Time Limited (12 Month) Pet Insurance cover
12 Month Pet Insurance – also called Time Limited Pet Insurance – covers your pet for an injury or illness for a set amount of time, usually 12 months.
You can only claim for the expenses and vet bills associated with the injury or illness for one year after the treatment first begins. There are also limits on the amounts you can claim for too – which will be set out when you sign up for the policy.
While it may not give you the same peace of mind as Lifetime cover, it is usually a cheaper option that provides cover for accidents or short-term illnesses.
What does 12 Month Pet Insurance cover?
12 Month Pet Insurance can cover your pet for new illnesses that they may suffer from or accidents they get into over a year, so long as the policy remains active.
Whenever they get a new condition or get into an accident, you can claim for it up to a pre-selected amount. The policy also covers each individual condition for 12 months from the start of the treatment. It will also usually cover the following, when related to the specific condition:
- Vet consultations
- Examinations and tests
- X-rays
- MRI and CT scans
- Medication and bandages
- Surgery and hospitalisation
Once the policy limit has been reached, or the 12 months are up, that condition then becomes a pre-existing one. This means it won’t be covered by a Time Limited Insurance policy in the future.
What isn’t covered by Time Limited Pet Insurance?
Time Limited Insurance policies typically won’t cover:
- Routine check-ups
- General treatments such as worming
- Vaccinations
- Pregnancy
- Preventative treatments
- Dental care
- Pre-existing conditions
Accident Only Pet insurance
This type of pet insurance policy only covers the cost of treatment when your pet is involved in an accident.
It’s the cheapest and most basic level of cover available. It’s generally only suitable for younger pets that don’t have any pre-existing medical conditions.
This type of policy is currently not available through Asda Money.
Compare cover types
To understand the fees and cover levels across either Lifetime or Time Limited Pet Insurance, we’ve put together the handy table below. Simply filter it for your chosen insurance type and discover the different cover levels.
| Lifetime £2,000 | Lifetime £4,000 | Lifetime £6,000 |
|---|---|---|
| Veterinary Fee Cover | ||
| £2,000 per year | £4,000 per year | £6,000 per year |
| Dental treatment | ||
| Illness - No. Accident - Yes | Illness - No. Accident - Yes | Illness - Yes. Accident - Yes |
| (as part of Veterinary Fee Cover) | ||
| Complementary Treatment | ||
| £1,000 | £1,500 | £1,500 |
| (as part of Veterinary Fee Cover) | ||
| Cruciate ligament treatment | ||
| £1,250 per year | £1,250 per year | £1,500 per year |
| (as part of Veterinary Fee Cover) | ||
| CT/MRI scans | ||
| £1,250 | £1,500 | £1,500 |
| (as part of Veterinary Fee Cover) | ||
| Specialist Diet | ||
| £200 | £250 | £250 |
| (as part of Veterinary Fee Cover) | ||
| Behaviour Treatment | ||
| £1,000 | £1,000 | £1,000 |
| (Covered as a result of an accident only and as part of a Veterinary Fee Cover) | ||
| Fixed Excess | ||
| £100 - £250 as chosen by you | £100 - £250 as chosen by you | £100 - £250 as chosen by you |
| (Certain breeds have a specified minimum excess of £200) | ||
| Co-Insurance Excess | ||
| 10% for pets aged 5 years and over | 10% for pets aged 5 years and over | 10% for pets aged 5 years and over |
| (Payable in addition to the Fixed Excess) | ||
| Death from illness | ||
| £1,500 | £2,000 | £2,000 |
| (Only available for pets less than 7 years of age) | ||
| Death From Accident | ||
| £1,500 | £2,000 | £2,000 |
| (No age limit) | ||
| Cremation/Burial | ||
| £100 | £100 | £100 |
| (only available for pets less than 7 years of age) | ||
| Third Party Liability | ||
| £1,000,000 | £1,000,000 | £1,000,000 |
| (for dogs only - £250 excess per claim) | ||
| Advertising and Reward | ||
| £750 | £1,000 | £1,000 |
| Loss of Pet - Theft or Straying | ||
| £1,500 | £2,000 | £2,000 |
| Emergency Boarding Kennel/Cattery Fees | ||
| £1,500 | £2,000 | £2,000 |
| Emergency Holiday Cancellation | ||
| £1,500 | £2,000 | £2,000 |
| Overseas Travel Cover | ||
| 364 days | 364 days | 364 days |
| Unexpected Quarantine Expenses | ||
| £1,000 | £1,500 | £1,500 |
| Lifetime £8,000 | Lifetime £10,000 |
|---|---|
| Veterinary Fee Cover | |
| £8,000 per year | £10,000 per year |
| Dental treatment | |
| Illness - Yes. Accident - Yes | Illness - Yes. Accident - Yes |
| (as part of Veterinary Fee Cover) | |
| Complementary Treatment | |
| £1,500 | £1,500 |
| (as part of Veterinary Fee Cover) | |
| Cruciate ligament treatment | |
| £1,500 per year | £1,500 per year |
| (as part of Veterinary Fee Cover) | |
| CT/MRI scans | |
| £1,500 | £1,500 |
| (as part of Veterinary Fee Cover) | |
| Specialist Diet | |
| £250 | £250 |
| (as part of Veterinary Fee Cover) | |
| Behaviour Treatment | |
| £1,500 | £1,500 |
| (Covered as a result of an accident only and as part of a Veterinary Fee Cover) | |
| Fixed Excess | |
| £100 - £250 as chosen by you, or advised | £100 - £250 as chosen by you, or advised |
| (Certain breeds have a specified minimum excess of £200) | |
| Co-Insurance Excess | |
| 10% for pets aged 5 years and over | 10% for pets aged 5 years and over |
| (Payable in addition to the Fixed Excess) | |
| Death from illness | |
| £2,000 | £2,000 |
| (Only available for pets less than 7 years of age) | |
| Death From Accident | |
| £2,000 | £2,000 |
| (No age limit) | |
| Cremation/Burial | |
| £100 | £100 |
| (only available for pets less than 7 years of age) | |
| Third Party Liability | |
| £1,000,000 | £1,000,000 |
| (for dogs only - £250 excess per claim) | |
| Advertising and Reward | |
| £1,000 | £1,000 |
| Loss of Pet - Theft or Straying | |
| £2,000 | £2,000 |
| Emergency Boarding Kennel/Cattery Fees | |
| £2,000 | £2,000 |
| Emergency Holiday Cancellation | |
| £2,000 | £2,000 |
| Overseas Travel Cover | |
| 364 days | 364 days |
| Unexpected Quarantine Expenses | |
| £1,500 | £1,500 |
| Time Limited £2,000 | Time Limted £5,000 |
|---|---|
| Veterinary Fee Cover | |
| £2,000 per condition | £5,000 per condition |
| Dental Treatment | |
| Illness - No. Accident - Yes | Illness - No. Accident - Yes |
| (as part of Veterinary Fee Cover) | |
| Complementary Treatment | |
| £500 per condition | £750 per condition |
| (as part of Veterinary Fee Cover) | |
| Cruciate Ligament Treatment | |
| £1,250 | £1,500 |
| (as part of Veterinary Fee Cover) | |
| CT/MRI Scans | |
| £1,250 | £1,500 |
| (as part of Veterinary Fee Cover) | |
| Specialist Diet | |
| £100 | £150 |
| (as part of Veterinary Fee Cover) | |
| Behaviour Treatment | |
| £500 | £750 |
| (Covered as a result of an accident only and as part of Veterinary Fee Cover) | |
| Fixed Excess | |
| £100 - £250 As chosen by you, or advised | £100 - £250 As chosen by you, or advised |
| (Certain breeds have a specified minimum excess of £200) | |
| Co-Insurance Excess | |
| 10% for pets ages 5 years and over | 10% for pets ages 5 years and over |
| (Payable in addition to the Fixed Excess) | |
| Death From Illness | |
| £750 | £1,000 |
| (Only available for pets less than 7 years of age) | |
| Death From Accident | |
| £750 | £1,000 |
| (No age limit) | |
| Cremation/Burial | |
| £100 | £100 |
| (only available for pets less than 7 years of age) | |
| Third Party Liability | |
| £1,000,000 | £1,000,000 |
| (for dogs only - £250 excess per claim) | |
| Advertising and Reward | |
| £250 | £500 |
| Loss Of Pet - Theft or Straying | |
| £750 | £1,000 |
| Emergency Boarding Kennel/Cattery Fees | |
| £750 | £1,000 |
| Emergency Holiday Cancellation | |
| £750 | £1,000 |
| Overseas Travel Cover | |
| 364 days | 364 days |
| Unexpected Quarantine Expenses | |
| N/A | N/A |
How do I protect my pet and how can Asda Money help?
Pet insurance can offer financial protection and peace of mind in the event of unexpected vet bills.
Explore Pet Insurance through Asda Money by comparing the different cover types available. Find a policy that’s right for you and start protecting your furry friend today.
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