A Pet Assurance plan covers a range of conditions and procedures. It’s an option for those on a budget or looking to have pre-existing conditions and all medical procedures covered in a policy.
Cover Options
One standard plan is on offer from Pet Assure, depending on where you live and the number of pets you want to add to your policy.
Annual Limits
No annual limits.
Fees
Pet Assurance plans start from $99 annually. Fees vary according to location and the number of pets on the plan. Multi-pet discounts are available.
Its multi-pet discount means it is a provider best suited to those with many pets in their household.
Cover Options
ASPCA offers two types of insurance policies for your puppy: complete coverage for both accidents and illness, and an accident-only plan. The policy’s cost is dependent on the age, breed and type of policy taken out. Add-on preventative coverage is also available.
Fees
$118 per year and above, depending upon reimbursement rate.
Annual Limit
Up to $10,000.
Established in 2009, Healthy Paws also runs a non-profit foundation helping animal shelters and pet rescue centres care for and re-home pets.
Cover Options
Their puppy insurance policy covers emergency treatment or illness but not regular care, such as check-ups. Healthy Paws also offers a wellness policy for general care of your puppy, such as routine appointments or vaccinations.
Fees
Fees are dependent on the age, breed, location and type of plan. Puppy insurance costs start from approximately $15 per month. Prices vary according to the level of reimbursement selected.
Annual Limit
No annual limit.
Alternative treatments such as acupuncture or chiropractic care are covered under a basic policy.
Cover Options
Figo offers three levels of puppy insurance policy: essential, preferred and unlimited. These come with varying levels of cover from $5,000 up to unlimited cover. A separate wellness plan can be added to the puppy insurance plan.
Fees
Start from around $92 per month, depending on policy type and reimbursement level selected.
Annual Limits
Start from $10,000 up to unlimited depending on the policy type.
It is best suited to those needing a budget-level puppy insurance plan.
Cover Options
Two puppy insurance cover options: accident-only and accident and illness. With an accident and illness policy, owners can select from three levels of cover: Essential, Plus and Elite. A wellness plan can also be added on. Plans are customizable according to deductibles and reimbursement levels.
Fees
Fees are dependent on plan type and customization. Basic accident plans start from $9 per month.
Annual Limits
From $5,000 to unlimited, depending on the policy type.
A high maximum annual limit means 24PetWatch is suitable for puppy owners who want to plan for the future.
Cover Options
Four plans are on offer at 24PetWatch: Extra, Classic, Superior and Champion. Each varies in the annual coverage offered.
Fees
Fees are from around $340 a year.
Annual Limits
24PetWatch’s annual limits are from $5,000 to $20,000, depending on plan type.
The list below outlines some of these according to the key factors a puppy owner should consider. There is a 15% multi-pet discount on policies, so this insurer is suitable for owners with multiple pets.
Cover Options
Bought By Many offers two types of plan: an accident-only one and an accident and illness one. Different levels of cover are available, from a Value to a Complete plan. Each plan offers different annual limits.
Fees
Around £36 per month depending on the puppy’s age and breed, and the policy’s type and excess amount.
Annual Limits
£3,000 on the Value plan (accident only) to £15,000 on the Complete plan (accident and illness plan).
Insurance Emporium aims to suit all puppy owners with its wide array of plans available.
Cover Options
Insurance Emporium offers:
Public liability plans Accident-only plans Time-limited plans Maximum benefit plans Lifetime plans
Plans differ according to what is covered and how vet fees are to be considered.
Fees
Fees are variable by the plan type. Accident-only fees start from approximately £5 (every 28 days).
Annual Limits
The Insurance Emporium’s pet insurance annual limits are variable by plan, from £3,000 to £15,000.
A plan with Waggel suits puppy owners who want a straightforward policy. There is an easy claims process and monthly perks for puppies and their owners.
Cover Options
Waggel simply offers one puppy insurance plan with six levels of cover. The plan covers cancer, hip issues, dental costsand recurring conditions.
Fees
Variable according to the puppy’s age, where you live and the level of excess selected (Waggel term this a claim contribution).
Annual Limits
These range from £1,000 to £10,000 by the level of cover selected. Limits are placed on specific treatments as part of the plan.
There are four different plans to choose from, with varying levels of cover. More Than suits puppy owners who prefer to manage their plans online and those looking for different plan types from budget to comprehensive cover.
Cover Options
More Than offers four puppy insurance plans: Accident-only, Basic, Classic and Premier. Each plan differs according to what is covered and the vet fee limits.
Fees
Plan fees vary by type of cover and the puppy’s age and breed. The accident-only plan is the lowest cover level plan and is cheaper than the other three, and can be less than £5 a month.
Annual Limits
Variable by policy type from £2,500 to £8,000 per year.
A Petplan policy is suitable for those who want lifetime illness cover or one covering routine care.
Cover Options
Three policies are offered: 12–month cover, Covered for Life Classic and Covered for Life Ultimate. Policies differ according to duration owners can claim for illnesses and conditions.
Fees
Fees are variable by policy type, size, age, breed and the location of the puppy. Typical fees can be £20 per month for a 12-month cover plan to £60 per month for Cover for Life.
Annual Limits
From £3,000 to £12,000 per year depending on the policy.
Cover Options
Two types of cover are available from Direct Line: Essential cover (time-limited to 12 months cover per illness or condition) and Advanced cover option (unlimited time).
Fees
Prices start from £6 per month for their Essential plan and £11 per month on their Advanced cover plan. Additional fees are charged if add-ons are included in the puppy insurance policy.
Annual Limits
They are variable by policy type from £4,000 to £8,000 per condition per year.
Insurance is often thought of as being for the house, car or medical insurance for ourselves. But there are many other types of insurance that give us protection against every eventuality; this includes insurance for our pets. If you are a new puppy owner, you may think that puppy insurance is not necessary. But it is. Puppies are young and take time to be trained. They are curious and play with things they shouldn’t be playing with, cause or have accidents or eat things that are bad for them. This often means an unexpected trip to the vet and treatment costing hundreds if not thousands of dollars. Taking out puppy insurance gives you peace of mind. It means you can manage any unexpected vet costs should your puppy become ill or have an accident.
What Does Puppy Insurance Cover?
Puppy insurance works in the same way as your home, car or medical insurance. When you take out a plan, you answer questions about your puppy and select the level of insurance cover you want and can afford. The higher the level of cover you want for your puppy, the higher the monthly premium cost you pay. Insurance for puppies usually covers:
Accidents Illness Emergency examination costs Hereditary conditions
It usually doesn’t cover general vaccinations, neuters/sprays, routine examinations, pre-existing conditions and preventative care. When deciding on pet insurance for puppies, it is worth shopping around and looking at what each puppy insurance provider covers. The cheapest puppy insurance policy is not always the best choice, because lower monthly premiums normally mean higher out-of-pocket fees when making a claim. Puppies are curious and take a long time to be trained, so the chances of accident or injury tend to be high. A trip to the vet could end up being very costly, so arranging puppy insurance is good for peace of mind. Choosing a policy with third liability cover means that you will be covered if your puppy causes damage or harm to a person or their property. When buying a policy, you will need to provide information on your puppy, including their age, breed and where you live. It is important to obtain a few different puppy insurance quotes before making your choice. By paying a set annual or monthly premium, you will know exactly what is covered and how much you will need to spend in the event of a claim. One disadvantage is that you will sometimes have to pay the bill yourself in the first instance, before claiming a proportion of the money back from the insurance provider. This might cause problems if the bill is very expensive. Some insurance companies are slow to process claims, so try to choose one that accepts online or telephone claims. Some insurance providers will pay out at the point of service, so choose one that offers this if finances are tight. Some puppy owners prefer to pay money into a dedicated savings account instead of buying puppy insurance. Think about the level of insurance cover you need, how much you could afford to pay for out-of-pocket expenses, the process for making a claim and your puppy’s breed. If your puppy is a thoroughbred, you will probably need a more expensive policy than if you have a non-pedigree dog. Lifetime cover is the most comprehensive puppy insurance option. In the US, reputable puppy insurance companies include Pet Assure, ASPCA and Healthy Paws. In the UK, reputable puppy insurance companies include Direct Line, Waggel and PetPlan. In the US, you will probably need to pay between $30 and $50 per month. However, some puppy owners pay more than $100 per month for insurance cover. In the UK, a puppy insurance policy to cover accidents and illnesses will probably cost about £20 each month. If you would prefer to buy a lifetime policy in the UK, this will cost you at least £25 each month. Having a puppy insurance policy in place means you should be able to afford to take care of them if they are unwell or injured. If you do not purchase puppy insurance, it is wise to put some money to one side every month to cover any future puppy-related expenses. After your claim is processed, your insurance provider will reimburse you. This usually happens within two weeks. The amount of money that you receive will depend on the terms of your insurance policies. Some of the more comprehensive policies will pay the bill directly, although choosing one of these policies will probably mean a higher premium. If you choose an accident and injury policy, this will usually cover things like emergency care, diagnostic testing, cancer treatment and euthanasia. However, it is unlikely to cover preventative procedures or routine care, such as spaying, neutering or vaccinations. If you choose a policy with third-party liability cover, this means you are covered for claims against harm or damage caused by your puppy. Arranging puppy insurance will provide peace of mind if your puppy is unwell, injured or causes damage to another person or their property. If you do not have insurance, claims can be very expensive, so you need to think about whether you can afford not to buy insurance. If your puppy is a pedigree breed, or one that is likely to suffer from hereditary health issues, a higher level of cover is the best option. Think about how much you would be able to afford to pay in excess in the event of a claim. A higher excess usually means lower annual or monthly premiums. Find out about the process for making claims – choosing one that supports telephone or online claims is likely to be more efficient than a provider that only processes postal claims. In the US, you can expect to pay at least $30 per month, although some people pay over $100 per month to insure their puppy. In the UK, puppy insurance to cover accidents and illnesses is likely to cost in the region of £20 per month. For a lifetime policy in the UK, you can expect to pay a minimum monthly premium of £25. It is important to make sure that your chosen insurance policy is suitable for your needs before making a financial commitment. An accident-only policy will probably be fairly cheap, but it will only provide cover for emergency treatment as a result of an injury. You should always read through the terms and conditions before buying puppy insurance. Dog insurance policyholders are required to pay a monthly or annual premium in exchange for insurance cover. There is a range of policy options to choose from, depending on your circumstances. The most basic insurance cover is an accident-only policy – this provides cover for emergency treatment if your dog sustains an injury. The most comprehensive option is lifetime cover. With this type of policy, you can claim for new health conditions up to an agreed maximum. The maximum limit resets each year. There are lots of puppy insurance providers on the market. Shopping around and looking at the finer detail of each policy means you find a policy that meets yours and your puppies needs and your monthly budget.
