New pet owners should get their pets insured

With Christmas Day now over for another year there are many households that will have a new addition to the family in the form of a new pet, such as a cat or dog. However, whilst families will be looking forward to starting the New Year with a new member of the family it is also important to start thinking about the health and welfare of the pet as early on as possible.

It is important for new pet owners to start thinking about getting their pet some health insurance, so that if they pet falls ill or suffers an accident it can get treatment or medication without the owners having to worry about finding the huge amounts of money that this can cost without insurance cover.

Officials have advised new pet owners to compare pet insurance to find a good deal, and to make sure that their pet gets the protection of health insurance as soon as possible. This is particularly important for those that have had younger pets such as kittens and puppies, as they are more susceptible to health problems.

Whilst there are a number of insurance companies that offer competitive health insurance policies there are also some veterinary surgeries that offer their own pet cover, so when you get your pet registered with a pet – which should also be done as soon as possible – you can enquire about their own bespoke pet health cover schemes.

Without pet insurance cover in place it can be very difficult for pet owners if something happens to their beloved animal, but with cover in place pets will have the protection of being able to get treatment and medications quickly and easily if the need arises, and pet owners will be able to enjoy peace of mind.

Tags: welfare, pet, worry, officials, Pet Emergency Management, Ownership, protection, new pet owners

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Pet insurance affected by location and housing

The cost of insuring a pet can be affected by where the animal is housed and what part of the country you live in.

According to insurer Allianz, there are various factors which determine the price of pet insurance premiums such as the age and breed of a pet, how much it cost to buy it, how much physical activity it takes part in and if the owner lives in an area where it is expensive to run a veterinary surgery.

Clare Wheatley, risk and underwriting manager for Allianz’s Petplan programme, noted that “the cost of setting up and running a vet practice can vary greatly across the UK”.

She added: “We take a pet’s age, breed and location into account when insuring them.

“Age is a factor because just like humans, pets are more likely to fall ill as they get older. A man or woman may develop diabetes and arthritis later in life, and so may a pet. Therefore, to cover the additional risk of insuring an older animal we charge slightly more for dogs over the age of eight (five years for some breeds) and cats over the age of ten.”

Tags: allianz, Physical exercise, woman, Human Interest, risk

Pet insurance could save you a fortune

According to a major UK pet insurance company having some form of pet insurance in place could help some pet owners to save a fortune on the cost of caring for their beloved pets over the course of their lifetime.

Britain is known to be a nation of animal lovers, and most pet owners want the best for their pets, particularly when it comes to their health. However, those with no form of insurance cover in place could face crippling costs or a heartbreaking decision if their pet is injured or falls ill and required surgery or expensive treatment.

According to the UK pet insurance specialists Petplan, a dog, with a typical lifespan of twelve years, could cost around £14,750 over its lifetime, and a cat, with a typical lifespan of sixteen years, could cost around £14,230. The insurance company goes on to state that the rising cost of veterinary consultations and treatments is why many decide to take out pet insurance cover, and for many this acts as a real life saver – literally in some cases – when their pets need surgery or treatments following accidents, injuries, and illness.

Figures indicate that there are many more claims made on pet insurance each year in the UK compared to other types of insurance cover. Around 34% of pet insurance policyholders make a claim each year compared with around 9% of other types of insurance policyholders. However, it is important for pet owners to ensure that the cover that they take out is comprehensive and will provide them with the necessary protection for their pet.

Premiums can vary based upon the type of pet, its health and medical history, and its age, so consumers are urged to shop around and check the cost of cover as well as the level of protection provided.

Tom Smith
27th September 2007

Related links:

• Insurance : Do You Care More About Your Pet Than Yourself?
• How Do Insurance Companies Work Out Premiums?

Tags: pet, petplan, claim, cost, Insurance, cover, cat, surgery, vet

Cats of any age ’should be covered by insurance”

Cat owners have been advised that they should purchase insurance no matter how old their pet is.

Maggie Roberts, head of veterinary services for feline welfare charity Cats Protection, argues that vets’ bills can “soon mount up” and that “even the most well looked after cats can develop unexpected illnesses”.

Ms Roberts also said that having a pet undergo treatment or surgery can be emotionally draining. She said that having to worry about treatment costs can be an “added burden” for cat owners who have an ill animal.

The head of veterinary services continued that costs can be generated in a number of areas, listing that pet owners could find that their animal has to undergo surgery, hospitalisation or be referred to a specialist.

In its latest report on pet insurance in the UK, market research consultancy Defaqto found that less than one in five cats (17 per cent) in the UK are covered by pet insurance.

Tags: insurance policy, specialist, ill animal.The head, pet insurance, Insurance, age, pet, Retroviruses

Unnecessary vet visits cost £19m

Up to 49 per cent of emergency trips to the vet are unnecessary and British businesses are losing out on £19 million as a result.

According to insurance firm More Than, 37 per cent of all pet owners in the UK have taken time of work to take their animal to the vet.

The majority lied to their employer about what they were doing, with 58 per cent taking annual leave, while many said that they were ill.

However, More Than has discovered that almost half of these cases did not require an emergency visit to the vet, costing a combined £118 million.

In response to this, the insurer is launching a new service which it says is based on the successful NHS Direct.

The service is called Vetfone and it is hoped it will save pet owners time, money and worry.

“Pets are an important part of the family so when a pet becomes ill, many people don’t hesitate to take time off from work to rush them to the vet,” said Mike Holliday-Williams from More Than.

“MORE TH>N’s Vetfone will provide worried pet owners with 24 hour access to a qualified veterinary nurse who can advise them on the best course of action.

“We anticipate that Vetfone will save pet owners valuable time and money in unnecessary vet visits, and it will enable vets to focus time on the serious cases that need their expert skills,” he added.

Tags: pet, time and money, unnecessary vet visits, owners valuable time, uk

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