What Does Cat Insurance Cover?
Like insurance for humans, cover for your cat can vary, which means you have to do a bit of work to find the right one. Despite the uniqueness of each policy, many are most likely to cover the following:
Pet Theft or Loss
This covers the amount of money you paid to get your cat. Make sure you have proof. Otherwise, the insurer will only pay “market value.” They may also cover the amount you spend looking for your lost pet (for example, printing flyers), as well as the reward you offer for recovery. And though you will never find a cat exactly like the one you lost, insurance can give you enough to cover a new cat friend if you can’t find your cat.
Behavioural Management or Treatment
Not all cat insurance policies cover this, but the better ones do, at least for £500. If a policy does offer this coverage, make sure treatment is provided by a professional organisation or under the direct supervision of a vet.
Death and Euthanasia
Most cat insurance policies provide cover for death, but should you need it, you may have to look for a qualified vet who can certify the cause to be able to claim. There is also an age limit to this kind of cover. You’ll want your policy to cover euthanasia, as well.
Liability
Liability coverage will spare you from paying for someone’s injury or damage to their property that your cat may cause. Coverage can be large, as high as £1 million or more. But remember that insurers will only cover as much as what you had initially agreed upon as stated in your policy. Most providers will also require you not to admit liability. In any case, you can get cat insurance as a stand-alone policy for this purpose or as part of a more comprehensive plan.
Kennel and Cattery Costs
This coverage usually applies for hospitalisations longer than four days in a row, and it has to be for a minimum of £500. Also, if you usually take your cat on your travels abroad, make sure her policy covers emergency treatment of at least £1,500.
What It Doesn’t Cover
Like your own health insurance, your cat’s policy will have exclusions, or needs that will not be covered, which is fair enough, but you need to know them to avoid surprises.
Basic Health and Wellness Care
Also referred to as preventative care, this applies to all routine and preventive veterinary care and procedures that are meant to keep your cat healthy and safe, such as spaying and neutering, flea and tick control, teeth cleaning, micro-chipping, and so on. If you want to make it part of your policy, it’s possible, but it will come with an added cost.
Checkup and Diagnostic Fees
Vets usually collect a fixed rate for checkups or diagnostic tests, and this is usually on top of all the other tests or treatments that your vet will want to perform. Some cat insurance policies with payout limits, will cover this charge, but others will not.
Needless to say, you have to read the policy before you sign a contract with your cat’s insurer. Copies will be available on the insurer’s website, so go through them so you can be sure that everything is acceptable to you. Pay particular attention to the exclusions as this is typically where the most issues arise. Different policies will exclude different types of cover, but what’s important is you know exactly how your cat will benefit from the cover, as well as what you’re paying for and what you’re not.
Can You Insure Older Cats?
It really depends on the insurer, so make sure you do your research on every company you consider. Some don’t have age limits and will keep providing cover for as long you are up to date with premiums. Sometimes, a company may insure an older cat, but you will have to pay higher premiums as expected.
Does it Cover Dental Insurance?
Many cat insurance policies provide as much as £350 of dental cover. Usually, dental insurance exclusions kick in if you get the procedure done six months or more after the vet recommends it. So, if you get a policy, be sure to get the treatment as soon as you can. Dental cover for cats will not include cosmetic, cleanings, or routine treatments. The good news is, all dental treatments necessary because of an accident will be covered, although not all illness-related treatments will be.
Insuring a Kitten
Insuring your kitten as soon as you get it won’t just lower your premiums, but it’s also a smart way to help cover some of the cost of those initial visits to the vet. You will have to look specifically for kitten insurance, however.
Can You Cover Pre-Existing Conditions?
As we all know, pre-existing conditions are health conditions that an insured party already had before the start date of their policy. In short, whatever is on your cat’s medical record before her plan was effective is considered a pre-existing condition. Any treatment for this condition will not be covered if the policy excludes pre-existing medical conditions.
This is a good reason to get insurance for your cat as soon as possible. If you wait longer, your pet may go through a serious health issue, and an insurer will no longer cover it because it technically existed before you took out the policy.
And Finally, Testimonials!
There is a lot of consider when finding the best cat insurance policy, but once you have found your cover level, make sure to read real customer reviews! The Internet is your best friend, look at trusted review sites such as trustpilot or google reviews. When reading testimonials, pay attention to how difficult or easy the insurer made claims, and how quickly the insurer is known for reimbursing you after a claim.