1300 489 873Pet insurance is one of the wisest things you can do for your fur baby — and it’s not just fellow pet parents who think so. Vets recommend that every pet gets covered with health insurance to make sure they get access to the medical care they need, no matter their financial situation.
There are loads of different types of pet insurance options out there that have their own pawsome perks and are suited to different needs and pet types. With loads to pick from, it can be tricky to decipher what’s actually worthwhile and necessary.
To make things easier and much simpler for you, we’ve rounded up all the different kinds of pet insurance cover choices that are recommended by vets —- after all, they are the experts!
We also share what coverage add-ons vets recommend, why vets advise pet owners to get their four-legged pals covered, and ways that your vet can help you pick the perfect plan for your pet.
Find the best pet insurance option (and loads more) in this helpful guide.
Vet-Recommended Pet Insurance Policies
All kinds of pet insurance policies have their own set of pawsome benefits that suit the many needs of different pet owners and furry friends. Some are better suited to low-risk felines while others are an ideal fit for certain dog breeds — it all comes down to picking the coverage that best matches them.
Vets typically recommend different policies based on the specific health needs of each pet. Factors like their age, overall health, breed, lifestyle, and where they live all get factored into making a choice. Here’s a round-up of all the different pet insurance styles you can get alongside what they cover and who they are the best match for:
Accident-Only Coverage
The simplest, and most affordable, level of coverage you can get is accident-only coverage. It does exactly what it says on the label: cover accidents. If your fur baby runs into trouble, be it a bite, fractured or broken bone, cut, or burn, you can get the related vet treatments and prescribed medication covered on this kind of plan.
Why Vets Approve It
Vets recommend this kind of policy if you’ve got a healthy fur baby that has no, or a super low, risk of developing chronic and hereditary health problems. All pets run into mischief every now and then and have accidents, so if you do have an otherwise healthy fur baby, accident-only coverage is the most fundamental level of protection that you need, according to the experts.
Accident and Illness Coverage
Accident and illness pet insurance gives you the balance, and peace of mind, of both accidental injury and illness coverage. It lets you have a comprehensive level of coverage while still remaining budget-friendly. It’s great for young and adult pets that have good health. It’s equally suited to pets that have a low risk of getting sick or injured.
Why Vets Approve It
Vets recommend accident and illness cover the most for pets because it gives you the financial support you need to make sure your furry bestie gets the help they need without any cost-related treatment delays, like not being able to afford the vet bill or medication.
Vets highly rate this pet insurance option because it’s still affordable while also covering both accidental injury and illness.
Comprehensive (Lifetime) Coverage
Comprehensive pet insurance covers the most; accidental injuries, illnesses, hospitalisation, operations, prescribed medications, third-party liability — you name it!
It’s the highest level of cover any pet parent can get, and it often comes with the highest pet insurance premiums.
But, the costly premiums are definitely justified by the value for money you get. Think of it like this: what you pay in premiums doesn’t even compare to what you’d have to pay out-of-pocket for vet bills, making comprehensive, or lifetime, cover definitely worthwhile.
Why Vets Approve It
Vets recommend comprehensive cover for pets that have a higher health risk, like senior dogs or pedigree breeds.
Many vets advocate that comprehensive cover is the smartest option because it covers the maximum, ensuring your four-legged pal has access to the medical attention they need, no matter your available finances — think of it as a big safety net that supports proactive healthcare and early prevention.
Breed-Specific Coverage
Each and every pedigree breed out there comes with its own set of characteristics, looks, quirks, and health needs. Breed-specific coverage is designed especially with specific breeds in mind. It provides extra coverage that’s tailored to the most common hereditary diseases and chronic conditions that certain breeds are susceptible to.
For instance, family-favourite Labrador dogs are at high risk of developing hip dysplasia, whereas fluffy Maine Coon cats are more likely to get kidney disease.
Why Vets Approve It
Breed-specific coverage comes with high praise from vets because it focuses on the unique health needs of individual breeds, and includes the exact coverage they need.
They don’t just recommend it for pets, but also for owners because it means your pockets are covered on more relevant treatment costs, meaning you can get your pet specialist medical care when they need it most.
Puppy & Kitten Coverage
Puppy and kitten pet insurance covers all the essential early-life health needs that young fur babies have, like congenital conditions, accidents (because every pup and kitten is full of mischief and clumsy!), and even select wellness care depending on the insurer (like desexing and vaccinations).
Why Vets Approve It
Vets love puppy and kitten coverage because it gives youngsters the best possible start in life. Vets recommend getting pups and kittens covered ASAP to avoid pre-existing conditions that you can’t claim.
Location-Specific Coverage
Location-specific coverage is just what it sounds like: coverage tailored to where your pet lives. Different areas present their own set of health risks, like jellyfish stings along the Sunshine Coast or black snake bites in Victoria.
Lots of insurance companies, like PetsOnMe, let you pick any vet within the area you live in, meaning you get location-specific cover and access to the best medical care in town.
Why Vets Approve It
As fellow Aussies know all too well, each corner of Australia has its own set of risks, be it bushfires or venomous critter bites. Vets strongly recommend location-specific coverage for that very reason. If you live in an area that has a high chance of a specific accident, disease, or illness getting to your pet, getting location-specific insurance will protect your pet, and your pockets, against localised health risks.
Vet-Approved Pet Insurance Add-Ons Worth Buying
A lot of the time, pet insurers will try to entice us with coverage extras, many of which our pets don’t really need. However, vets do recommend some add-ons based on individual pet needs. They can be a great way to customise your insurance plan to meet your furry friend’s individual needs. Here are some worthy insurance add-ons approved by vets:
- Routine Cover: This insurance product includes a bunch of essential routine care, like regular check-ups, vaccinations, flea/tick prevention, and deworming. Vets recommend it for puppies and kittens that need regular vet visits during the early days, and elderly pets that are more high-maintenance.
- Dental Cover: You can add dental cover to certain plans. Vets are always telling us just how important dental health is for pets, so it’s no surprise that they highly recommend this add-on. Some insurers do offer dental cover at no extra cost, so it’s always worth double-checking. For example, at PetsOnMe, pets get select dental coverage with our Deluxe Plan.
- Behavioural Therapy Cover: Some pets have behavioural issues, like aggression and anxiety. If you’ve got your hands dull with a cheeky pooch or scared kitty, vets strongly advise getting them behavioural therapy cover to overcome their problems.
- Alternative Therapies Cover: There’s loads of lesser-known vet treatments that aren’t covered under most policies, but are equally important, which is why vets suggest getting this add-on. Treatments like chiropractic care and acupuncture, are just a few examples.
- Emergency Boarding Fees: If you get into a pickle and urgently need your pet looked after, emergency boarding will cover the costs of putting your pet in accommodation while you sort things out on your end. Vets recommend this as a backup plan in case something ever happens to owners.
- Travel Insurance: Vets recommend that all wanderlust pet owners and pets get travel insurance coverage to ensure fur babies have access to medical care while overseas.
Why Vets Recommend Pet Insurance
There’s a few reasons why vets are always recommending pet insurance.
For starters, it covers your pockets when unexpected medical emergencies arise, while also ensuring your beloved furry friend has access to the care they need, no matter your financial situation. Because it makes quality care more accessible, pet insurance also gives your pet the best possible chance of recovering and avoiding any serious health mishaps in the future.
How Vets Can Help Find the Purrrfect Pet Insurance Policy
No one knows your pet’s health needs better than their vet, and with their help, you can find out exactly what kind of insurance your fur baby needs. Simply ring up your vet surgery, or wait until your pet’s next visit, to ask what kind of policies and add-ons best match the individual health needs of your four-legged friend.
You can ask about the kind of health problems your pet is at risk of developing, be it based on location or breed. You can also ask about potential recurring treatments and long-term care needs — all of which will help inform what kind of policy is the best fit for your pet.
Get Vet-Approved Pet Insurance with PetsOnMe
Here at PetsOnMe, we’re amongst the vet-approved Aussie pet insurers offering multi-award-winning coverage tailored to cats, kittens, dogs, and puppies.
We offer top-dog location-specific and breed-specific policies, as well as different levels of cover tailored to every budget and pet health needs.
Want to switch from another provider? We’ll knock out our waiting periods and get you covered pronto if you’ve held an uninterrupted policy for a year or more.
