1300 489 873When it comes to pet insurance, our pooches deserve the very best. We get just how confusing and time-consuming it can be to run around searching for the right policy, as fellow dog owners ourselves.
Obviously, finding insurance that works for your pup is a main priority. But, it’s equally important to choose something that works with your needs and preferences as a pet parent, too. To help you out, we’ve rounded up the best levels of cover and types of policies suited to every kind of four-legged friend and owner.
We also break down just how important dog insurance is and how it works, to make sure you get the full picture and understand all the important stuff. Dig into our complete guide on what the best pet insurance for dogs is today!
What Level of Cover Is Best for Dogs?
There are three levels of cover your pooch can get: accident-only, accident and illness, and comprehensive (lifetime). Each type has its own pawsome benefits and is suited to different pet parents and dogs, so picking the ‘best’ option is down to the needs and preferences of you and your furry buddy.
Here’s an overview of the different levels of dog insurance coverage you can get:
Accident-Only Cover
Accident-only insurance is just what it sounds like. It only reimburses you for eligible vet bills for accidental injuries. Mishaps like bites, burns, fractures, and dangerous ingestion are a few examples of the kind of accidental injuries that this kind of policy covers.
It’s the cheapest option you can get, so it’s brilliant for budget-conscious pet parents.
Accident-only insurance is ideal for dogs with no hereditary or chronic health risks. If your pooch is unlikely to get sick anytime soon, and rarely visits the vet, then this is all the coverage they need.
Accident and Illness Cover
Accident and illness cover strikes a balance between comprehensive protection and affordability. It covers a bunch of select accidental injuries and illnesses, ranging from broken bones and bites to infections and even some chronic conditions. So, your fur baby is protected if they run into mischief and become poorly.
It’s a fur-tacular choice for pet parents who want to play it safe. It’s equally great for dogs that are healthy for the most part, but do have some moderate health risks that can pop up.
Comprehensive (Lifetime) Cover
Comprehensive pet insurance has the most amount of eligible vet bills, making it the highest level of cover that your canine companion can get. It’s essentially the ultimate safety blanket for emergency health problems that can happen.
Comprehensive dog insurance covers loads of stuff, including a bunch of accidental injuries, hereditary and chronic conditions, common infections, hospital stays, surgeries, and even select dental illnesses — it’s safe to say your pooch is fully covered!
If you’ve got a high-risk doggy, like a senior pooch, or a specific breed that’s prone to more serious health problems, like Frenchies, Pugs, and Bulldogs, then you’ll need comprehensive cover. Because you get the most amount of protection out of this policy, you’ll pay higher monthly premiums compared to the other levels of cover out there.
But, don’t let the price tag put you off — you’ll actually find that you’re saving $1000s each year on costly vet bills, making it exceptional value, and well worth every penny.
Best Types of Pet Insurance for Dogs
Now you know the levels of cover you can get, it’s time to explore the different styles of insurance that are out there. Loads of insurers, like PetsOnMe, offer specialist cover tailored to different needs, like insurance just for young pups and coverage designed for specific breeds.
Picking a speciality policy will ensure your beloved woofer gets the exact coverage they need while making sure your bank account is properly safeguarded for relevant vet charges that aren’t otherwise covered with general policies. Here are the most tail-wagging dog insurance policies you can get:
Puppy Pet Insurance
Just welcomed a puppy into the family? You’ll need puppy insurance. This kind of cover gets your pup protected as early as possible, safeguarding your pockets from pre-existing condition exclusions – the sooner you get covered the more eligible conditions you can claim.
It typically covers congenital conditions, common puppy accidents, and in some cases, desexing, vaccinations, and parasite prevention.
Most insurers, including PetsOnMe, will cover your pup once they hit 6 weeks old, and you’ll be eligible for puppy coverage up until they reach 12 months.
It’s widely recommended by fellow pet parents and vets to get puppy insurance because you’ll get more eligible claims designed just for puppies, while also ensuring your fur baby gets the best possible start in life. And, let’s face it, puppies are full of mischief and surprises, so it’s a wise choice for pet parents to financially cover their backs with a puppy policy.
Breed-Specific Pet Insurance
Every dog breed is special in its own wonderful way. In addition to the unique characteristics and looks of the many breeds out there, every type also comes with its own health needs.
Certain breeds are more at risk of developing a hereditary or chronic problem, like Beagles which are prone to intervertebral disk disease (IVDD), or German Shepherds which are at a higher risk of getting hip dysplasia. That’s why breed-specific insurance is so important. It means you get specialised coverage for the common health problems of your dog’s breed.
With a general dog policy, you might not get the same types of eligible cover, so it’s a wise choice to get your pedigree pooch insurance based on their breed.
Location-Specific Pet Insurance
As fellow Aussies know, every area in Australia has its own set of local critters, plants, and weather conditions which present their own risks, not just to our health, but to our fur babies, too!
That’s where location-specific dog insurance comes in. It gets your dog the exact coverage they need based on the local health risks in your area.
For example, if you live in New South Wales, where the dreaded Sydney Funnel-Web Spider resides, you’ll get accidental injury coverage that includes spider bites. Or, if you live in the hottest parts of Australia, like Kimberly, you’ll be entitled to heat stroke coverage.
Why Dogs Need Pet Insurance
Dog insurance comes with loads of benefits, not just for your pooch, but also for you as a dog parent. If you’re still wondering why your dog needs coverage, here’s why:
- Financial Safety Net: Insurers cover your back when emergencies strike, saving your pockets from lump sum vet bills and ongoing expenses. This means your pooch has access to medical care when they need it most, regardless of your financial situation.
- Accidents Happen: From swallowing socks to munching on forbidden plants, our dogs are full of energy and bound to run into mischief at some point. Having dog insurance is one of the smartest and most responsible choices you can make as a pet parent, saving you the cost of expensive vet bills when accidents happen.
- The Healthiest of Dogs Can Get Sick: You can do everything by the book — regular walks, organic diet, routine pampering, and vaccinations —- and your pooch can still get sick. That’s why it’s always wise to be fully prepared for your pup’s health to take a worse turn.
- Peace of Mind: With dog insurance, you’ll never need to panic about affording vet bills or delaying necessary treatment.
- Saves You $1000s: Dogs are a huge financial commitment that can set you back up to $6,000 a year – and, that’s without the extra vet bills on top! By getting covered, you’ll only pay a small percentage out of your own pockets, saving you $1000s each year on vet expenses.
How Dog Health Insurance Works: What You Need To Know
Dog insurance isn’t a ‘one size fits all’ kind of deal — each insurer has their own way of working. But, you can generally expect some standard terms and conditions, waiting periods, limits, and inclusions across all policies.
To get covered, you pay a premium. This can be monthly or annually — think of it as a subscription payment. Premiums are set on the level of coverage you pick your pet’s breed, your pet’s age, and your location.
You get an annual benefit limit which can be anywhere from $5,000 to $20,000, depending on the level of cover you go for. This is kind of like an allowance for eligible vet bills.
Insurers will cover a set percentage of vet bills for you — this is known as the reimbursement percentage. This often ranges between 70% and 90%. And, the remaining amount that you’re left to pay is the excess.
In most cases, you can’t get covered instantly, unless you choose the Accidental Plan at PetsOnMe. There are waiting periods that usually range from 21 days to 6 months. At PetsOnMe, we ditch our waiting periods if you’ve had uninterrupted cover with another provider for 12 months or more.
Any illnesses your dog had before the commencement date of a policy will be deemed a pre-existing condition, and therefore can’t be claimed under any policy. That’s why it’s important to get your pup covered ASAP.
Get Your Pooch Covered with PetsOnMe’s Award-Winning Dog Insurance
PetsOnMe offers pet insurance coverage made with pet owners in mind. We’ve got puppy and dog policies designed for every kind of pooch. We’re Australia’s leading pet insurers offering hassle-free, flexible, and affordable dog insurance policies — without the jargon.
Browse and compare our signature levels of cover: Accident, Classic, and Deluxe online today!
