Pet insurance covers travelling animals
(No Ratings Yet)
Loading ...
Posted on: February 9th, 2008 by Jennifer Jones
The Post Office has added to the range of financial services it provides and will now be offering customers comprehensive pet insurance. The insurance policy covers a number of situations faced by pet owners from veterinary bills, to pet travel insurance.
Although the cost of vet bills has risen substantially over the past years, only a small number of people, perhaps as many as 20 per cent, actually take out policies. Despite the lack of policy holders, 11 per cent of people surveyed said they would be willing to go as far as re-mortgaging their home in order to pay for their pet’s medical treatment, if necessary.
Despite the low levels of pet insurance holders, claim numbers are high with one survey indicated that 1.8 million claims are made for vet bills every year.
The Post Office offers a policy underwritten by Axa, which covers dogs and cats for up to £5,000 per medical condition, with an excess payment of just £75. The policy is valid even for long-term or ongoing conditions, continuing to pay out even if the animal requires treatment for more than 12 months.
The policy covers animals even when they are travelling abroad and includes emergency kennel costs and the cost of advertising for a lost or stolen pet. In addition, the policy offers £2 million in third party liability insurance.
According to Defaqto, a company which produced a report entitled “The UK Pet Insurance Market – Its bark is worse than its bite” in December, there are three main kinds of pet insurance, all with their limitations. The policy offered by the Post Office is almost unique in what it offers.
Defaqto’s consultant for general insurance, Mike Powell said: “While superficially straightforward, choosing the right pet insurance policy for your situation will repay the time taken to research what is on offer in the market.”
Blogman
how can people care that much about their pets that they would seriously consider taking out such policies? This borders on the ridiculous to be honest and I’m not saying that nobody will take out anything to cover Rover’s neutering bills but what about the RSPCA? Are they that expensive?
Gazza
Not all dogs are named Rover are they?
Like saying all boys are named Kevin.
and all girls are called Susan. Madonna’s isn’t though.
Blogman
Gazza with his usual intelligent, relevant comments. Do you really read the entire article before passing such inane comments matey?
Didn’t think you did.
People insuring their pets you would have thought would cover basic things, like steriliation, flea-related things, small things, if you would, I mean what would be next or soon? Sex changing your dog on the insurance? I seriously would not put that kind of thing past some people and their obsessions with their pets.
I was always brought up to believe that if you get a dog, it’s for protection most of the time, if you get a cat it’s for companionship purposes or you are an old lady, if you get a mouse or hamster it’s for a young son or daughter, if you have mice then you have a dirty kitchen or live on a farm, and if you’re the kind of person who keeps reptiles then you’re an oddball or just plain wierd.
Gazza will ignore that I think!
Gazza
Fine words as always Mr Bloggers, you really spend time with your careful considerate words.
I didn’t ignore it either!
Took me ages to read it though…but cheers for the time you spent on it, such an important topic isn’t it?
Carter
Everybody insures their pets nowadays so whats the fuss?
My dogs are insured against illness, common ailments in old age and as they are German Shepherds, arthiritus.
Styris
This is about people who insure their pets to travel, which happens a lot more often than it used to due to ‘pet passports’. My friend took his dog to Japan and guess what? the exact same innoculations were required that a human would need.
he paid over two thousand pounds for the privelege mind you and the insurance didn’t come cheap either.