Accident Only Pet Insurance

What does accident only pet insurance cover?

Accident only pet insurance covers between 60% and 100% of vet bills for accidental injuries. Some policies let you claim up to $12,000 per year and it's generally cheaper than comprehensive accident and illness pet insurance because it only covers your pet for common injuries such as:

What's the definition of an accident?

All policies have a specific definition of accident. Generally, this refers to a single, specific and unintentional incident which can be said to have occurred at a distinct time and place.

How much does accident only pet insurance cost?

You can expect an accident only pet insurance policy to cost from $36 for dogs and $30 for cats each month* – that's around half the price of a comprehensive pet insurance policy. Remember, prices differ based on pet age and breed. Here's an overview of accident only pet insurance costs compared to other policies:

Dogs

^{_{*Methodology: We averaged the cost from 2 Australian pet insurance providers for accident, accident and medical, and comprehensive plans with zero out of pocket excess. Quotes were taken in October 2021 for a male, desexed Cavoodle dog aged 1 year and 4 years.}}

Cats

^{*_{Methodology: We averaged the cost from 2 Australian pet insurance providers for accident, accident and medical, and comprehensive plans with zero out of pocket excess. Quotes were taken in October 2021 for a male, desexed tabby cat aged 1 year and 4 years.}}

• What factors will impact what I pay?

  Your premiums are generally impacted by how likely you are to make a claim, and how much it's likely to cost. As such, insurers will naturally consider the breed, age and species of your pet.

  • Cats are typically cheaper to insure than dogs.
  • Large dogs are typically more expensive than smaller dogs.
  • Breeds with a high risk of congenital issues are typically more expensive than those without.

  This is just a snapshot. You can find a more detailed list of the factors which impact premiums here.

Pros and cons of accident only pet insurance

What to look for when comparing policies

Some key things to look for when weighing up different policies include:

• How much you will be reimbursed per treatment. Different policies will reimburse you for different amounts and can range from about 60% all the way up to 100%.
• The total amount you can claim. The annual limit is the total amount you can claim back per year. Sub-limits will also apply for certain treatments.
• Types of treatment covered. This is generally the same for most pet insurers but you can find exactly what's covered in the PDS. It generally includes: accident-related consultations, surgery, specialist care, diagnostic tests and other veterinary procedures.

What isn't covered by accident only pet insurance?

In addition to illnesses, accident only pet insurance generally won't cover:

• Elective procedures and treatments. Procedures that are not essential for your pet's survival, or not part of a recognised treatment plan for a specific condition.
• Dental procedures. Policies will often, but not always, exclude cover for dental procedures. For example, with accident only pet insurance you could not claim treatments for a fractured tooth.
• Day to day care. Expected everyday costs, such as grooming or bathing, food or accessories like crates or collars.
• Cover while your pet is being used for occupational purposes. Pets are generally not covered while being used for certain purposes. For example, a dog might not be covered while pig hunting, or being used specifically as a guard dog. Guide dogs and assistance dogs are exempt from this exclusion.
• Behavioural problems. For example, if a dog is injured after attacking another dog, and the attack can be attributed to behavioural problems such as a chemical imbalance or poor socialisation.
• Unapproved or extensive medication. Medications must be approved by the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medication Authority (APVMA), and you may not be covered for more than 30 days, or another period of time.
• Breeding or obstetrics. Injuries or illnesses arising as a result of pregnancy.

Written by

Gary Ross Hunter

Gary Ross Hunter is an editor at Finder, specialising in insurance. He’s been writing about life, travel, home, car, pet and health insurance for over 6 years and regularly appears as an insurance expert in publications including The Sydney Morning Herald, The Guardian and news.com.au. Gary holds a Kaplan Tier 2 General Advice General Insurance certification which meets the requirements of ASIC Regulatory Guide 146 (RG146). See full profile

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