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Cheap pet insurance options
We got quotes from a range of pet insurers for both dogs and cats. We used younger and older animal profiles. The below is an average of these quotes and can be used as a guide to show how much pet insurance quotes can vary between insurers. Your own quote will differ, this should be used as a guide only.
Provider | Average annual price | |
---|---|---|
$505 | Get quote | |
$774 | ||
$853 | Get quote | |
$1,096 | Get quote | |
$1,108 | Get quote |
To learn more about how we got the costs above, read our pet insurance methodology.
How to get cheaper pet insurance
Select a higher excess
The higher the excess you choose, the cheaper your premiums will be. Our filters let you choose between a $0 and $500 excess to help lower costs. Just remember that you'll need to pay this excess whenever you make a claim.
Opt for a lower annual limit and reimbursement rate
An annual limit is the maximum amount you can claim per year. The reimbursement rate refers to the percentage of a vet bill the pet insurer will pay. Generally, the lower the annual limit and reimbursement rate, the cheaper your pet insurance policy is likely to cost.
Get multiple quotes
While we can't show you exactly how much you'll pay for a pet insurance policy, there's nothing stopping you from clicking through, answering some questions about your pet and getting a couple of different quotes. If price is your only concern, go with the insurer that gives you the cheapest quote.
What does pet insurance cover?
A typical pet insurance policy can cover you for a range of treatments. Each provider differs so be sure to understand what's included as standard and what you'll need to add as an optional extra.
Here are some of the benefits you'll find in your policy:
- Accidental injuries
- Illnesses
- Tick paralysis
- Routine care
- Hospitalisation
- Surgery
- Radiology
- Specialist care
- Skin conditions
- Hereditary conditions
- Medicines
- Cruciate ligaments
- Lab tests
- Dental
- Cancer treatment
- Consultations and vet visits
Some pet insurance policies cover you for specified illnesses. This means you need to read the product disclosure statement (PDS) to see which illnesses your furry pal will be covered for. In most cases, it should include the most common types of illnesses.
How does pet insurance work?
In the event your pet needs medical attention, pet insurance works by providing you with a partial reimbursement on the vet fees you had to pay. This is done with a few considerations:
Benefit percentage
When you take out your pet insurance policy, you can elect a reimbursement rate. The options are typically for 70, 80, 90 or 100%. The higher your reimbursement rate, the higher your premium will be.
Benefit limit and sub-limits
Each insurer has a maximum cover amount available per year. This is the limit which they will pay out in any single year. On top of this, there are sub-limits which apply to specific treatments. Let's say for example, you take out a policy with a max cover amount of $30,000. Afterwards, you have to go to the vet for a cruciate ligament treatment and it costs you $4,000. You go to make a claim for cruciate ligaments but it has a sub-limit of $1,500. This means you only get reimbursed for $1,500 of the $4,000 you paid.
Policy excess
When you take out a policy, you will nominate an excess to pay. This is the amount you will have to pay the insurer to be able to make a claim on your policy. Often, instead of having to transfer the money to your insurer, they'll just deduct it from your reimbursement.
How is a pet insurance premium calculated?
The cost of your pet insurance premium is highly customised. It will depend on any of the following:
- Breed
- Age
- How healthy they currently are and if they've had illnesses in the past
The status of your pet aside, there are a few other factors that influence your overall premium:
- Policy excess: The higher your excess, the lower your premium
- Optional extras: The more you add, the more expensive your policy will be.
"I realised the value of pet insurance when one of my dogs got very sick as a young puppy. We have now had both dogs insured for years. I can't tell you how much we've saved being able to claim vet bills for injuries and some illnesses. If I could do it again, I would organise insurance before bringing the dogs home as puppies."
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