At a glance, pet insurance providers seem similar, but there are actually lots of differences between policies. To make your decision easier, we've reviewed the standout features from each pet insurance provider available on Finder, looking closely at the key pros and cons.
How do the insurers on our panel stack up? Here are our pet insurance reviews
Members get 10% off their Woolies shop every month
Price beat guarantee on comparable policies
The $24,000 annual limit is higher than most of its competitors
Donates $10 to Pet Rescue for every new policy
Routine care is automatically included with the comprehensive policy, but you might not want or need it (treatments are often not that expensive anyway)
Compare pet insurance features and quotes from these Aussie brands
Now that you've weighed up the pros and cons of each, click through to receive a personalised quote.
Why compare pet insurance with Finder?
You pay the same price as buying directly from the pet insurer.
We're not owned by an insurer (unlike other comparison sites).
We don't ask for your phone or email.
We've reviewed over 35 policies on the market, so you don't have to.
Your checklist for reading pet insurance reviews
If you're reading multiple pet insurance reviews online, keep the following things in mind:
Read more than one review. Don't make up your mind based on one review. Read a few reviews to get a more complete picture of the features of a policy and the strengths and weaknesses of an insurer.
Be wary of reviews written by displeased customers. If a customer has had a bad experience with an insurer, fair enough – it's certainly information that could help you make a choice. However, make sure to check that the customer has a legitimate reason to be dissatisfied, as some customers complain about dodgy service from insurers when it is actually the customer who was in the wrong.
Look at who wrote the review. Was the review written by a so-called industry expert? If so, what are their qualifications? Was it written by a former customer? Look for any vested interests a reviewer might have that could influence their review.
Watch out for reviews on the insurer's website. No insurer is going to post negative product reviews on their own website, so don't take these types of reviews as a completely accurate portrayal of a policy.
Watch out for fake reviews. Use your wits and don't be sucked in by any reviews that sound too good to be true.
Finder survey: How many times have Australians of different ages made a pet insurance claim?
Response
75+ yrs
65-74 yrs
55-64 yrs
45-54 yrs
35-44 yrs
25-34 yrs
18-24 yrs
0
92.31%
91.36%
83.12%
78.49%
75.42%
78.72%
82.35%
1
3.85%
3.09%
7.79%
8.14%
8.94%
7.45%
5.88%
15
1.92%
2
1.92%
1.23%
3.25%
5.23%
5.59%
6.38%
4.9%
10
1.23%
1.16%
1.12%
0.53%
20
1.23%
0.65%
1.74%
1.12%
3
0.62%
3.9%
0.58%
2.79%
3.19%
4.9%
4
0.62%
0.56%
1.06%
0.98%
6
0.62%
1.16%
2.79%
5
1.3%
1.74%
2.13%
0.98%
12
0.58%
0.56%
14
0.58%
9
0.58%
11
0.56%
8
0.56%
0.53%
Source: Finder survey by Pure Profile of 1009 Australians, December 2023
What to look for in a pet insurance policy
While you can garner a great deal of useful information about pet insurance policies by reading pet insurance reviews, you need to know what's right for you, which means knowing what to look for.
What is covered?
The first piece of information to look for is exactly what a policy covers you for. Items to look for include:
Are accidents and illnesses covered or is it an accident only policy?
Can you add a benefit for routine care procedures (for example vaccinations)?
What optional extras are available with your policy?
What is the maximum amount you can claim against your policy each year and what percentage of your eligible vet bills will the insurer pay?
What is excluded?
Look for the section of the review that refers to a policy's exclusions. Common exclusions include:
Pre-existing conditions; however, some insurers make it possible to take out coverage for certain pre-existing conditions once your pet has recovered from them
Illnesses for which there is a known vaccine
Breeding and pregnancy
Failing to take proper care to look after your pet
Consider what you need in a pet insurance policy
When reading pet insurance reviews, always consider your own needs. There's no point in buying a policy simply because it comes with some added features that you're unlikely to ever use. To get one that's right for your pet, keep the following in mind:
Know the cover you need. Look at the cost of accident cover compared to the increased cost attached to a combined accident and illness policy. Are you looking for basic or comprehensive cover, and how does the protection offered by each policy stack up against the competition?
Know what is covered. Look for information on exactly which injuries and illnesses each policy covers. Does one policy cover a larger number of conditions than the rest of the competition? Or is there one particular policy that covers all the injuries you fear your pet is most likely to ever sustain?
Check the maximum benefit. You also need to check the maximum benefit limit per year on each policy. Pet insurance will usually only cover a certain percentage of your eligible vet bills, usually ranging from 50% to 80%, so look for a policy that will let you claim as much back as possible.
Other features to look for in a review include exclusions, sub-limits, excess amounts, average premium costs and any waiting periods that may apply.
Easily compare policies side by side in our comparison table. Use the filters to compare each feature that matters to you.
Take note of different levels of cover
It's a good idea to consider the exact level of cover you require before taking out a pet insurance policy. Cover options include:
Accident only. If you're on a tighter budget and only want protection for some of the worst-case scenarios your pet might encounter, an accident only policy may be a good option. This offers protection for the medicine and treatment costs for a range of injuries, including those caused by car accidents, falls, burns, insect bites and snake bites.
Accident and illness. If you want an increased level of cover, a combined accident and illness policy will offer cover for the treatment costs when your pet suffers one of a wide range of illnesses. These include cancer, skin conditions, hereditary problems and other infectious diseases.
Comprehensive. A comprehensive policy offers an increased level of cover, typically featuring a higher benefit limit and the option to include cover for routine care procedures. However, in order to decide on which type of policy is right for you, you'll need to consider how important it is to you that your pet is covered and how much insurance you can afford.
Once you know what features you want in a policy, you can read pet insurance reviews to confirm the best policy option for you.
Richard Laycock is Finder’s insights editor after spending the last five years writing and editing articles about insurance. His musings can be found across the web including on MoneyMag, Yahoo Finance and Travel Weekly. Richard studied Media at Macquarie University and The Missouri School of Journalism and has a Tier 1 Certification in General Advice for Life Insurance. See full bio
Gary Ross Hunter was 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 bio
Gary Ross's expertise
Gary Ross has written 648 Finder guides across topics including:
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