Choosing Pet Insurance

This is a post to advise those of you who have pet insurance to look at your policy and wording and all the fine print and general exclusions of what is never covered. This can usually be found at the end of your policy document.

Here are some tips when you're taking out insurance:

• Choose the policy with the highest monetary cover, e.g., the 20k cover over the 10k cover, as just a CT scan alone can cost up to 4k.
• Make sure it covers conditions prevalent within your breed of dog, e.g., Dachshunds are prone to developing IVDD, dysplasia, Pes Varus, etc.
• Make sure you are aware of the general exclusions on the policy document.
• Make sure you understand if there are any wait periods.
• Call the insurance company, and be bold and ask questions.
• READ AND READ AGAIN THE POLICY DOCUMENT BEFORE YOU TAKE OUT COVER.
• Pre-existing signs, symptoms or conditions are NEVER covered. Pre-existing does not mean "when the issue is diagnosed". This includes if you TELL the vet and it is noted down on the medical notes the time you first noted the issue.

I am listing what some policies will never cover, and it is just a snippet, not all of the general exclusions on each policy document, SO MAKE SURE YOU READ THE POLICY DOCUMENT FROM FRONT TO BACK.

PD Insurance DOES NOT COVER:

• Hereditary conditions present before the dog's 2nd birthday.
• Pre-existing (occurred before you took out the policy) conditions, signs or symptoms
• Congenital conditions
• Behavioural conditions, e.g. anxiety, stress, etc
• Dental issues unless you are on the deluxe or dental-specific cover
• Conditions arising from being overweight or underweight
• Conditions that are prevalent for particular breeds
• Condtions that develop over time, such as arthritis, glaucoma, etc
• Joint replacements, implants, etc
• Any condition where the diagnosis is inconclusive
• Breeding and pregnancy

Pet Cover DOES NOT COVER:

• Pre-existing (occur before you took out the policy) conditions, signs or symptoms or within the first 21 days of the policy.
• Preventative treatment designed to prevent future illness from occurring rather than treating existing illnesses.
• Any treatment for dental disease if an annual dental exam has not been undertaken.
• 
  

Pet-n-Sur DOES NOT COVER:

• Skin allergies and conditions
• Behavioural issues
• Dental treatment
• Breeding and pregnancy
• Hereditary conditions, if present in the first three years of life
• Congenital conditions
• Eye issues

Petplan DOES NOT COVER:

• Preventative treatment
• Elective treatment, e.g. desexing, spaying etc
• Injury from gross negligence or malicious acts
• Non-vaccinated dogs
• Behavioural issues
• Dental treatment unless it has had its annual teeth check
• Hydrotherapy
• Signs of illness within the first 21 days

Southern Cross WILL NOT COVER:

• Pre-existing conditions
• Congenital conditions
• Cosmetic conditions
• Inconclusive issues
• Dental care
• Alternative treatment
• Breeding or obstetric conditions
• Behaviour conditions
• Genetic/chromosome testing
• Screening

SPCA Insurance WILL NOT COVER:

• Training and socialisation therapy
• Behavioural issues
• Breeding or obstetrics
• Dental issues
• Prosthetics
• Desexing, spaying etc.
• Elective treatment, e.g. hip/elbow scoring, declawing, etc.
• The 6-month wait period for cruciate ligament conditions
• Patella luxation's, elbow dysplasia, IVDD, and hip dysplasia are caused originally by accident; otherwise, there is a cover on the illness benefit.
• Ingestion of foreign objects if deemed to be caused initially by an accident; otherwise, there is cover on the illness benefit.

AA insurance WILL NOT COVER:

• Patella luxation's (dislocating kneecap), elbow dysplasia, hip dysplasia, toxicity (other than that resulting from a confirmed snake bite), ingestion of a foreign object, intervertebral disc disease (IVDD) and desexing procedure complications under accidental injury cover no matter how the condition arises. These conditions will only be covered under illness cover and will be subject to the 14-day waiting period for illness cover,
• Dental issues
• Cosmetic treatment
• Elective treatment
• Behavioural conditions
• Breeding or obstetrics
• Training and socialisation therapy
• Pre-anaesthetic bloods done

In conclusion, I recommend Pet Cover for insurance because it does not have general exclusions on hereditary conditions or IVDD, dysplasia, etc., in their policy wording as general exclusions. I cannot speak for other insurance companies, but I advise you to all do your research and due diligence and just because someone you know claims got paid out does not mean yours would. It is always on a case-by-case basis.

You can find out more about Petcover below;

https://www.petcovergroup.com/nz/

Jess x

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