As a nation of animal lovers, when a pet becomes ill, it can be a very worrying and upsetting time. You want the very best treatment for your pet, yet anxiety over their health can be made worse by the concern of high vets’ bills. The average cost of a visit to the vet is over £130. With one in three pets needing veterinary treatment each year, pet insurance is clearly an important consideration and potentially a key way of saving money if things go wrong.

For pet owners who do not have this insurance, these unexpected bills can easily swell their monthly expenditure to breaking point. Rather than face these unexpected bills many pet owners are now preferring to protect their finances and pets by taking out insurance to cover them. To help you understand a little more about this kind of insurance we will briefly explain the basics you will normally find in the average pet insurance policy and how to save on them.

The four most important things to consider when choosing pet insurance are:
1. Medical benefits – Taking out a policy with sufficient medical benefit is vital. Always check the policy details and the limit of medical fees you’re actually covered for.
2. Limitations – Some pet insurance will have limitations written in the small print. These can quite often include time limits on when you can claim. 3. Life Long Cover – Look for pet insurance that you can renew year after year, even in the event of you making several claims. Some pet insurance will allow cover for life while others may stipulate a maximum age of 8- 10 years.
4. Liability – As with all insurance policies there are usually a number of differences to be found between the various insurance companies.You will generally find, though, that most insurers will offer some kind of liability in their pet insurance that protects you in cases where your pet has caused damage to property or, worse still, another person.

When you get to the point of having identified the extent of the insurance you require, where do you go to obtain cover?  Not surprisingly, the UK has a wide range of pet insurance providers, including well known direct brands like Churchill and Directline where you can click through for quotes below.

Finally, pet insurance doesn’t just cover vets’ bills, it also offers a range of payments designed to assist with the unexpected financial implications of owning an animal, such as:Travel related issues – vets’ bills while travelling, transportation of your pet if it becomes ill, theft or straying during the journey and subsequent quarantine fees.

• A lump sum if your pet dies following an accident.
• The cost of a holiday cancellation due to your pet being ill.
• Advertising and reward costs if your pet is lost or stolen.
• A lump sum if your pet is irretrievably lost or stolen.
• Kennel costs if you are unexpectedly unable to look after your pet (for example, if you go into hospital).