Pet Insurance NZ: Do You Really Need One?

Do you really need pet insurance? Sure you love your fur-babies, but is getting a separate cover a bit too much?

Of course, getting pet insurance can offer some kind of help with lessening the costs of your expenses. But, up to what extent can it cover? Is the price and additional expense worth it for the benefits you get?

Here’s what you need to know about getting separate insurance for your pets in New Zealand.

What is pet insurance?

Raising a pet is no easy feat, especially when it comes to finances. Every pet owner knows how regular vet visits, treatments, and medications can easily cost thousands of dollars! Raising pets with special conditions such as cancer, diabetes, and respiratory infections can cost even more! Luckily, pet insurance can help you shoulder these costs.

Pet insurance covers not only dogs and cats, but also a wide inclusion of pets such as reptiles and insects. It’s becoming more popular among New Zealanders, especially with policies becoming more accessible and affordable. 

The leading insurers that offer pet insurance policies are:

• AA Pet Insurance
• Tower Pet Insurance 
• PD Pet Insurance
• Petplan
• Pet-n-sur
• Warehouse Pet Insurance
• Ellenco Pet Insurance
• Southern Cross Pet Insurance.

Ready to get pet insurance? Compare the best deals and find the right plan for you here at glimp!

How does pet insurance work?

There are several requirements set by the insurance company to get coverage for your pets. It may differ per pet and insurer but generally, pets should only be 7-8 years old.

It can be a challenge to find the right cover for senior dogs as they can also pose a loss for the insurer due to their age. Simply consult a pet insurance company to know your options. This is important to note if you ever decide to adopt senior pets.

Southern Cross Pet Insurance offers two types of cover for your pets. One is Accipet, which covers pets of any age. Compare Pet Insurance plans to see it's is right for you and your pets of all ages.

What does pet insurance cover?

The coverage for the pet insurance policy may differ greatly. These are the most common situations that most pet insurance cover.

• Cost of veterinary checkups, including treatment of illnesses, accidents, as well as surgeries for cataracts, broken bones, and more.
• Professional fees for medications of special conditions like diabetes, epilepsy, among other severe cases
• Congenital and hereditary conditions
• Loss of pet due to theft or straying, including the reward money

Note that your policy may incur excess. You may also need to have a co-payment agreement where you share up to 30% of the costs. Of course, you have to pick the right payment option as it can easily affect your premiums.

What are the most common vet bills?

Getting covered by a policy means you can avoid these common vet bills. As mentioned, you may have to pay for an excess and have a co-payment arrangement for some of these conditions. 

Take a look at the most common vet bills in New Zealand.

• CT scan for cats - $1,750
• Broken femur for cats - $1,800
• Removal of ingested material - $1,950
• Fixing chipped tooth - $2,200
• Broken bone for dogs - $2,800
• Emergency surgery for cats - $4,000
• Kidney condition treatment - $5,500

These prices are only estimates, so some vets may charge more or less. Always consult your vet for more specific prices.

Your pet relies on you. Make sure you get them the best plan. Compare pet insurance providers here at glimp!

What does pet insurance exclude?

It goes without saying that pet insurance leaves out a wide variety of situations as well. To get some idea, here are the most common exclusions for pet insurance policies in New Zealand.

• Injuries from pet owners’ negligence
• Infectious diseases like flu, feline leukemia, and herpes
• Special treatments due to breeding
• Organ transplant, joint replacement, or failure to vaccinate

Remember to always disclose every little detail about your fur-babies to get the right coverage for you. 

Why get pet insurance?

All is looking good for pet insurance, right? However, will you ever use this to cover the costs of taking care of your fur-babies?

According to the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) executive director Bob Kerridge, most pet owners use their policy two to three times a year to get coverage for different conditions, especially routine vaccinations.

Although uncommon for most Kiwi pet owners, you can also claim for emergencies and illnesses depending on your policy. This makes pet insurance all the more worth it for a wide range of scenarios that may happen to your pets.

What is the right pet insurance for me?

There are a lot of factors to consider if the insurance is right for your pets. This includes their conditions, age, breed, and more. It always changes depending on your situation. 

Before finalising your pet insurance, get a customised quote from a trusted provider in New Zealand. Or, you can simply use our comparison tool, right here at glimp! 

Get the right pet insurance, and cover your fur-babies for a wide range of situations!