The best lifetime insurance for your pet (2024)

Pet insurance: the benefits of covering your pet for life

For Sean, it was love at first sight. From the first moment he saw an Irish Terrier, he knew it was the dog for him. He brought Murphy home as a puppy, much to the surprise of his wife Moz.

Murphy became part of the family. Then at just 8 months old, he developed what the vet diagnosed as Kennel Cough. When the cough didn’t subside after a few weeks, Sean and Moz sought a second opinion. Murphy was diagnosed with a congenital lung condition which required an operation.

Although the operation saved Murphy’s life, he needed ongoing care for related illnesses and wasn’t expected to live past 2 years old. Now aged ten, Murphy is still part of the family, complete with a second Irish Terrier and the couple’s daughter Matilda. Sean and Moz have almost lost him countless times but thankfully due to their Covered For Life® dog insurance policy with Petplan, they have been able to access the continued veterinary care and medicine Murphy needs to lead a healthy life.

Lifetime insurance that covers the best care

Petplan’s Covered For Life® insurance is designed to give pets like Murphy the best possible care. We offer a breadth of cover that allows you to go ahead with the diagnostic tests and treatment that your vet recommends. And your Petplan Covered For Life® policy will provide this cover year after year. So your pet can continue to receive the best care for ongoing conditions.

The best lifetime insurance for your pet (1)

It’s the kind of support you’d expect to get from all pet insurance policies, isn’t it? But this isn’t always the case. Some policies limit what they’ll pay towards certain diagnostics, like MRI or CT scans. Or what they’ll pay for certain conditions, like cruciate ligament injuries. Others won’t cover your pet for dental illness or injury, or for congenital and hereditary conditions like Murphy’s.

Don’t compare pet insurance on price

“Pet insurance is designed to help families cover the cost of veterinary treatment, but things aren’t as straightforward as they once were,” says leading veterinary specialist Professor Noel Fitzpatrick (best known as the Supervet). “There are now over 80 insurance companies offering pet insurance with a huge range of policies available. Some types of pet insurance only cover accidents, some only pay out for 12 months, some provide no more than a set amount for each condition.”

The bottom line is, not all pet insurance is the same, so choose wisely.

Professor Noel Fitzpatrick

Once you have decided which type of pet insurance you want, there’s another layer of complexity, adds Professor Fitzpatrick: “If you look at the details, the terms of a Lifetime policy with one company may be different to the terms of a Lifetime policy with another company. The bottom line is, not all pet insurance is the same, so choose wisely.”

To make sure you end up with a policy that will give your pet the best possible care, always look beyond the headlines and ask pet insurance companies these three simple questions

  1. Are there any additional limits within the vet bills cover?
  2. Do you cover dental illness and injury?
  3. Will I pay more if I claim?

With Petplan’s Covered for Life® pet insurance we have no additional limits for specific conditions or diagnostic tools. Yes, of course we also cover dental illness and injury. And no, you won’t pay more if you claim than if you don’t. We don’t wriggle out of claims. We pay 98% of Covered for Life® claims. And it’s no surprise that, like Sean and Moz, over 90% of Petplan customers renew with us each year.

Get your pet the best care. Find out more about Petplan’s Covered for Life® insurance

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Supervet on diagnostic tools Cover restrictions can limit the diagnostic tools at your vet's disposal. Read more
Avoid hidden limits Hidden limits can restrict the care you can afford for your pet. Read more
Supervet on vital pet insurance questions Every pet parent should ask these 3 questions before they insure their pet… Read more
Supervet on choosing pet insurance Not all pet insurance is the same - choose wisely to get the best care for your animal. Read more
Cheap pet insurance limits Cheap policies with restrictive cover may cost you more in the long run Read more
Supervet on cheap pet Insurance …its about value over many years rather than looking for a short-term deal. Read more
No penalty for claiming Getting your pet the best care without worrying about the consequences. Read more
Supervet on diagnostic tools Cover restrictions can limit the diagnostic tools at your vet's disposal. Read more
Avoid hidden limits Hidden limits can restrict the care you can afford for your pet. Read more
Supervet on vital pet insurance questions Every pet parent should ask these 3 questions before they insure their pet… Read more
Supervet on choosing pet insurance Not all pet insurance is the same - choose wisely to get the best care for your animal. Read more
Cheap pet insurance limits Cheap policies with restrictive cover may cost you more in the long run Read more
Supervet on cheap pet Insurance …its about value over many years rather than looking for a short-term deal. Read more
The best lifetime insurance for your pet (2024)

FAQs

Is lifetime pet insurance worth it? ›

A lifetime policy is best, as this will provide cover towards vets' bills year after year. This can be a great help - especially in cases where a chronic condition develops - which is unfortunately common in senior pets." Robin Hargreaves, Agria's Senior Veterinary Advisor.

Is there such thing as pet life insurance? ›

Pet life insurance is similar to life insurance for humans. If the animal passes away, the life insurance will provide a death benefit. You can use the money for anything you like, but people generally use it to pay for the animal's funeral costs and/or cremation, or to replace the income you made from the animal.

How do I get the best out of my pet insurance? ›

These three tips will ensure you get the best experience possible.
  1. Pay Upfront Treatment Costs On A Credit Card, And Pay It Off With Your Reimbursem*nt. ...
  2. Make Sure Your Vet Knows About Your Pet Insurance Coverage. ...
  3. Make Sure Your Policy Makes Sense For Your Breed, Location, Age, And Any Pre-Existing Conditions.

What is the average cost of Metlife pet insurance? ›

How Much Does MetLife Pet Insurance Cost?
PlanAccident and IllnessWellness Plan
Average monthly cost*$56$10–$25
SummaryBase accident and illness insurance coverageOptional wellness coverage
4 days ago

Does lifetime pet insurance cover dental? ›

Lifetime pet insurance is a comprehensive type of pet cover you can get for a dog or a cat. Our lifetime policy provides cover for veterinary bills incurred for accident and illness including dental treatment, up to the annual cover limit that you select.

How much does the average person spend on pet insurance per month? ›

Average Pet Insurance Costs by State, Monthly
StateAverage Premium for CatsAverage Premium for Dogs
California$31.97$61.29
Colorado$28.78$47.56
Connecticut$31.56$52.63
Delaware$27.68$45.70
46 more rows

What is a disadvantage of pet insurance? ›

Pet insurance reimburses you for veterinary expenses, meaning you have to pay them upfront. Pet insurance doesn't cover pre-existing conditions, meaning once your pet is sick, it's too late to sign up. Not all health issues are covered by pet insurance.

What happens with pet insurance if pet dies? ›

If applicable, death of pet cover can provide the purchase or donation price of your pet in the unfortunate event of their death. This payout will be up to a set limit that should be detailed in your policy wording.

Does pet plan cover death? ›

Your policy may not include the Death from Injury and/or Death from Illness sections of cover. These are only included if they're shown on your Certificate of Insurance. Third Party Liability applies to all dogs, unless it has been specifically excluded from your dog's cover.

Why is PetPlan the best? ›

Petplan has been around for more than 40 years and currently insures 1.3 million pets. That's more than any other provider. Our years of experience mean we cover a wide range of injuries and illnesses – and we pay out on 97% of claims we receive. We also want to help owners get their pets the best care.

Does Waggle pay out? ›

Waggle pays veterinary hospitals as fast as possible even though we strive to pay net 15 days from receipt of invoice.

Can you negotiate your pet insurance? ›

Many providers allow you to customize the price of your insurance premium by selecting the reimbursem*nt rate, annual deductible, and/or annual reimbursem*nt limit. This enables you to choose less coverage in favor of a cheaper pet insurance rate.

Why is trupanion so expensive? ›

Trupanion is among the most expensive pet insurance providers we have reviewed nationwide. The company likely charges higher costs because it features a standard 90% reimbursem*nt rate and an unlimited coverage model.

Does MetLife Pet cover MRI? ›

Pet Insurance Might Cover the Cost of an MRI

We understand that hearing “your dog needs an MRI” can be extremely stressful. The good news is that MetLife's Pet Insurance has policies that could cover diagnostic scans for your pet.

Does MetLife Pet Insurance cover surgery? ›

Some of the things a policy with MetLife Pet can typically cover are: Accidents and illnesses. Vet-prescribed medication. Surgeries, hospitalization, and emergency care.

What age is best to get pet insurance? ›

Simply put: The best age to get pet insurance for dogs is when they're young (puppies are best). As they age their health will inevitably decline, and they'll be inherently riskier to insure. That risk will be passed on to you, the owner, in the form of higher monthly and annual insurance premiums.

Is pet insurance a good investment for a pet Why or why not? ›

Absolutely. Think of it as transferring risk for a small fee. Pet insurance can not only help keep your pet healthy, but it can also be lifesaving.

Is life insurance always worth it? ›

If you're single or you have other sources of wealth to protect your family, then you may not need life insurance. But if you're like most people, you will have mortgage payments, college expenses or the need to protect your family from the loss of earnings if you pass away.

Do you think pet insurance is worth it? ›

Bottom line. Pet insurance can help both your animal companion and your wallet. But it doesn't cover every situation and it can get pricier as your pet gets older. Knowing what a policy includes (and excludes) and getting multiple price quotes can help you make an informed decision.

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