Pet on your Christmas wish list? Here’s the buzz on 3 new pet insurance players
Important information on terms, conditions and sub-limits
If you or someone in your household has got their heart set on a fur baby this Christmas, it’s also time to start thinking about Pet Insurance.
According to the Australian Government website Moneysmart, owning a cat or dog in the first year will cost you between $3,000 - $6,000 or more, so getting a pet isn’t a decision you should take lightly.
Pet Insurance is something that can help you recover some of the eligible vet and treatment costs you may have to pay upfront if your pet gets sick or injured so it is worth considering as vet bills can be expensive.
Like other types of finance products, there’s been a big shift in insurance to online policies and apps in recent years, and along with this boom, several pet insurance players have come onto the Australian market.
The good news for pet owners is that while the brands themselves might be new, their policies are underwritten by the long-standing major insurance company Pacific International Insurance (est. 2001).
Here’s a quick look at what’s on offer from these new players…
Pet Circle - Personalise your policy*
- 100% Australian owned
- No sub-limits (T&Cs apply)
- 3 benefit percentage options; 70% 80% or 90% (subject to annual excess)
Pet circle doesn’t have a one size fits all policy so you can customise your policy and levels of cover to suit your budget and the needs of your pet. It claims to have one of the highest annual benefit limits in Australia at $30,000 a year with no sub-limits. Unlike some other providers, excess is also paid annually not per claim and you can choose what level of annual excess you need, from $0 to $150.
There are three different options available for the percentage benefit you can get back on claims - 70%, 80%, or 90% (subject to annual excess) There is also optional 360º Care which includes dental care, cover for behavioural problems, plus, cover for support therapies such as acupuncture, physiotherapy, and hydrotherapy. T&Cs apply so be sure to read the product disclosure statement prior to purchasing.
Petsy Pet Insurance - Award-winning insurance 2023*
- Quality cover award winner
- No sub-limits (T&Cs apply)
- Choice of licensed Australian vet
Petsy Pet Insurance took out a 2023 Mozo Experts Choice Award^ for Quality Cover. Your pet must be at least 6 weeks old and no older than 9 years when starting a new policy but there are no age limits on renewals.
Petsy Pet Insurance doesn’t have policy sub-limits, you simply choose the max annual benefit limit ($5000, $10,000 and $25,000) and annual excess to suit your budget. You can customise your policy with optional extras like dental, behavioural problems, and alternative therapies cover. Petsy also allows you to choose your own registered vet. Like every insurance policy they do have some exclusions and exclusion periods so be sure to fully read the PDS before applying.
Fetch Pet Insurance - Pet experts in your pocket 24/7*
Fetch Pet Insurance is out to impress with its high annual policy limit ($30,000), no sub limits and included extras like dental and behavioural problems. The price of your policy will depend on the excess ($0 or $100) and the cover percentage (80%, 90% or 100%) you select. You can potentially skip exclusion periods by doing an in-app pre-existing vet check at the start that allows Fetch via video to see if your pet has any illnesses or injuries. Payments can go directly to your vet if you opt for the Fast Claims service (T&Cs apply).
There’s a 24/7 app chat that enables you to connect directly to Fetch’s vet team in an emergency or for times when you need answers to any of your pet questions or concerns before heading to the vet. Plans are paid monthly and there is no cover for pre-existing conditions.
* Terms, conditions, exclusions, limits and sub-limits may apply to any of the insurance products shown on the Mozo website. These terms, conditions, exclusions, limits and sub-limits could affect the level of benefits and cover available under any of the insurance products shown on the Mozo website. Please refer to the relevant Product Disclosure Statement and the Target Market Determination on the provider's website for further information before making any decisions about an insurance product.
^See information about the Mozo Experts Choice Pet Insurance Awards