Why Insurance is Important:
- Pet insurance is important because it helps cover the cost of veterinary care, ensuring that your pet can receive the best possible treatment without putting a financial strain on you. Here are some key reasons why pet insurance is beneficial:
- Unexpected Medical Expenses – Pets can get sick or injured unexpectedly, and emergency treatments or surgeries can be expensive. Insurance helps cover these costs.
- Financial Security – It allows you to budget for pet healthcare without worrying about large, unexpected bills.
- Better Treatment Options – With coverage, you can afford advanced treatments, surgeries, and medications that might otherwise be out of reach.
- Chronic Conditions – Some pets develop long-term conditions like diabetes or arthritis, which require ongoing medical care. Insurance helps manage these costs.
- Peace of Mind – Knowing that you can provide your pet with the necessary care without financial stress allows you to focus on their well-being.
Types of Policy
Pet insurance comes in different types, each offering varying levels of coverage. Here are the main types:
- Accident-Only Insurance
- Covers treatment costs if your pet is injured in an accident (e.g., broken bones, car accidents).
- Does not cover illnesses, diseases, or pre-existing conditions.
- Typically the most affordable option but offers limited protection.
- Time-Limited Insurance
- Covers illnesses and injuries for a specific period (usually 12 months) from when the condition is first diagnosed.
- Once the time limit or financial limit is reached, the condition is no longer covered.
- Suitable for short-term issues but not ideal for chronic conditions.
- Maximum Benefit Insurance (Per-Condition Cover)
- Covers illnesses and injuries up to a set financial limit per condition.
- There is no time limit, but once the limit is reached, further treatment for that condition won’t be covered.
- Good for treating one-off conditions but not for long-term illnesses like diabetes.
- Lifetime Cover Insurance
- The most comprehensive option, covering injuries and illnesses for your pet’s entire life, as long as you renew the policy each year.
- Includes coverage for chronic and recurring conditions.
- Usually has an annual coverage limit (either per condition or total).
- The most expensive option but offers the best protection for your pet’s health.
How to choose the best policy for you
Choosing the right pet insurance depends on your pet’s needs, your budget, and what level of coverage you’re looking for. Here’s a step-by-step guide to help you make the best choice:
1. Decide What You Want Covered
- Accidents only – If you just want protection for unexpected injuries.
- Illness & injuries – For more comprehensive coverage, including diseases and chronic conditions.
- Dental – Some policies include dental care (please see separate section)
- Hereditary & congenital conditions – Some breeds are prone to conditions that may not be covered under basic plans.
2. Understand the Types of Pet Insurance
- Accident-Only: Covers injuries but no illnesses.
- Time-Limited: Covers conditions for a set period (usually 12 months).
- Maximum Benefit: Covers conditions up to a set financial limit, but once reached, no more payouts.
- Lifetime Cover: The most comprehensive, covering ongoing conditions for life if renewed yearly.
3. Check for Exclusions & Limitations
- Pre-existing conditions are usually not covered.
- Dental care may not be included unless caused by an accident.
- Routine check-ups & vaccinations are usually excluded as insurers expect you to do this, to help keep your pet as healthy as possible
- Breed restrictions – Some breeds prone to health issues may have limited coverage or higher premiums.
- Many insurers will void your policy if your pet is not vaccinated, some will accept titre testing as an alternative, please check with your insurer.
4. Compare Costs & Policy Limits
- Look at monthly premiums vs. potential out-of-pocket costs for treatments.
- Check the annual or per-condition limit to ensure it covers high-cost treatments.
- Consider the deductible & co-pay – How much you’ll need to pay before insurance kicks in.
- Does your plan include holistic care?
5. Read Reviews & Customer Experiences
- Look for customer reviews on claim approval times and ease of reimbursement.
- Check your policy’s Defaqto rating (N.B. it is important to check the policy and not just the insurer as many insurers have policies with different ratings). You are ideally looking for a Defaqto five star rating.
6. Look for Multi-Pet Discounts & Add-Ons
- If you have multiple pets, some providers offer discounts.
- Add-ons for alternative therapies (e.g., physiotherapy, acupuncture) can be useful.
Dental Cover
When it comes to dental care and pet insurance policies, there are several important things to be aware of:
1. Not All Policies Cover Dental Care
- Many basic pet insurance plans exclude dental treatment unless it’s caused by an accident.
- If you want dental coverage, you may need to choose a comprehensive or lifetime policy.
2. Accidental vs. Routine Dental Coverage
- Some policies only cover dental injuries from accidents (e.g., broken teeth from trauma).
- Routine dental care (cleanings, check-ups, extractions due to decay) is often not covered unless specified.
3. Pre-Existing Dental Issues Are Usually Excluded
- If your pet already has dental disease before taking out insurance, it won’t be covered.
- Insurers may require a recent dental check-up before offering coverage.
4. Regular Dental Care May Be a Condition for Coverage
- Some policies require proof that your pet has had regular vet check-ups and dental cleanings to claim for dental issues.
- If you neglect your pet’s dental health, your insurer might reject a claim for dental disease.
5. Breed-Specific Dental Risks
- Some breeds (e.g., small dog breeds, flat-faced breeds) are prone to dental problems, and insurance might have restrictions or higher premiums for them.
How to Get the Best Dental Coverage for Your Pet
- Look for lifetime or comprehensive policies that explicitly include dental illness and not just accidents.
- Read the terms and conditions carefully—especially the exclusions.
- Keep up with regular dental check-ups and cleanings to ensure coverage eligibility.
Insurance Claims with MCR Vets:
Here at MCR Vets we aim to make the process of claiming on your insurance as smooth as possible. Please take a moment to review how we manage insurance claims:
Direct Claims
We’re able to offer direct claims with the majority of insurers. There is a £25 admin fee, payable once per policy year.
Please note, unfortunately we cannot offer direct claims for the following companies:
- Co-op
- Frank
- Healthy Pets
- Insurance Emporium
- Insurance Factory
- Pet-Insurance.co.uk
- Petsure
- Direct Line
We aim to process all insurance claims within 10 working days.
Non-Direct Claims:
Electronic Claims – No Admin Fee
For insurers that accept electronic submissions, we do not charge a fee for processing your insurance claim. These include:
AA, Ageas, Agria, Animal Friends, Argos*, ASDA, AVIVA, Co-op, CoverMyPet, Debenhams, Everypaw*, Halifax, Healthy Pets, Insurance Emporium*, John Lewis, Kennel Club, LV=, ManyPets, MiPetCover, More Than, M&S, Napo, Paws and Claws, Pet-ID, Petplan, Pets at Home, Pets in a Pickle, Petwise, Purely Pets, Saga, Sainsbury’s*, Tesco, UIS, Waggel*
*Note: Some insurers (highlighted with an asterisk) require that policyholders initiate all claims (including ongoing claims) via their online portals. Once you've done this, we will receive an email from your insurer and can complete the claim online for you.
If you're unsure how to start a claim, please just ask one of the team and we will be more than happy to guide you.
If you're unable to initiate an online claim we can still complete a paper claim form for you, however, this will incur a £25 admin fee.
Paper or PDF Claims – Admin Fee Applies
Some insurers require us to complete traditional paper or PDF forms. For these, a £25 admin fee per claim (including continuation claims) applies.
Still have questions? Give us a call at 0161 532 8000 — we’re happy to help guide you through the process!
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MCR Vets Limited | Company Number 15011585 | VAT Registration 483987914
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