17 August 2024

Pet insurance policies: a quarter don’t cover overseas travel

People thinking of taking their pet abroad with them this summer need to check their insurance policy first. A quarter of pet insurance policies do not cover ta

A large number of pet insurance policies provide no cover at all for overseas travel as standard.

Of those policies that do cover travelling abroad, either as standard or an optional extra, the type of cover offered varies widely.

While some of them would cover vets' fees for overseas stays of 120 days or more, fewer will cover it if the trip lasts for less than 60 days. Less than half of policies cover vets' treatment fees of up to £2,499, while just a quarter cover up to £3,500 or over.

Regarding pet's passport, a third provide £250 or more for the cost of obtaining duplicate documentation, whereas two thirds don't cover this service at all.

Pet insurance: a growing industry

Nevertheless, research has also shown how successful the pet insurance sector in the UK actually is.

According to the report, both the number of pet insurance policies on the market and the number of providers operating in the sector has increased significantly in the last three years, from 74 in 2008 to 86 this year.

While the number of cat insurance policies on offer has increased significantly over the years, dog insurance did so by a small margin more. However, half of dogs and 69% of cats are still uninsured in the UK.

Regarding the average annual cat insurance premium, data shows that the average amount is currently £125 for cat insurance and £403 for pedigree dogs.

Overall, the report concludes that the case for pet insurance remains strong.