17 August 2011

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

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

People thinking of taking their pet aboard with them this summer need to check their insurance policy first. New reports reveal that a quarter of pet insurance policies do not cover taking a cat or dog to a foreign country.

24% of pet insurances policies provide no cover at all for overseas travel as standard, latest analysis by independent research company Defaqto found.

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

While 28% of them would cover vets' fees for overseas stays of 120 days or more, only 18% will cover it if the trip lasts for less than 60 days. A total of 38% of policies cover vets' treatment fees of up to £2,499, while just 27% cover up to £3,500 or over.

Regarding pet's passport, 34% provide £250 or more for the cost of obtaining duplicate documentation, whereas two thirds (64%) 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 increased by 27% over the last three years (from 204 in 2008 to 278 in 2011); dog insurance did so by 29% (from 214 to 300). However, 48% 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 £155 for cat insurance and £339 for dogs.

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