The extensive list of hundreds and hundreds of Conditions Covered by Petsy Pet Insurance under our Pet Insurance Policy

Did you know at Petsy, we offer comprehensive coverage for hundreds of types of pet accidents, illnesses and conditions?

Unlike most pet insurance policies, we also have no sub-limits attached to your inclusions which means no extra limits placed on veterinary expenses for treating certain conditions.

Check out our extensive list of conditions below…

  • Abdominal hernia
  • Abnormal heat/season
  • Abnormal tooth growth/location
  • Abnormal value
  • Abscess
  • Acne
  • Acral lick granulomas
  • Addison’s disease (hypoadrenocorticism)
  • Aggression
  • Allergic (hypersensitivity) reaction
  • Alopecia
  • Anaemia
  • Anal abscess
  • Anal adenoma (benign tumour)
  • Anal furunculosis (perianal fisula, pyoderma, sinus)
  • Anal gland impaction / expression
  • Anal gland infection
  • Anal gland sacculitis
  • Anaphylatic shock
  • Anaphylaxis
  • Anorexia
  • Arteriosclerosis
  • Arthritis and degenerative joint disease of the back
  • Arthritis and degenerative joint disease of the jaw/mandible
  • Arthritis and degenerative joint disease of the pelvis
  • Arthritis of the foot or feet
  • Arthritis of the legs, hips or shoulders
  • Asthma
  • Ataxia
  • Atopy
  • Atrial fibrillation
  • Aural polyps
  • Aural resection
  • Autoimmune disease
  • Axilla injury (arm pit)
  • Bacillius infection
  • Back pain
  • Bacterial infections
  • Bacterial overgrowth
  • Balanitis (inflammation of the glans penis)
  • Base narrow jaw
  • Benign tumours
  • Bite wound
  • Bladder rupture
  • Bladder stones (cystic calculi)
  • Blepharitis
  • Blocked tear duct
  • Blood parasites
  • Bone marrow disease
  • Bordatella bronchiseptica
  • Bowel problems
  • Brachycephalic syndrome
  • Brain haemorrhage
  • Bronchitis
  • Bronzing syndrome
  • Bruising
  • Burns
  • Bursitis
  • Caecal impaction
  • Calcium deficiency
  • Calicivirus
  • Callus
  • Campylobacter
  • Cancer or Malignant tumours
  • Canine cough/Infectious tracheitits
  • Cardiac arrhythmia
  • Cardiomyopathy
  • Cartilage injury
  • Cat fight
  • Cat flu
  • Cataract(s)
  • Cattle tick
  • Cellulitis
  • Cerebral oedema
  • Cervical spondylopathy
  • Cervical vertebrae
  • Check up post fall
  • Cherry Eye
  • Chlamydia (Feline chlamydia)
  • Cholangitis
  • Chondrodysplasia
  • Chronic radiculomyelinopathy (CDRM)
  • Circulation disorders
  • Cirrhosis
  • Cleft palate
  • Coccidiosis
  • Colic
  • Colitis
  • Concussion
  • Congenital heart defect
  • Congestive heart failure
  • Conjunctivitis or Eye infection
  • Constipation
  • Coprophagia (faeces eating)
  • Corneal ulcer
  • Cough
  • Craniomandibular
  • Cruciate ligament rupture
  • Cryptosporidiosis
  • Crystaluria
  • Cushing’s disease (hyperadrenocorticism)
  • Cut pad
  • Cystic ovaries
  • Cystitis
  • Cysts
  • Decayed teeth
  • Degenerative joint disease (DJD)
  • Demodectic mange
  • Dermatitis
  • Dermatomycosis
  • Dermoid (ocular dermoid)
  • Desexing – complications
  • Dew claw fracture/injury/tear
  • Dew claw infection
  • Diabetes insipidus
  • Diabetes mellitus
  • Diaphragmatic Hernia
  • Diarrhoea
  • Digestive disorders
  • Disc luxuation or prolapsed disc
  • Disc problems
  • Dislocated hip
  • Dislocated sacrum
  • Dislocated shoulder
  • Distemper
  • Dog fight
  • Drowning
  • Dysphagia (difficulty swallowing)
  • Ear abscess
  • Ear haematoma
  • Ear infection (bacterial or yeast)
  • Ear mites
  • Ectropion (out turned eyelid)
  • Eczema
  • Elbow dysplasia
  • Elective Surgery
  • Electrocution
  • Elongated soft palate
  • Emergency Boarding
  • Emphysema
  • Encephalitis
  • Endocarditis
  • Endometritis
  • Enteritis
  • Entropion (in turned eyelid)
  • Epilepsy
  • Epiphora (Watery eyes)
  • Epistaxis (nasal bleeding)
  • Epulis (benign tumour of the mouth)
  • Euthanasia
  • Facial abscess(es)
  • Fainting/collapse
  • False pregancy
  • Feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV)
  • Feline infectious peritonitis
  • Feline Leukaemia virus (FeLV)
  • Feline lower urinary tract disease
  • Feline Odontoclastic
  • Resorptive Lesion/s (FORLS)
  • Feline panleukopenia (FPL)
  • Feline pneumonitis
  • Fibroma
  • Fibromatosis
  • Flail chest
  • Flea bite allergy (flea allergy dermatitis)
  • Fly strike (myasis)
  • Food allergy
  • Foreign body (intestinal)
  • Fractured hip
  • Fractured jaw
  • Fractured knee (stifle)
  • Fractured knee cap (patella)
  • Fractured leg
  • Fractured nail
  • Fractured pelvis
  • Fractured rib(s)
  • Fractured scapula
  • Fractured skull
  • Fractured spine
  • Fractured toe
  • Fractured tooth
  • Fractured vertebrae
  • Fungal infection
  • Fur mites (cheylettiella)
  • Furunculosis
  • Gall bladder infection
  • Gall bladder inflammation
  • Gall bladder mucocoele
  • Gall stones
  • Gastric dilation
  • Gastric dilation (bloat, gastric dilation) and volvulus – GDV or gastric distension
  • Gastric torsion
  • Gastric ulcers
  • Gastritis
  • Gastroenteritis
  • General anxiety
  • Giardia
  • Gingivitis
  • Glaucoma
  • Glossitis (inflamed tongue)
  • Granulomas (other than lick granulomas)
  • Grass allergy
  • Grass seeds
  • Growing pains
  • Growth plate disorders
  • Growths or tumour (neoplasia)
  • Gunshot wound
  • Haematoma (other than ear haematoma)
  • Haematuria (blood in urine)
  • Haemophilia
  • Hair balls
  • Halitosis
  • Harderian gland infection
  • Hay fever
  • Hearing loss or impairment
  • Heart attack
  • Heart block
  • Heart murmur
  • Heart worm
  • Heat stroke
  • Hemangioma
  • Hepatic lobe torsion
  • Hepatitis
  • Hermaphroditism
  • Hernia
  • Herpes
  • Hip dysplasia
  • Histiocytoma
  • Hit by car
  • Hook worm
  • Hormone/endocrine disorder or deficiency
  • Horner’s syndrome
  • Hydronephrosis
  • Hyperplasia
  • Hypersexuality
  • Hyperthyroidism
  • Hypothryroidism
  • Hysteria
  • Impaired vision or blindness
  • Inappropriate urination
  • Incontinence
  • Incoordination
  • Inflammatory Bowel
  • Disease (IBD)
  • Inguinal hernia
  • Injured back or spine
  • Injured ear
  • Injured eye(s)
  • Injured face
  • Injured groin
  • Injured head
  • Injured jaw/mandible
  • Injured mammary glands
  • Injured mouth
  • Injured muscle
  • Injured nail
  • Injured neck
  • Injured nose/nostril
  • Injured pad(s)
  • Injured pelvis
  • Injured throat
  • Injured(lame) foot/Injured toe/injured pad
  • Injured/docked tail
  • Insect stings or Fleas
  • Interdigital cyst
  • Interdigital dermatitis
  • Intestinal impaction/obstruction
  • Intestinal parasites
  • Intussusception
  • Intervertebral disc disease
  • Iritis
  • Jaundice
  • Joint pain
  • Keratitis
  • Keratoconjunctivitis sicca (dry eye)
  • Key-Gaskell syndrome
  • Kidney failure
  • Kidney infection
  • Knee/Joint arthritis
  • Lameness (undiagnosed)
  • Lameness or injury to carpus/metacarpus area
  • Lameness or injury to hip
  • Lameness or injury to knee (stifle)
  • Lameness or injury to leg
  • Lameness or injury to shoulder
  • Lameness or injury to tarsus/metatarsus area
  • Lameness or injury to thigh
  • Lameness or injury to tibia
  • Laryngeal paralysis
  • Laryngitis
  • Legge Perthes’ disease
  • Lens luxation
  • Leptospirosis
  • Lethargy/Unwell
  • Leukaemia
  • Ligament injury
  • Lipoma
  • Listeriosis
  • Liver failure
  • Liver fluke
  • Liver infection
  • Lump(s)
  • Lung worm
  • Lymes disease
  • Lymphadenitis
  • Lymphangitis
  • Lymphoma
  • Lymphosarcoma
  • Malabsorption malformation
  • Malocclusion
  • Mammary abscess
  • Mammary growths
  • Mammary hypoplasia
  • Mammary tumour
  • Mammary warts
  • Mange (mites)
  • Mast cell tumour
  • Mastitis
  • Megaoesophagus
  • Melanoma
  • Melena (blood in faeces)
  • Meningitis
  • Metritis
  • Microphthalmia
  • Milk allergy
  • Mineral deficiency
  • Mitral valve insufficiency
  • Mouth abscess(es)
  • Mouth ulcer
  • Mucoid enteropathy
  • Muscle spasm
  • Muscle tremors
  • Nail bed infection or paronychia
  • Nasal congestion
  • Nasal infection/discharge
  • Nephritis
  • Neural angiostrongylosis
  • Neuritis
  • Neurosis
  • Noise Phobia
  • Obesity
  • Orchitis (inflamed testes)
  • Osteochondritis dissecans (OCD)
  • Osteomyelitis (inflammation of the bone)
  • Osteopathy
  • Osteosarcoma
  • Otitis
  • Ovarian cyst
  • Ovarian tumour
  • Overbite
  • Pad infection (interdigital dermatitis) (bacterial or yeast)
  • Pancreatic insufficiency
  • Pancreatitis
  • Panniculitis
  • Pannus
  • Panoesteitis
  • Papilloma (Viral)
  • Papillomatosis
  • Paralysis
  • Paralysis tick
  • Paraphimosis
  • Parasitic infection
  • Parvovirus
  • Pasteurella
  • Patella luxation
  • Pathological Fracture
  • Penile infection
  • Penile or sheath injury
  • Perineal hernia
  • Periodontal disease /Dental disease
  • Periostitis
  • Peritonitis
  • Pharyngitis
  • Photosensitive dermatitis
  • Pica
  • Pin worm (oxyurasis)
  • Pleurisy
  • Pneumonia
  • Poisoning
  • Polydipsia
  • Polyphagia
  • Polyps
  • Polyuria
  • Portosystemic shunt
  • Poxvirus
  • Progressive retinal atrophy
  • Prolapsed uterus
  • Prolapsed vagina
  • Prostatic abscess
  • Prostatic tumour
  • Pruritis
  • Pseudotuberculosis
  • Pulmonary congestion or oedema
  • Pyloric stenosis
  • Pyoderma
  • Pyometra
  • Pyrexia
  • Radial paralysis
  • Rage syndrome
  • Ranula(s)
  • Reaction to medicine
  • Reaction to vaccine
  • Recessed/hooded vulva
  • Rectal prolapse
  • Regurgitation
  • Retained milk teeth /
  • Retained Deciduous teeth
  • Retained testes (cryptorchid)
  • Reverse sneezing
  • Rheumatism/inflammatory arthropathy
  • Rhinitis
  • Rickets
  • Ringworm
  • Rodent ulcer
  • Ruptured diaphragm
  • Sacroiliac sprain or strain
  • Salivary cyst
  • Salivary gland inflammation
  • Salmonella
  • Sarcoptic mange
  • Scleritis
  • Screw-tail / cork-screw tail
  • Scrotal eczema
  • Scrotal hernia
  • Seizures
  • Separation anxiety
  • Septicaemia
  • Seroma
  • Severed tendons
  • Shaker Dog Syndrome
  • Shoulder arthritis
  • Sinus tract (draining sinus tract)
  • Situational anxiety
  • Skin allergies
  • Skin infection
  • Skin injury
  • Skin lesions
  • Snake Bite
  • Sneezing or wheeze
  • Snuffles – Cat
  • Soft tissue injury
  • Sore hocks (ulcerative pododermatitis)
  • Spinal disorders
  • Spinal dysfunction
  • Splay leg
  • Splenic tumour
  • Spondylitis
  • Spondylosis
  • Staph dermatitis/infection (Staphlococcus) or
  • Staph hypersensitivity
  • Stenotic nares
  • Stomatitis (inflammed mouth)
  • Strabismus
  • Strained/sprained muscle
  • Stroke
  • Synovitis
  • Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) (cutaneous or discoid)
  • Tail gland hyperplasia (precaudal gland, stud tail)
  • Tail paralysis
  • Tail ulceration
  • Tapeworm
  • Tartar / Calculus
  • Teeth sepsis
  • Teeth/tooth abscess
  • Tendon injury
  • Tendon ulceration
  • Testicular tumour
  • Tetanus
  • Third eyelid prolapse (cherry eye)
  • Throat infection
  • Thrombosis
  • Thryoid hyperplasia
  • Tibial crest avulsion
  • Tick bite
  • Toe infection
  • Tongue injury
  • Tonsilitis
  • Torn ligament
  • Torn muscle
  • Torticollis (wryneck)
  • Toxaemia
  • Toxoplasmosis
  • Trachea collapse
  • Tracheitis
  • Trapped nerve
  • Trichiasis and distichiasis
  • Tuberculosis
  • Umbilical hernia
  • Underbite
  • Upper respiratory tract infection
  • Uremia
  • Urethral obstruction
  • Urinary tract infection
  • Urinary tract obstruction
  • Urticaria
  • Uveitis
  • Vaginitis
  • Valgus / Varus deviation (Angular limb)
  • Vestibular syndrome
  • Viral hepatitis
  • Viral infections
  • Vomiting
  • Vomiting / Nausea (Travel sickness)
  • Vomiting and diarrhoea
  • Von Willebrands disease
  • Wart(s)
  • Wax
  • Weight loss
  • Wobbler syndrome
  • Worms

No Sub Limits

Most pet insurance policies in Australia have a number of sub limits. 

Petsy has NO SUB LIMITS

What is a Sub Limit?

Also known as a “condition limit” or “per incident limit”, a sub limit acts as a ceiling limiting claims made on a pet insurance policy per year (period of insurance), for treating certain conditions.

A sub limit adds an extra limit on certain veterinary expenses, common examples including limits on cruciate ligament surgery, hip dysplasia, dental illness and/or vet consultations. 

Having no sub limits means that there will be no extra limits placed on any veterinary expenses if you choose Petsy, enabling you to be able to claim up to (a maximum) of $10,000 or $25,000.

Just like most pet insurance policies, cover will start after the applicable Waiting Period has elapsed. Any Injury, Illness, or Specified Condition that occurs during the applicable Waiting Period, will also be deemed to be a Pre-existing Condition. 

  • 1 Day Waiting Period for Accidental Injury (except Specified Conditions)
  • 14 days Waiting Period for Illness (except Specified Conditions)
  • 14 days Waiting Period for Dental Illness pets under 1 year old (6 months if pet is 1 year or older)
  • 6 months Waiting Period for Specified Conditions and Behavioural Conditions

We understand that Your puppy, kitten, dog or cat may be perfectly healthy so, we give Petsy Policyholders the opportunity to reduce most 6 month Waiting Periods. Find out more here

Accidental injuries and illness

FracturesConsist of a break and/or crack in the continuity of any bone(s) in the body. The bone(s) may be completely or partially fractured. Bone fractures are often a result of trauma, fall or injuries but can also be a result of illness or a specified condition. Also known as: Broken bones E.g. A cat jumped from the balcony and broke its left forelimb.
PoisoningDisease due to swallowing, inhaling, injection or absorption through the skin of various toxic compounds such as chemicals, gases, drugs and radiation. Ingestion of chocolate is toxic to dogs and would be considered poisoning. Also known as: Toxicity E.g. A dog swallows bleach from the laundry.
Acute Allergic reactionsConsist of the immune system overreacting against a substance recognised as foreign to the body. The signs and symptoms vary largely depending on the type of allergy and individual patients which could impact the immune-system, skin, cardiorespiratory system and/or gastrointestinal system of your pet. E.g. A dog has an acute anaphylactic reaction to a bee
Bite or fight woundsRelates to any condition that occurred from the altercation between two or more animals. In dogs, fighting wounds can result in deep soft tissue punctures and devitalised skin. Whereas in cats, puncture wounds are not always evident but can result in infection and abscesses. Also known as: Wound from an attack E.g. A dog is attacked by another dog in an off-leash park.
Ingestion of foreign objectsConsist of ingestion of an object that could result in issues due to various reasons such as obstruction of the gastrointestinal tract. Although most foreign body ingestion will not result in disease some can be fatal and are true emergency scenarios. Also known as: Your pet swallowed or ate something they should not swallow. E.g: A dog eating a sock or a cat eating part of its toys. In some instances where a pet repeatedly ingests non-food based objects an underlying behavioural condition may be present.
Gastrointestinal problemsBroad category of medical conditions related to diseases involving the gastrointestinal tract and accessory organs of digestion such as the liver and pancreas. The signs and symptoms are various but most commonly includes vomiting and diarrhoea. Also known as: Upset tummy. E.g. A dog ate all the leftovers and is now feeling unwell with diarrhoea.
CancerCancer or neoplasia relates to the body’s own cells growing and multiplying in an uncontrolled fashion. These abnormal cells can form abnormal masses called tumours. If not diagnosed early, cancer cells can divide substantially and spread to vital organs disrupting normal body function. Also known as: Cancer treatment, cancer care, tumour, lump. E.g. A dog has a fast-growing mass on his back which is later diagnosed as a Mast cell tumour.
Embedded grass seedsGrass seed originates from long grass and can get caught on your pet’s fur. On occasion, seeds can get embedded in the paws, skin, eyes, nose and/or ears and result in infection and disease. Unfortunately, the body is not able to break down the seed and your animal may require surgical removal. Also known as: Awns E.g. A dog is limping and has a swollen paw due to an embedded grass seed.
Tick paralysisTick bites by the paralysis tick Ixodes holocyclus can cause rapid ascending paralysis due to the release of neurotoxins found in the tick’s saliva. If untreated animals can die quickly from respiratory arrest. This disease is common on the East coast of Australia, but thankfully is the risk is reduced with regular tick prevention and daily tick searches. Also known as: Ticks, Ixodes holocyclus E.g. After coming back from a weekend on the coast, your dog is not behaving normally, is shaky, has an unsteady walk and their bark sounds abnormal.
Ear and eye conditionsRelates to disease affecting the ear canal which is most often due to infectious causes and/or an underlying allergy. However, parasites, foreign body, immune disease, trauma, neoplasia, congenital abnormalities are other causes that can result in ear diseases. Eye disease can have multiple causes such as infectious (e.g. viral and bacterial), trauma, congenital, endocrine (diabetes melitus), and degenerative causes. Also known as: Infections E.g. A cat infected by Feline Herpes Virus with red and weepy eyes or a dog with a scratch in his eyes from running in long grass.
Skin conditionsRelate to a wide range of diseases that affect the skin of your pet(s). Depending on the cause of the skin condition, the symptoms will vary broadly. Most common clinical manifestations are itchiness, rashes, loss of hair, change in the pigmentation of your animal skins. Also known as: Contact allergies; bacterial infections; fungal infections, and parasite allergies E.g. A cat with loss of hairs around her tail and lower back that seems very itchy.
Cruciate ligament conditionsThis condition most commonly affects dogs and is similar to the human ACL (Anterior Cruciate ligament) of the knee. It is a band of tissue that stabilises the inside of the knee and attachment between the femur and tibia of your animal. Most commonly, the cruciate ligament ruptures due to trauma or degeneration. Also known as: Knee disease. E.g. A dog yelped while chasing its ball at the park, he has been limping since then.
Hip and elbow dysplasiaBoth conditions are related to the abnormal development or growth of the Hip and Elbow joints resulting in disease. Hip dysplasia relates to dysfunction of the joint between the pelvis and femur resulting in pain, lameness, arthritis and limited mobility. Similarly, Elbow dysplasia relates to abnormal development of the joint between the humerus, ulnar and radius (elbow). Also known as: Elbow and hips lameness. E.g. A young, large and rapidly growing German Shepherd dog is lame on his forelimbs.
Intervertebral Disc Disease (IVDD)Degenerative disease that affects the spinal cord of your animal and most often relates to the herniation of an intervertebral disc. It is often age related and over represented in some breeds such as Dachshunds. Also known as: Spinal disorder E.g. A Dachshund is suddenly having difficulty using his back legs.
Emergency vet careIf your animal is suddenly suffering from an illness or injury and requires immediate medical intervention and treatments. This can be at any time on any day. E.g. Your cat fell from the balcony and is now bleeding from its nose and mouth.
HospitalisationIf your animal is required to stay in hospital for continuous care, treatment and monitoring by veterinary professionals. E.g. Your dog was diagnosed with tick paralysis and will need to stay in hospital for monitoring of disease progression and continuous treatments such as IV fluids. E.g. A dog has an acute anaphylactic reaction to a bee
Hip Joint SurgeryThis surgery may be recommended for patients with severe hip disease affecting the acetabulum (hip joint socket) and femoral head. This type of surgery may involve replacing the whole hip joint by a prosthetic implant.
RadiologyMedical imaging which enables your veterinarian to assist in the diagnosis and treatment of disease within your animal’s body. Several types of diagnostic radiology exams exist and are required depending on the type of symptoms and disease your animal is experiencing. E.g. Your dog ate a sock and is now vomiting and not himself, an x-ray may help your veterinarian to see if there is an intestinal blockage and where it is located.
X-raysMedical tool that enables the visualisation of tissues and structures within your animal’s body. The images obtained depending on the density of the structures present are most useful for dense tissues such as bones. However, the level of details obtained through X-rays are limited. E.g. Your dog was hit by a car and is now lame and non-weight bearing on his forelimbs.
CT scansCT scan provides a 3D image that offers much higher levels of details of the body structures. It enables your veterinarian to better evaluate bones, soft tissues and blood vessels all at the same time. A CT scan takes more time than a regular X-ray and also costs more. E.g. Your cat has been having seizures due to a mass located in its brain.
MRIsMRIs are another type of medical imaging technique that takes cross-sectional images of your animal’s body that offers high quality 3D images. They are often the modality of choice for soft tissue injuries and diseases such as back pain. E.g. A dog is presenting for hindlimb paralysis w
Medication and drugsYour veterinarian may prescribe your pet with medications for the treatment and prevention of a condition your animal is suffering from. In some instances your veterinarian may write you a script so you can purchase medication from a chemist.
ChemotherapyChemotherapy is a type of cancer treatment that uses medications that are anti-cancer. It uses powerful chemicals that intend to slow down or kill rapidly dividing cells in your animal’s body such as cancer cells. It may be used on its own or in combination with other medications. Also known as: Anti-cancer medications. E.g. Your pet was diagnosed with bone cancer and is now receiving chemotherapy once a month in the aim of prolonging your pet’s life.
Vaccine preventable diseasesVaccine preventable diseases relate to known infectious diseases caused by either bacteria and/or viruses where the risk can be reduced by the use of vaccines. These diseases include in dogs; Canine distemper virus (CDV), Canine adenovirus (CAV), Canine parvovirus (CPV-2), Parainfluenza virus (PI), Bordetella bronchiseptica (Bb) and Leptospira interrogans. In Cats these diseases are Feline Parvovirus (FPV), Feline calicivirus (FCV), Feline herpesvirus (FHV-1), Feline leukaemia virus (FeLV), Feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV), and Chlamydia felis.
Emergency boardingIn the instance that you are hospitalised for more than 4 consecutives days and no one else is able to look after your pet it may be necessary for your animal to be boarded at a licensed kennel or cattery.
Motor Vehicle accidentIf your animal has been directly involved in a motor vehicle accident which resulted in injuries and required veterinary attention.
FracturesConsist of a break and/or crack in the continuity of any bone(s) in the body. The bone(s) may be completely or partially fractured. Bone fractures are often a result of trauma, fall or injuries but can also be a result of illness or a specified condition. Also known as: Broken bones E.g. A cat jumped from the balcony and broke its left forelimb.
PoisoningDisease due to swallowing, inhaling, injection or absorption through the skin of various toxic compounds such as chemicals, gases, drugs and radiation. Ingestion of chocolate is toxic to dogs and would be considered poisoning. Also known as: Toxicity E.g. A dog swallows bleach from the laundry.
Acute Allergic reactionsConsist of the immune system overreacting against a substance recognised as foreign to the body. The signs and symptoms vary largely depending on the type of allergy and individual patients which could impact the immune-system, skin, cardiorespiratory system and/or gastrointestinal system of your pet. E.g. A dog has an acute anaphylactic reaction to a bee

Pre-existing conditions: How we used to deal with them vs now

What is a pre-existing condition in pet insurance?

A pre-existing condition is one that exists or occurs before your pet’s insurance policy begins (and during the exclusion period). It is rare for pet insurance providers to cover any pre-existing conditions. If they do, it will usually require some time for that condition to no longer exist. before they do.

There is a common misconception where people assume pet insurance is similar to human health insurance. If anything, it’s closer to car insurance. Here is an example to help explain:

Let’s say you buy a car with a damaged rear bumper, but you don’t currently have car insurance. Then one day you finally decide to get car insurance, and several months later, you are involved in a car accident where someone T-bones the front of your car. Your insurance provider will pay for damages sustained in the front T-boned accident but will not reimburse you to fix the rear damaged bumper as it was there before you got the car insurance.

How we used to deal with pre-existing conditions and how most insurers still do:

You could sign up and become a policy holder, not knowing whether a condition is considered pre-existing condition and therefore not covered.

It could be years, until it comes time for your first claim – this would only end up in tears, if you are told “sorry this is not covered as it is a pre-existing condition”.
Most pet insurers don’t ask for a copy of the veterinary history until the first claim, so there is no clarity on coverage until then.
Pet insurance doesn’t cover everything, so it’s important to find out what it does and doesn’t cover.

What we do now in our efforts to manage the expectations and make this fairer for all of our customers.

We offer a free pre-existing condition assessment when you first start your policy.
This will give you more clarity when you start your cover on whether your pet has any conditions that could be considered pre-existing conditions.
We aim to complete this within the first 30 days, within your cooling-off period, so that you can decide whether you want to continue with us, but the timing depends on how quickly you can supply your vet details to us and how quickly your vet clinic can get back to us with your pet’s history. -Therefore, doing it as soon as you can is to your benefit.

Some other pet insurance providersPetsy Pet Insurance
 Lack of opportunity to find out what pre-existing condition may apply Free pre-existing assessment offered, as soon as you start your policy
 Veterinary history often not assessed until the first claim Transparency on coverage
 Could be paying your premium for years not knowing if your pet has any pre-existing conditions that are not covered We can ask your pet’s veterinary history within the first 30-days that you start the policy
 Less clarity on any pre-existing condition exclusions Gives you time to make changes and amend your policy
 More clarity upfront on whether your pet has any pre-existing conditions that aren’t covered
 Friendly Australian customer care team will guide you through your pre-existing condition assessment journey

As pre-existing condition assessments are carried out based on your pet’s veterinary history. If we consider something as a pre-existing condition, it’s highly likely that most other pet insurance providers will do the same.

The biggest difference with us is that we offer to conduct a pre-existing assessment at no cost to you, as early as possible to help you manage expectations.

We believe that not doing this can lead to tears, especially if you make your first claim months or years into your policy period without knowing what constitutes a pre-existing condition.”

Again, if a condition is considered to be a pre-existing condition by us, then, generally speaking, it is likely that it won’t be covered by another provider either.

Why is it important to understand pre-existing conditions?

When you decide to purchase pet insurance for your pet, one of the most important things for you to think about is what conditions, injuries or illnesses they have had before the start of cover under the policy and what conditions occur during an applicable waiting period.

The reason it is important for you to think about this is because Petsy Pet Insurance, like most pet insurance policies, has an exclusion for pre-existing conditions, which means there is no cover for vet costs associated with the treatment of a pre-existing condition. And unlike private health insurance for humans, conditions that arose while being covered by one pet insurance provider are generally not covered by another provider if you switch your pet insurance provider.

Benefits of completing a Pre-existing Condition Assessment

(Also known as a PECA)

  • Claims are assessed based on your pet’s veterinary history.
  • A pre-existing condition assessment will give you more clarity on your coverage.
  • We aim to be transparent, so you can be clear and upfront on whether anything isn’t covered.
  • Some other pet insurance providers don’t ask this question upfront, which means you won’t find out what’s considered to be pre-existing conditions (and not covered by the policy) until it comes time for your first claim. This could be a few years down the track.
  • Completing this process upfront gives you time to change or amend your policy.
  • It helps you avoid unpleasant surprises at claim time – insuring your pet for years and then find out at a claim time that a condition was considered pre-existing conditions, all along.

What is a pre-existing condition?

Anything that your pet has shown signs or symptoms of before the policy’s waiting periods end (including prior to the start of the policy) is considered a pre-existing condition. We don’t cover pre-existing conditions, but we’ll help cover any new accidental injuries and illnesses as part of your policy.

Why complete a PECA?

A pet insurance policy is designed to help cover the unexpected, so any illness, health condition or injury that have occurred in the past, or are in the process of happening, or shown signs or symptoms of in the past, are not covered under the policy. These are pre-existing conditions that are not covered by your policy.

Most pet insurance providers won’t ask to check if your pet has any pre-existing conditions until your pet runs into a mishap and it comes time to make a claim.

At Petsy, we value transparency. It is very important to us that we are as clear and upfront as possible about the cover available under the policy, so we offer an opportunity for you to do a Pre-existing Condition Assessment (PECA) that can be completed as soon as you purchase a policy for your pet, to help you understand what the policy does and does not cover.

If a pre-existing condition isn’t covered by us, it’s likely it’s not going to be covered by any other pet insurer either.

You can fast-track your future claims process by providing your vet details upfront. Completing a Pre-existing Condition Assessment will also mean your claims process will be quicker, smoother and any approved claims get reimbursed faster.

Another Relatable example

You wouldn’t be able to buy car insurance after your car was in an accident and expect insurance to help cover the costs of the damage to your car. Similarly, pet insurance is not designed to protect your pet from something that has already happened or is in the process of happening to your pet.

How do I find out whether my pet has any pre-existing conditions?

To find out whether your pet has any pre-existing conditions, you can apply for a Pre-existing Condition Assessment (PECA) by sending us an email with a list of your pet’s vets. We offer this service so you can find out as soon as you start your policy whether your pet has any pre-existing conditions that aren’t covered.

What happens during a Pre-existing Condition Assessment?

Once a list of your pet’s vets has been provided to us, we will contact the vets for your pet’s veterinary history to complete the assessment and an updated Certificate of Insurance will be issued confirming the outcome.

If your pet has any pre-existing conditions, we’ll also advise whether these can be reviewed at a future date, the earliest future date you may request a review and any supporting information we will require at that time. Please note that exclusions are not automatically removed at the exclusion review date, and they’ll only be removed if the medical evidence confirms the pre-existing condition has been successfully treated or resolved. If a pre-existing condition is not reviewable, it means that it’s permanently excluded from your cover.

All PECAs are completed largely based on the veterinary history we receive from your vets.

How long does a PECA take?

The process of completing a Pre-existing Condition Assessment usually takes between 2-10 business days, depending on the age of your pet and how many vet clinics we have to contact for veterinary histories and how fast they’re able to send these histories to us, so that we can assess them.

Helpful Tips

  • Be mindful of the Waiting Periods that apply to your policy. These Waiting Periods have to be served symptom free before your coverage kicks in.


The waiting periods are:

Injury (except Specified Conditions): 1 day

Illness (except Specified Conditions): 14 days

Optional Dental Illness  

For pets under 1-year-old: 14 days
For pets of 1-year-old and over: 6 months

Optional Behavioural Conditions: 6 months

Specified Conditions: 6 months

  • As any future claims and insurance related assessments are completed largely based on your pet’s veterinary histories, you can always ask your vet if there’s anything written in the clinical notes during your visit for extra transparency. Whilst a veterinarian or vet nurse might say your pet is generally healthy, asking the question can help you understand if there’s anything you should be mindful of later down the track when it comes to making a claim.
  • Supply your vet details to us as quickly as possible so we can complete your Pre-existing Condition Assessment during your cooling off period. The timeframe to complete this will depend on how quickly you can supply your vets’ details to us and how quickly your vet clinic can get back to us with your pet’s history. Doing this as soon as you can is for your benefit.

If your pet does have pre-existing conditions

Whilst they won’t be covered for the specific illness or injury considered as a pre-existing condition, they’ll still have coverage for a large number of other unrelated injuries or illnesses. Petsy Pet Insurance covers an extensive list of different health emergencies and illnesses, ranging from broken bones, accidentally swallowing things, all the way through to diabetes and cancer treatment. Here is a list of hundreds of conditions covered under the Petsy Pet Insurance Policy 
Whilst our pet insurance doesn’t cover pre-existing conditions, it can still be a lifeline in avoiding potentially large vet bills and be your ticket to affording the level of care for any new health issues or accidental injuries that arise in the future.

Navigating Pet Insurance Quotes: What You Need to Know Before You Buy

What Exactly is a Pet Insurance Quote?

A pet insurance quote is simply just an estimate of what it’ll cost to insure your pet. Similar to quotes for human health, car or home insurance, a pet insurance quote is tailored specifically to your pet. The amount you pay—known as the insurance premium—can vary depending on things like your pet’s breed, age, sex, and where you live. Plus, the level of coverage you pick will impact how much you will pay.

Full definition can be found here. We suggest gathering a few quotes whilst you’re shopping for pet insurance, so you can compare different policies and providers before making your final decision.

What Affects the Cost of Your Premium?

Different insurance providers have their own way of calculating premiums, but they’re generally based on similar factors. At Petsy, we consider four main factors related to your pet, then adjust the premium based on your preferred coverage options. It’s worth noting that with Petsy your own claims history doesn’t impact your premiums directly, when it comes to renewal time.

Species and Breed

The breed of your pet can significantly impact the cost of your premium. Some breeds are more prone to specific health issues, which can make them a bit pricier to insure. Your pet’s health history prior to taking out pet insurance won’t impact your premiums with Petsy. Just like most other insurers, we don’t cover pre-existing conditions and illnesses. You can read more about how we handle pre-existing conditions differently at Petsy.

Pet’s Age

Generally, younger pets have lower premiums. As your pet gets older, the chances of health problems increase, which can lead to higher veterinary costs. At Petsy, we like to reward responsible pet ownership and pet parents who start early. So, if you begin your pet’s coverage with us before they’re 6 months old, we’ll automatically increase your annual limit by 20% at no extra cost. If you start before they turn one, we’ll add 10% to your annual limit, also at no extra cost.

Location

Where you live can also affect your premium. Vet costs can vary depending on whether you’re in an urban area or somewhere with a higher cost of living. Certain locations might also have higher risks for specific health issues or accidents, and insurers take this into account.

Sex of your Pet

The sex of your pet can influence behaviour, which might affect the likelihood of certain claims. There are also some statistical differences in health and lifespan between male and female pets, which insurers factor into their risk assessments.

Common Pitfalls When Comparing Quotes

One common mistake when comparing pet insurance quotes is to have price as the deciding factor and simply pick the lowest premium option. Not all pet insurance policies are created equal, so it’s important to compare policies properly, by comparing “apples with apples”, so you know what’s actually included (or not included) at the price point you are comfortable with. We can guide you on how to compare pet insurance policies.

To offer budget-friendly options, some providers might limit coverage through stricter exclusions or sub-limits, which can limit how much you can claim. These details may not be obvious when obtaining a quote. You may also be met with a hefty price increase when it comes to renewal time. 

At Petsy, our focus is on providing high-quality coverage and service that offer long-term value. Our Australian-based team ensures you always speak with a local pet lover. Through our experience, we understand that more extensive coverage tends to align with our customers’ expectations. That’s why we focus on high-quality insurance with no sub-limits. Our customisable policy allows for coverage levels to be adjusted. For example, by increasing the annual excess, you will be able to lower premiums to meet your budget needs.

How Can I Lower My Pet Insurance Premium?

There are ways to lower your pet insurance premium by adjusting your coverage options, like the annual limit, benefit percentage, and annual excess. Generally, the more coverage you choose, the higher the premium. Here’s a quick rundown of the main factors:

Annual Limit

The annual limit is the maximum amount your pet insurance will pay for all claims in one year. Once this limit is reached, you’ll need to cover any additional costs yourself until the next policy year. The higher the limit, the higher the premium; the lower the limit, the cheaper or lower the premium. At Petsy, we offer a range of options, including $5k, $10k, and $25k, all with no sub-limits. Our pet insurance covers both accidents and illnesses and has one list of conditions covered under the policy regardless of the annual limit chosen by you. This means, even if you chose an annual benefit limit of $5,000 instead of $25,000, the list of conditions covered is exactly the same. It just means the total amount claimable in the 12-month period is $5k, not $25k.

Benefit Percentage

This is the percentage of each eligible vet bill your insurance will cover. Most options in the market range from 70% to 100%, but be sure to check the fine print for exclusions. At Petsy, we offer two options: 80% and 90%. You can lower your premiums by adjusting your benefit percentage. For example, choosing a plan that covers 80% of each eligible vet bill, rather than 90%, can help reduce your monthly premiums.

Annual Excess

This is the amount you have to pay out of pocket before your insurance starts covering costs. It can be a fixed amount per claim, per condition or per policy year. The lower the excess, the higher the premium; the higher the excess, the cheaper or lower the premium. Different insurers offer different types of excess, such as per claim, per condition, and annual excess. Ours is a once-off, annual excess that you’ll need to meet first. At Petsy, we have several annual excess options: $0, $150, $200, $300, and $500. We recently introduced the $500 annual excess option that can reduce the premium by more than 40% in some cases.

Optional Extra Benefits

Many providers including Petsy, offer add-ons for extra benefits like Dental Illness, Specialised Therapies and Behavioural Conditions. If you decide to include extras, this will increase your premium, as coverage also increases. Petsy is one of the few providers that offer dental illness coverage with no sub-limits.

Vet Consultations

Removing vet consultations fees from your coverage can lower your premium. We are one of the few providers who allows for this, because many of our members are vets and pensioners who receive discounts on vet consultations, or they may already be covered by wellness plans and we don’t want them to double up. However, it’s worth noting that the cost of vet consultations can increase significantly during emergency hours. If you don’t fall into one of these categories, it might be worth considering including vet consultations fees in your coverage.

Examples of Pet Insurance Quotes with Petsy

1-Year-Old Cavoodle

Location: Parramatta, NSW

Breed: Cavoodle

DOB: 23 September 2023 

Sex: Girl

  • Benefit Percentage: 80%
  • Annual Excess: $150
  • Optional Benefits: Excluded
  • Vet Consultation Fees: Included

Quote as at 23 September 2024

Annual Limit$5,000$10,000$25,000
Monthly Premium$52.39$61.87$74.42

5-Month-Old Labrador Retriever

Location: Parramatta, NSW

Breed: Labrador Retriever

DOB: 12 April 2024 

Sex: Boy

  • Annual Limit: $12,000 ($10,000 plus $2,000 bonus at no extra costs)
  • Benefit Percentage: 80%
  • Optional Benefits: Included
  • Vet Consultation Fees: Included

Quote as at 23 September 2024

Annual Excess$500$300$200$150$0
Monthly Premium$56.91$70.44$82.11$89.77$122.47

Try out our quote tool to explore coverage options that fit your needs and budget.

Petsy Multi-pet Discount

Insuring multiple pets with Petsy has its perks! For every additional pet you add, you’ll get a 5% lifetime discount. This discount applies automatically when you insure more than one pet at the same time. If you’re an existing member and would like to add an additional pet to an existing policy or want to know about our latest promotions, feel free to give us a call at 1300 952 790.

Wrapping It Up

Getting and understanding pet insurance quotes is a key step in finding the best coverage for your pet and peace of mind for you. Comparing quotes across different providers ensures you’ll find a policy that balances affordability with the coverage your pet needs. Just be sure to watch out for potential pitfalls, like what’s included in the fine print or being guided purely on price. By carefully reviewing each quote and matching it with your pet’s specific needs and your budget, you can choose a policy that offers both great protection and value. Whilst you’re here, get a quote from Petsy. Happy shopping!

Compare Pet Insurance: Choose the right pet insurance for you and your pet

Why do you need pet insurance?

“When it comes to your pet’s health, a little preparation goes a long way.”

Let’s be honest—we can’t tell you if you need pet insurance. That’s financial advice, and you’ll need to speak to a professional for that.

But what we can tell you is this: without pet insurance, 100% of the vet bill, 100% of the time, will come out of your pocket. Unlike humans, pets don’t have Medicare. It costs just as much to run a blood test on a dog or cat as it does on a human, but in Australia, taxpayers cover the cost for people.

Pet insurance isn’t mandatory, but it’s quickly becoming a must-have for many Aussie pet parents. It’s there to help when the unexpected happens—like if your pet eats something they shouldn’t or has an unfortunate run-in with a car.

As pet parents, we know that a trip to the vet emergency hospital brings two kinds of stress.

First, there’s the emotional stress.
Your pet can’t tell you or the vet what’s wrong, and it’s tough not knowing how to help. You just have to trust the vets to care for your pet as you would.

Then, there’s the financial stress.
While you’re relieved that your pet has received the care they need, you’re often left with a hefty vet bill.

At Petsy, we started with a mission to ease that financial burden so you can focus on your pet’s well-being and your family during tough times.

Types of available pet insurance

In Australia, pet insurance generally comes in a few different types of coverage, that can vary by provider:

Accident-Only Cover: This only covers costs related to injuries from accidents, such as broken bones or wounds. It doesn’t cover illness-related expenses.

Accident and Illness Cover: A more comprehensive option that covers both accidental injuries and illnesses. It can include coverage for a wide range of conditions, from minor issues, like infections and allergies, to more serious diseases like cancer.

Accident and Illness Cover with add-ons: Some plans also cover routine care treatments like vaccinations, desexing, and flea and tick treatments, along with accidental injuries and illnesses.

Routine Care: Can be offered as an optional add-on, which helps to cover some costs for preventative care and wellness treatments, such as vaccinations, microchipping, and desexing. The coverage limits for these treatments are usually lower than for other claimable conditions.

At Petsy, we offer accident and illness cover with add-ons only. We believe that in an emergency, people shouldn’t have to worry about whether they selected the right level of coverage when they bought their policy. We want our policyholders to have peace of mind.

Why compare pet insurance?

At Petsy, our mission is to ensure that pet insurance doesn’t end in tears. We’re here to educate you so you know exactly what you’re getting when you sign up. According to Moneysmart, pet insurance premiums typically range from $60 to $120 per month, which means there is a lot of variation of price and coverage in the market. Switching providers can be costly, especially if pre-existing conditions are involved, so it’s crucial to find the right policy for you and your pet from the start. We strongly suggest shopping for pet insurance quotes before you commit to a provider. We explain what goes into a pet insurance quote in this article and explain how you can reduce your pet insurance premium.

How you can compare pet insurance policies

In Australia, there are many quality providers, each offering a range of policies. To make the best choice, it’s important to research and compare coverage options, costs, and how well each policy matches your pet’s health needs. We’re here to guide you through this process so you can make an informed decision.

According to Google, the definition of compare is to “estimate, measure, or note the similarity or dissimilarity between”.

Full definition here

When comparing pet insurance policies, typically they have similar key components: inclusions/exclusions, an annual limit, benefit percentage, excess, and optional extra benefits. Your premium is determined, based on the levels of coverage depending on  these components, as well as your pet and your address. So, when comparing pet insurance, the key is to understand how each component works differently across providers. This helps you identify the best policy that meets your needs and offers the most value.

Let’s break down these components so you can see where policies are similar and, more importantly, where they differ.

Coverage and inclusions

Most providers offer tiered policies, such as small, medium, or large, or bronze, silver, or gold and will try to bucket you into one of these categories. Generally, the lower-tiered policies offer less coverage and are more affordable, while the higher-tiered options provide broader coverage with fewer restrictions.

At Petsy, we understand that even two pet owners in the same suburb with the same breed of pet may have different financial needs. That’s why we do things differently here and offer one policy that is customisable to suit your coverage and financial requirements.

Annual limit

The annual limit is the maximum amount your pet insurance will pay for all claims in one year. Once this limit is reached, you’ll need to cover any additional costs yourself until the next policy year.

At Petsy, regardless of the annual limit you choose, the list of covered accidental injuries, illnesses, and conditions remains the same. Often with other policies, if you pick a larger annual limit, the list of your inclusions will also increase.  At Petsy, no matter which annual limit you choose, the list of covered injuries, illnesses, and conditions remains the same. Whether you opt for a $5,000 or $25,000 annual limit, your coverage remains the same. Plus, unlike many other providers, we don’t impose sub-limits, so there are no restrictions on how much you can claim for specific conditions or claims. 

Benefit percentage

This is the percentage of each eligible vet bill your insurance will cover. For instance, if your benefit percentage is 80%, the insurance will pay 80% of the bill, and you’ll pay the remaining 20% (after any excess is applied). This is pretty similar across the industry. Benefit percentage ranges from 70% to 100%.

Excess

This is the amount you have to pay out of pocket before your insurance starts covering costs. It can be a fixed amount per claim, per condition or per policy year.

At Petsy, our excess works a bit differently. Instead of applying an excess per condition or claim, we use a once-off annual excess. For instance, if your annual excess is $300 and your first vet bill is $200, the remaining $100 will be applied to your next approved claim. You only need to meet this excess once per year.

Optional extra benefits

Optional extra benefits are additional coverage options that can be added to the standard coverage. When doing your research, you will find that there are a lot of dissimilarities in the market for optional extra benefits. A lot of providers don’t even offer any optional extra benefits. You will find that some providers offer routine care as ‘add-ons’ and if they do, sometimes only offered as part of plans with the highest level of coverage.

At Petsy, we offer optional extra cover for dental illness, behavioural conditions, and specialised therapies. Plus, we don’t have sub-limits on these. However, it’s important to note that routine care items, like regular teeth cleaning, isn’t covered. Claims need to be related to a dental disease like gingivitis, periodontal disease, or tumours.

We offer optional extra benefits only for pets under the age of three at the time of application. Why only under three? By the age of three, most pets may develop dental diseases, and adding extra benefits later would mean these conditions would be considered pre-existing conditions that would not be covered. We want to ensure you’re not paying for coverage that can’t be used.

Vet Consultations

Vet consultation fees are what you pay your vet when your pet needs to see the vet for treatment when they’re sick or hurt. 

When you receive a vet bill, one of the line items will typically be for the vet consultation. We’re one of the few providers that allows you to exclude vet consultations fees from your coverage. We do this for a few reasons:

  • Many of our customers are vets, vet nurses, or clinical staff who receive significant discounts or don’t pay for vet consultations at all
  • Some customers are already on wellness plans which cover vet consultation fees, so we don’t want them doubling up
  • Pensioners often get discounts on their vet consultation fees

It’s worth noting that the cost of vet consultations can increase significantly during emergency hours. If you don’t fall into one of these categories, it might be worth considering including vet consultations in your coverage.

Compare the Customer Service and how a provider makes things easier for you

Choosing a pet insurance isn’t just about the coverage—it’s also about how well the provider supports you when you need them most. Here are some things to think about:

  • Is it easy to file a claim?
  • How do they handle pre-existing conditions?
  • Can they bill your vet directly?
  • How easy is it to reach their support team?
  • What’s their cancellation policy?
  • Can you add extras later?

An easy way to check out a provider’s service is by looking at reviews on sites like ProductReview.com.au and Google Reviews. These platforms offer real feedback from customers, giving you a sense of how well the provider handles claims and customer support.

We walk you through what to look for in pet insurance reviews in this article here.

Petsy is australia’s highest rated pet insurance provider*

At Petsy, we’re proud of our top ratings on ProductReview.com.au, TrustPilot, and Google, which reflect our commitment to looking after you and your pets. We’ve also been recognised with Canstar’s Outstanding Value Pet Insurance Award for two consecutive years in 2023 and 2024.

We’re the Pet People, and we understand pets because we’re pet parents too. When you call us, you’ll speak to someone right here in Australia who gets how things work with vets in this country. For extra peace of mind, we offer a complimentary pre-existing conditions assessment. This way, you’ll know exactly what’s covered and what’s not before anything unexpected happens. Plus, it means faster claim payments when you need them most.

*Highest rated on Product Review, Finder, Choice and Furbaby Pet Insurance as of September 2024

Pet Insurance Reviews: What to Know Before You Commit

To begin, what is a pet insurance review?

In essence, a pet insurance review is a customer’s experience with their insurance provider that is shared online. These reviews offer insights into real experiences, particularly aspects like the claims process, customer service, and overall satisfaction—things you can’t fully judge from the policy details alone.

See full definition here.

What can pet insurance reviews tell me?

Reviews can be incredibly helpful for understanding key aspects of a pet insurance provider’s service. When it comes to the claims process, you’ll want to know: Was it easy to submit a claim? How long did it take to process? Were there clear explanations provided if a claim was denied? These details are crucial because they directly affect your experience when you need to rely on your insurance the most.

Similarly, customer service is another critical area to consider. Reviews can tell you how responsive and helpful the support team can be. Do they address concerns promptly? Are they knowledgeable about the policy details and able to guide you through tricky situations? Good customer service can make a huge difference, especially during stressful times when your pet’s health is on the line.

Not every review is going to be spot-on—sometimes, claims are denied for legitimate reasons, like pre-existing conditions, but that can lead to unhappy customers. However, if you see the same issues popping up in multiple reviews, it might be a red flag.

Who Can Leave Pet Insurance Reviews?

Customers and the general public can share their experiences on sites like ProductReview.com.auTrustpilot, or Google Reviews. In addition to customer feedback, financial and pet industry experts also contribute to reviews. Sites like Forbes Advisor offer professional assessments, focusing on coverage options, pricing, and policy details. These expert reviews can be especially helpful when you’re comparing multiple providers and need a deeper understanding of the policies. There is a lot of regulation around online product and service reviews, so that consumers can rely on the reviews they read online from reputable review sites. 

What should I look for in pet insurance reviews?

Here are key green and red flags to look out for. Example reviews below have been taken from Productreview.com.au as of 23 September 2024.

Green Flags

Reviewers who recommend the provider to their family and friends indicate a high level of satisfaction.

Long-term Policyholders: Satisfied customers who have stayed with a provider for years can indicate reliability and trustworthiness.

Helpful Customer Service: Look for reviews praising knowledgeable and supportive service teams. This is particularly helpful when the unexpected happens and you need questions answered.

Happy Switchers: If someone switched providers and loves the new one, that’s a big plus.

Smooth Claims Process: Quick, hassle-free claims are exactly what you want.

Efficient Claims Process: Quick and straightforward claim submission and turnaround are major positives.

Red Flags to look out for in Pet Insurance Reviews

Premium Increases: Bill shock is a real thing and not something you can foresee when you first take out a policy. As your pet ages and veterinary costs rise, it’s normal for insurance premiums to increase over time. Factors like inflation and changes in risk also contribute to these adjustments. When comparing providers, be aware that lower initial premiums are common, but it’s important to understand how premiums might increase over time due to factors like inflation and your pet’s age. Understanding how premiums might change over time will help you make an informed decision and avoid surprises.

Repeated Complaints about Poor Customer Service: We totally get it, no one is perfect! But repeated reviews mentioning poor customer service, or poor communication where customers are left feeling confused is a sign that this could potentially be your experience too.

Claim Denials or Low Payouts: This could mean the provider has restrictive limits like sub-limits on what they cover.

Check Out Our Ratings*:

At Petsy, we’re not claiming to be perfect, but we’re pretty proud of the reviews our policyholders leave us. As you’re shopping around, we definitely recommend checking out reviews of different providers as part of your decision-making process. Seeing what others have to say can help you choose the best coverage for you and your pet. *Ratings as at August 2024

Taking the pain out of pre-existing conditions

Table of Contents

To help pet parents get the most from their pet insurance policies, we’ve recently made some changes to how pre-existing conditions are handled for all Petsy together with Petinsurance.com.au pet insurance policies, as of 1 December 2020.

Table of contents

What is a pre-existing condition?

A pre-existing condition refers to any health condition (diagnosed or otherwise) that your pet has shown signs of before the purchase of a pet insurance policy (or its applicable waiting period), meaning the condition will not be covered under the policy.

What’s changed?

Not all pre-existing conditions are created equal. To help pet parents claim for more eligible conditions, pre-existing conditions are now assessed differently depending on whether they are considered a temporary or a chronic condition.

temporary pre-existing condition is a pet health condition that usually resolves with treatment and is removed from your policy as an exclusion automatically if your pet hasn’t shown signs of that condition for 18 months or more.

chronic pre-existing condition is a pet health condition that requires ongoing care or is more prolonged in nature, so if your pet displays one of these conditions prior to the purchase of a pet insurance policy or its waiting period, it will never be coverable under the policy.

Some of these conditions include:

  • Cruciate ligament conditions
  • Intervertebral disc disease
  • Hip dysplasia
  • Elbow dysplasia
  • Patella luxation
  • Endocrine diseases
  • Any other chronic condition

An important reminder that these exclusions only relate to pre-existing conditions.
If your pet requires treatment after the purchase of a pet insurance policy and its waiting period, all conditions outlined in the policy’s Product Disclosure Statement will be eligible for cover for the life of the policy.

Let’s take a quick look at some examples to help differentiate the difference between a temporary pre-existing condition (which can be removed as an exclusion after the 18 month asymptomatic period), and a chronic pre-existing condition (which will always be excluded if pre-existing).

Bella’s Gastroenteritis

Before taking out a pet insurance policy, your pet Bella has a case of Gastroenteritis (a tummy upset). The condition is treated and Bella recovers. Following the surprise episode, you decide to purchase a pet insurance policy for Bella to help with future, unexpected Vet visits.

Two years later, Bella has another unrelated case of Gastroenteritis. Can you claim for this condition?

Yes! The Gastroenteritis is considered a temporary condition, given that it resolved with treatment, it’s not on the list of excluded conditions in the policy’s Product Disclosure Statement (PDS) and the two episodes were not related. There was also more than 18 months between each condition.

Archie’s Luxating Patella

You’ve noticed your pet Archie is limping a little on his rear leg. Your Vet diagnoses him with a Luxating Patella (a dislocating kneecap).

15 days ago, you took out pet insurance for Archie, meaning you’re currently mid-way through the policy’s waiting period for this condition. That means treatment for this condition is not covered by your policy given it arose during the applicable waiting period, as outlined in the policy’s Product Disclosure Statement (PDS).

Two years later, Archie requires surgery for the Patella Luxation. Can you claim for this condition?

No. You and your Vet were both aware of this condition during the pet insurance policy’s waiting period, so it’s not eligible for cover (as outlined in the policy’s PDS). Patella Luxation is also defined as a chronic condition in the policy’s PDS, so as a result it remains ineligible for cover two years later.

Max’s Demodex Mites

Your puppy Max had Demodex Mites 18 months before having a pet insurance policy, which resolved with treatment from your Vet.

Two years later, Max is diagnosed with a new case of Demodex Mites. Can you claim for this condition?

Yes! The first episode of demodex mites was a temporary condition that resolved with treatment, and it’s not considered an excluded condition in the policy’s Product Disclosure Statement (PDS). Max also didn’t show signs, symptoms or abnormality in relation to the condition for more than 18 months.

Daisy’s broken leg

You first got pet insurance for Daisy when she was just 10 weeks old. Now at age three, Daisy broke her leg, and needs emergency treatment by your Vet. Can you claim for this condition?

Yes! As your selected pet insurance policy provides cover for accidents like broken bones (as outlined in your Product Disclosure Statement (PDS)) and the policy’s waiting period has passed, the condition isn’t considered pre-existing (i.e. known to you or your Vet prior to the commencement of your policy), and you’ve renewed your policy continuously each year without a break in cover, you’re able to claim for Daisy’s broken leg.

Want a pre-existing condition reviewed on your policy?

All temporary pre-existing conditions with a treatment date on or after 1 December 2020 are automatically removed as an exclusion from your pet insurance policy if your pet hasn’t shown signs or symptoms of that condition for 18 months or more, so there’s nothing more for you to do.

A chronic pre-existing condition is a pet health condition that requires ongoing care or is more prolonged in nature, so if your pet displays one of these conditions prior to the purchase of a pet insurance policy or its’ waiting period, it will never be coverable under the policy.

If you would still like to have a pre-existing condition on your pet insurance policy reviewed, you can do so anytime. Simply complete the pre-existing condition policy review form found here ,with your Vet and we’ll take care of the rest.

Where can I find the details of these changes in my Product Disclosure Statement?

We’ll be issuing new Product Disclosure Statements that outline all of these new terms shortly. You’ll find this available on our website here as of March 2021.

For our existing customers, after March 2021 you’ll receive a new Product Disclosure Statement with your renewal documentation.

Disclaimer:

Terms, conditions, waiting periods, limits and exclusions apply. Petinsurance.com.au is issued by The Hollard Insurance Company Pty Ltd ABN 78 090 584 473, AFSL 241436, is arranged and administered by PetSure (Australia) Pty Ltd ABN 95 075 949 923, AFSL 420183 (PetSure) and is promoted and distributed PetSure’s Authorised Representatives (AR) Pet Insurance Pty Ltd ABN 38 607 160 930, AR 1234944 and Petsy Pty Ltd ABN 54 633 343 058, AR 1277359. Any advice provided is general only and does not take into account your individual objectives, financial situation or needs. Please consider the Product Disclosure Statement (PDS) to ensure this product meets your needs before purchasing. PDS andTarget Market Determination available at Petsy’s TMD page
GapOnly™ is a trademark owned by PetSure (Australia) Pty Ltd (Petsure), ABN 95 075 949 923, ASFL 420163. Insurance products are issued by The Hollard Insurance Company (ABN 78 090 584 473; AFSL 241436) and administered by PetSure through its Authorised Representatives and distribution partners. Any advice is general only and may not be right for you. You should consider the relevant Product Disclosure Statement or policy wording available from the relevant provider to decide if a product is right for you.

This article was written by

Before taking out a pet insurance policy, your pet Bella has a case of Gastroenteritis (a tummy upset). The condition is treated and Bella recovers. Following the surprise episode, you decide to purchase a pet insurance policy for Bella to help with future, unexpected Vet visits.

Specified Conditions includes:
  • Cruciate ligament damage
  • Intervertebral disc disease
  • Hip dysplasia
  • Patella luxation
  • Elbow dysplasia
  • Cherry eye
  • Entropion
  • Ectropion,
  • Osteochondritis dissecans (‘OCD’)
  • Lumps
Lumps means the protuberance or localised area of swelling or unusual growth that can occur anywhere on or in the body including tumours, warts, cysts, growths, mucoceles, haematomas and abscesses.

Optional Extra Benefits

During the application process You will be provided with the option to include Optional Extra Benefits that cover certain conditions and Treatments which are not otherwise covered under the Policy.

The Optional Extra Benefits are:

Alternative Therapies, Behavioural Problems, and Dental Illness.

Examples of Alternative Therapies: Acupuncture, physiotherapy, hydrotherapy.

Examples of Behavioural Problems: Excessive licking, fur pulling, pacing and destructive chewing.

Examples of Dental Illnesses: Dental diseases, gingivitis, periodontal disease.