Blog - Petsy Pet Insurance

The history of pet insurance

Posted on November 21, 2024November 21, 2024 by Jatin Verma

What is pet insurance?

Pet Insurance is a form of insurance available to pet owners to help cover their pet for accidental injuries and illnesses, by reimbursing a portion of the veterinary costs to treat their pet.

Pet insurance acts as a financial safety net, helping cover unexpected veterinary costs if your pet needs treatment. Some medical expenses can run into the tens of thousands, and having a pet insurance plan can significantly reduce the financial burden and stress during difficult times.

History & evolution

Insurance for animals began in Sweden in 1890, when Claes Virgin wrote the first policy for horses and livestock. The pet insurance policy for pets like cats and dogs was first sold in Britain in 1947. By 2009, Britain had one of the highest rates of pet insurance, second only to Sweden.

In the U.S., pet insurance started in 1982, with the first policy issued to the famous TV dog, Lassie.

Pet insurance works a bit differently than health insurance for human — it’s more like property insurance. After your pet receives care, you pay the vet and then send a claim to your insurance company to get reimbursed.

One fun fact: Since 2009, the Hambone Award has been given each year to a pet with the most unusual insurance claim. Its name comes from an unnamed dog who reportedly was trapped in a refrigerator and suffered from mild hypothermia, eating an entire holiday ham while waiting for rescue.

Pet insurance policies can have different coverage limits: some have limits per condition, some have limits per condition per year, and others have one overall limit per year. This affects how much you can claim if your pet needs multiple treatments.

Pre-existing conditions are often not covered, which is why it’s recommended to insure pets early before any health issues arise.

There’s usually a period of time when you can’t claim for accidents or illnesses right after getting a policy. This ensures coverage is for new injuries or illnesses that show up after you’re insured.

Pet insurance today

Today, pet insurance in Australia is becoming increasingly popular as more pet parents seek to protect their furry companions from unexpected vet bills. With a variety of pet insurance policies available, coverage can range from basic accident-only policies to more comprehensive options that include illnesses, routine care, and wellness treatments. Many Australian insurers now offer flexible plans with different benefit limits and extras, giving pet parents the ability to choose coverage that fits their budget and needs.

Understanding Pet Insurance

How pet insurance works: A quick overview

Pet insurance helps cover the cost of unexpected vet bills. After your pet receives care, you pay the vet, submit a claim, and get reimbursed based on your policy’s coverage. Policies usually cover accidents, illnesses, and sometimes routine care, depending on the plan. There are limits to how much you can claim, and pre-existing conditions are generally not covered. Most policies also have a waiting period before coverage kicks in for certain conditions. Pet insurance gives peace of mind by helping to manage unexpected medical costs for your pet.

In Australia, pet insurance typically offers several types of coverage. These can vary among different providers, but the main types include:

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

Accident and Illness Cover: This is a more well-rounded coverage 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.

Key insurance terms you need to know

Common insurance terms you’ll come across when comparing different providers.

Annual Limit: 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.

Benefit Percentage: 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).

Excess: 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.

Sub-limits: Specific limits under your policy for certain types of treatments or conditions. For example, there might be a sub-limit placed on high cost treatments.

Exclusion Periods (Waiting Periods): The period of time after you start your policy during which you can’t make a claim for treatments. If your pet gets sick or injured during this period, the costs won’t be covered by the insurance.

Pre Existing Conditions: Any signs or symptoms of conditions your pet had before your insurance policy started, including during any exclusion periods. Pre-existing conditions are generally not covered by pet insurance policies.

Differences between pet insurance and human health insurance

While both health insurance and pet insurance help cover medical costs, they work a bit differently. Health insurance for humans usually pays the doctor directly, while pet insurance typically requires you to pay the vet upfront, then submit a claim for reimbursement. Pet insurance is more like property insurance, focusing on accidents, illnesses, and sometimes routine care, but it usually doesn’t cover pre-existing conditions or preventative care the same way human health insurance might. Additionally, pet insurance policies often have annual or per-condition limits on how much can be claimed.

Unlike humans in Australia, who are covered by Medicare for many healthcare costs, pets do not have a government healthcare system. Pet insurance works more like property insurance, requiring you to pay the vet upfront and then submit a claim for reimbursement. While health insurance for humans often covers a broad range of care through Medicare, pet insurance focuses on accidents, illnesses, and sometimes routine treatments. However, it typically doesn’t cover pre-existing conditions or offer the same level of comprehensive care that Medicare does for people, making pet insurance an important option to manage unexpected vet bills for pet owners.

Key considerations when choosing pet insurance

When choosing pet insurance, consider several key factors. First, think about your pet’s specific coverage needs and whether the policy allows customisation, such as adjusting the excess, annual limit, and benefit percentage. Next, evaluate the claims process: great customer service and a straightforward, quick claims experience can make a big difference in your overall pet insurance experience. Also, consider the costs —lower premiums could mean less coverage, and check for any payout limits on specific conditions. Finally, decide on the type of excess that works best for your budget.

Importance of pet insurance

Pet insurance plays an important part of responsible pet ownership. Caring for pets can be expensive and vet bills can quickly add up, especially in emergencies.

Pet Insurance for puppies and kittens

Starting your pet insurance when your pet is young and healthy could minimise the chances of your pet having any Pre-existing Conditions that may not be covered later. Insuring them early can help to ensure they receive extensive coverage without the worry of expensive vet bills.

Pet Insurance for older pets

If you’ve adopted an older pet, chances are your new friend will have at least one or two existing health issues, even if they’re fairly minor and under control. Older pets need extra love and attention and taking in an older pet means potentially bearing the high cost of caring for them as well. Whilst pet insurance can’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.

Setting Yourself Up for Pet Insurance Success

How to be prepared for emergencies

Emergencies can happen anytime, so it’s important to have a plan in place. Keep your vet’s contact information, a 24-hour emergency clinic contact details, and your pet insurance policy number in an easily accessible location. Ensure your policy covers emergency visits and have an emergency fund to cover upfront costs before your claim is processed.

Navigating vet visits with insurance

When visiting the vet, let them know you have pet insurance. Ask for detailed invoices and make sure you have all the necessary paperwork to submit a claim. Familiarising yourself with your pet insurance claim process so you’re across the information required to avoid delays.

After your pet has received treatment, you can usually ask your vet to submit the claim for you when you’re at the clinic, by providing your policy number or asking the clinic to submit the invoice or history through to your insurance provider.

Getting the most out of your policy

To make the most out of your pet insurance, understand what’s covered and what’s not. Staying organised with medical records and policy details can streamline claims assessment process. Regular vet check-ups can also help identify health issues early, reducing the risk of them becoming serious and avoiding expensive vet bills later on.

Petsy Pet Insurance

Established in 2019, Petsy is a leading pet insurance provider in Australia offering extensive coverage and exceptional service to pet owners nationwide. With a deep understanding of the needs and financial circumstances of pet owners, Petsy aims to deliver peace of mind and support during unexpected veterinary emergencies. Petsy is committed to transparency and providing innovative solutions that prioritise the well-being of our beloved pets.

We offer coverage up to $30,000 annually to help cover eligible vet bills for pet owners if their pet runs into an unexpected mishap, with no sub-limits on any of the conditions you can claim.

With Petsy pet insurance, pet owners can rest easy knowing that expenses for costly vet treatments (and more) can be reimbursed, allowing pet parents to focus on their pet’s well-being instead of the financial burden. It also minimises the need to make difficult choices about a pet’s treatments, due to financial constraints.

Cheap Pet Insurance: How to make Pet Insurance more affordable in Australia.

Posted on November 16, 2024November 19, 2024 by Jatin Verma

Here we will define cheap pet insurance and how to make it affordable.

Key Takeways

Here we will define cheap pet insurance and at the bottom keep reading below so we can show you how you may make pet insurance cheaper.  Look out for tips on how to lower the cost of a pet insurance premium. If you are like us, you probably love a deal. But our experiences have led us to understand the age-old saying.

WHAT IS CHEAP PET INSURANCE?

“In life, usually you get what you pay for.”

Years ago, we did offer lower-priced products with less coverage. But we found that this led to tears in the instances when people thought that they were covered for an accident and actually they were not. The main problem we saw was that cheaper insurance products had limited coverage and features.

Before we get into what cheap or low price pet insurance is, let’s take a look at the definition of cheap. According to a quick google search (definition from oxford languages^), cheap is defined as:
“Low in price, especially in relation to similar items or services” or “Of little worth because achieved in a discreditable way requiring little effort”

In general, the term “cheap” refers to something that is priced lower than average or of lower cost or value when compared to other products or services available to consumers.

Cheap products

When we talk about products, “cheap” usually refers to items that are inexpensive, affordable, or budget-friendly. These products may be made with less costly, lower-quality materials or may lack some of the features or benefits of more expensive alternatives. In other cases, a similar product may not be priced as high if the brand name is not well known. An example of this may be a cheap knockoff of one of your favourite brands.

Cheap services

If we refer to services, “cheap” typically refers to services that are priced lower than average or considered a bargain. However, it’s important to note that “cheap” services may not always offer the same level of quality, care, attention to detail, expertise, or reliability as more expensive options. That is very much what we found out when it comes to what we have offered in the past compared to our offerings today.

The low-priced pet insurance options we offered before were not of the same level of quality or reliability. That’s why we don’t offer them anymore.

Now, we do understand that some people may have their own concept of what is cheap, so, let us use the term “low in price” or “low priced” in relation to other similar pet insurance offerings, instead of the word “cheap.”

We no longer have very “low in price” pet insurance offerings.

Why? Because to lower the price, we would have to compromise on the coverage or service we deliver. Remember we do not send calls or customers service offshore. You will only ever communicate with an Australia Pet lover, just like you.

Again, we have done that in the past and found that it didn’t work, as our members were thinking they were covered for conditions that they were not covered for, which led to tears.

So we decided to only offer quality pet insurance with no sub limits, serviced by only Australian staff. We allow our members and policy holders to customise the cover to make it more affordable.

An example of low-priced pet insurance in Australia – accident only cover

In the pet insurance world, accident only cover is considered one of the lowest-priced insurance options.

There are still some low-priced pet insurance products available in the market, and they usually fall into the category of “accident only cover” or “accident only pet insurance”. This can start from as low as around $20-$30 a month for dogs and potentially even less for cats.

In the past, when we did offer accident only covers, we found the problem was the shorter list of the conditions it covered. Which was okay at the point of purchasing but when faced with an unexpected incident and you are in the emergency vet, it’s hard to remember exactly what conditions are covered, and what options you did and didn’t choose.

WHEN IT COMES TO PET INSURANCE, WHAT IS AN ACCIDENT?

It may sound like an accident to you, but is it? When asked about conditions such as ingestion of a foreign object (if a dog or cat has swallowed something they shouldn’t), some people would think that this is an accident, but it may not be for pet insurance.

In many pet insurance policies, you will find that ingestion of a foreign object is considered to be a cause for an illness and is therefore not claimable under accident only covers. This has proven to be a shock to policyholders who may have purchased an accident only cover, believing they are protected for the “accident when my dog ate something it shouldn’t.”

What’s the difference between Accident only cover and Accident and Illness cover? To the general public, we found accident only cover may sound like it covers vet costs if your pet is in an accident, such as being hit by a car or injuries from dog fights or snake bites. Accident and illness cover may sound like it covers accidents as well as sickness such as diabetes or cancer, provided it isn’t a pre-existing condition.

It’s very important to note that what sounds like an accident to general public and what is actually covered as an accident under a pet insurance policy may be different. The only way to be sure is to contact the insurance provider and confirm.

Accident only covers led to tears, so that is why we no longer offer it. We no longer offer low-priced or, in our eyes, “cheap pet insurance” that limits the coverage too much. Our current pet insurance covers both accidents and illnesses and has one list of conditions covered under the policy. 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 annual period is $5k, not $25k.

As mentioned before, we do not and probably will never again offer another product that limits the conditions covered under the policy, just to make it an cheaper option compared to other products in the market.

HOW MUCH CAN PET INSURANCE COST?

If you were looking for cheap pet insurance (according to the definition of cheap we looked at before), we would agree that there are cheaper options out there for pet insurance.

Pet insurance range for a cat: from $15 per month to $200+ a month.

Pet insurance range for a dog: from $20 per month to over $200+ a month.

But why is there such a difference in pet insurance premiums?

It’s simply because not all pet insurance products are equal. If you were to make the same claim under different pet insurance covers, what you may get back can vary greatly. There are also multiple factors that can influence pet insurance premiums as they are determined based on your pet, as well as your situation,, such as your pet’s breed and where you live. With so many options out there, it can be really confusing and hard to tell the difference between pet insurance offerings. Which makes it even harder to decide which is right for you and your pet.

If you want to know more about pet insurance, please see our ultimate guide on how to compare pet insurance policies.

MAKE PET INSURANCE CHEAPER

How can I lower the cost of pet insurance, or reduce the insurance premium?

The amount you pay for pet insurance each month or year, otherwise known as the insurance premium can be reduced by changing the options, such as annual limit, benefit percentage and annual excess. In general, the more coverage you select, the more expensive your premium will be.

We will quickly break down the main mechanisms that affect the pet insurance premiums. When we mention the term “cheap” or “cheaper” below, we refer to the ability to make the premium less than a more expensive alternative.

Look out for tips on how to lower the cost of a pet insurance premium.

Annual Limit

In the market, the total amount you may be reimbursed during a 12 month period can range from $3,000 to over $20,000. The higher the annual limit, the higher the premium, and the lower the annual limit, the cheaper pet insurance premiums will be.

Petsy offers some of the lowest and, conversely, highest annual limits in the market with no sub-limits. Remember, $10k with sub-limits is not the same as $10k without sub-limits.

Our coverage options are entirely up to you to choose from, and we have $5k, $10k, and $25k options available.

Benefit Percentage

Usually, you can choose how much of the vet costs you want to be covered. This is known as the “benefit percentage” in pet insurance.

In the market, the total amount you can select to be reimbursed on vet bills will usually range from 70% to 100% (just check the caveats and fine print on those who claim to offer 100% back).
The higher the benefit percentage, the higher the premium, and the lower the benefit percentage, the cheaper pet insurance premiums will be.

We offer two options, 80% and 90%.

Annual Excess

In the market, the available excess ranges from $0 to over $500.

The lower the annual excess, the higher the premium, and the higher the annual excess, the cheaper pet insurance premiums will be. It is important to note that not all excess available in the market are the same. The three main types are per claim excess, per condition excess and annual excess and they are very different.

A per claim excess would be applied (ie. you need to pay this amount out of your own pocket) for every claim you submit.

A per condition excess would be applied for every different condition that your furry friend develops and you make a claim.

An annual excess is only applied once for the year, regardless of how many claims you made, or how many conditions you furry friend had.

At Petsy we offer a number of annual excess options they are: $0, $150, $200, $300 and $500

Optional Extra Benefits

Many insurance providers offer the opportunity to add-on extra benefits, such as behavioural conditions, physiotherapy or emergency boarding. Each insurance provider will offer different extra benefits, so make sure to consider what extended cover you would like your pet to have.

The more optional extras you choose, the more expensive your pet insurance premium will be, and the less optional extras, the cheaper you can make your pet insurance premium.

Dental Coverage

Adding dental coverage will increase the amount you pay for pet insurance. Choosing to not include dental coverage will reduce the pet insurance premiums.

Not many pet insurance providers have dental coverage as an option. If they do there are usually sub-limits.

Petsy is proud to be one of the few providers that offer dental coverage and as always there are no sub-limits.

Vet Consultations

Not many pet insurance providers will allow you to remove vet consultations from your coverage. In fact, when it comes to vet consultations, many have the caveat of a sub-limit on vet consultations. If you decide to remove vet consultations, this will make your pet insurance cheaper.

There are three main reasons why we allow our policy holders to remove Vet consultations. The first is that we have many Vets, Vet nurses and other staff who work in vet clinics and they usually get a large discount on vet consult charges. The second is that we have a number of elderly, disability and concession card holder who also get a discount on vet consults. The third is that our pet insurance pairs well with a wellness plan that will already pay for vet consults

STILL CONFUSED ABOUT AFFORDABLE PET INSURANCE?

Take a look at our comprehensive table featuring quotes for dogs and cats. This table will help you determine how to make pet insurance more affordable with Petsy.

Cheapest Pet Insurance Quotes for Dogs on Petsy Pet Insurance (Per month)

Please note: These Quote Prices were taken on 10th July 2024. Prices are subject to change. For up-to-date quotes, click here to request a quote.

Pet Breed ( Dogs )	6K Annual Limit ( 80% with 500 annual excess )	12K Annual Limit ( 80% with 500 annual excess )	30K Annual Limit ( 80% with 500 annual excess )	30K Annual Limit ( 80% with 200 annual excess )
Cavoodle	$33.59	$39.41	$47.11	$67.61
Jack Russell Terrier	$34.07	$39.99	$47.82	$68.65
Miniature Jack Russell Terrier	$34.07	$39.99	$47.82	$68.65
West Highland White Terrier	$34.07	$39.99	$47.82	$68.65
Pomchi	$33.59	$39.41	$47.11	$67.61
Toy Pom Cross	$34.04	$39.95	$47.77	$68.58
Spoodle	$34.48	$40.49	$48.42	$69.55
Miniature Fox Terrier	$39.50	$46.50	$55.77	$80.42
Chihuahua	$41.90	$49.39	$59.29	$85.64
Tamaruke	$40.46	$47.66	$57.17	$82.51
Labrador Retriever	$47.12	$55.65	$66.93	$96.96
Staffordshire Bull Terrier	$46.04	$54.36	$65.36	$94.63

Cheapest Pet Insurance Quotes for Dogs on Petsy Pet Insurance (Per month)

Please note: These Quote Prices were taken on 10th July 2024. Prices are subject to change. For up-to-date quotes, click here to request a quote.

Pet Breed ( Cats )	6K Annual Limit ( 80% with 500 annual excess )	12K Annual Limit ( 80% with 500 annual excess )	30K Annual Limit ( 80% with 500 annual excess )	30K Annual Limit ( 80% with 200 annual excess )
Domestic ShortHair	$27.86	$32.54	$38.73	$55.19
British Shorthair	$32.69	$38.33	$45.79	$65.65
Devon Rex	$32.69	$38.33	$45.79	$65.65
Domestic Ginger Cat	$27.86	$32.54	$38.73	$55.19
Maine coon	$32.69	$38.33	$45.79	$65.65

SUMMARY

So, whilst cheap pet insurance can be a tempting option, it’s important to understand what it really means. While some may define “cheap” as a lower-priced option, it’s essential to remember that not all pet insurance products are created equal. Before purchasing a pet insurance policy, it’s crucial to evaluate the level of coverage offered and assess whether it meets your individual needs and is right for you and your furry friend

It’s also important to note that certain pet insurance providers may have different definitions of what constitutes an accident or an illness. Thus, it’s essential to contact the insurance provider and confirm what is covered under the policy.

To reduce the cost of pet insurance premiums, pet owners can consider adjusting the options, such as the annual limit, annual excess, and reimbursement percentage. However, it’s vital to remember that lower-priced options may come with limitations or exclusions that could lead to unexpected out-of-pocket costs.

Ultimately, the goal of pet insurance is to provide financial protection for unexpected vet bills. At Petsy, we offer one customisable product with no sub-limits and flexible annual limits that provide coverage at what we see as reasonable price, backed with a high level of customer service (it’s currently one of the highest rated, if not the highest rated!).

We recently introduced a $500 annual excess option that can reduce the premium by more than 40% in some cases.

We hope that by understanding what “cheap” pet insurance really means and evaluating the coverage options available, pet owners can make informed decisions and select a pet insurance policy that is right for them and their furry companions.

If you would like more info on Pet Insurance for Cats or Pet Insurance for Dogs you can call us anytime on 1300 952 790.

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

Posted on November 11, 2024November 19, 2024 by Dan Dan

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

Fractures	Consist 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.
Poisoning	Disease 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 reactions	Consist 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 wounds	Relates 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 objects	Consist 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 problems	Broad 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.
Cancer	Cancer 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 seeds	Grass 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 paralysis	Tick 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 conditions	Relates 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 conditions	Relate 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 conditions	This 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 dysplasia	Both 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 care	If 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.
Hospitalisation	If 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 Surgery	This 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.
Radiology	Medical 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-rays	Medical 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 scans	CT 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.
MRIs	MRIs 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 drugs	Your 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.
Chemotherapy	Chemotherapy 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 diseases	Vaccine 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 boarding	In 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 accident	If your animal has been directly involved in a motor vehicle accident which resulted in injuries and required veterinary attention.

Fractures	Consist 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.
Poisoning	Disease 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 reactions	Consist 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

Posted on November 11, 2024November 19, 2024 by Dan Dan

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 providers	Petsy 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

Posted on November 11, 2024November 19, 2024 by Dan Dan

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

Posted on November 11, 2024November 19, 2024 by Dan Dan

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

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

Posted on November 11, 2024November 19, 2024 by Dan Dan

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.au, Trustpilot, 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*:

4.8 stars – Petsy Pet Insurance on ProductReview.com.au
4.8 stars – Petsy Pet Insurance on Trustpilot
4.7 stars – Google Reviews for Petsy Pet Insurance

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

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Posted on November 4, 2024November 22, 2024 by VFFTECH John

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Taking the pain out of pre-existing conditions

Posted on November 30, 2020November 22, 2024 by Dan Dan

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.

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.

A 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.

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.

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

Can my pet get coronavirus? Get the facts.

Posted on March 13, 2020November 22, 2024 by [email protected]

Coronaviruses/COVID-19 and your pets – what you need to know

Our vets provide their expertise on what you need to know about the Coronavirus/COVID-19

What is a Coronavirus?

Coronaviruses are a large family of viruses which can cause illness in animals or humans. In humans, several coronaviruses are known to cause respiratory infections ranging from the common cold to more severe diseases such as Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) and the recently identified COVID-19.

What is COVID-19 and can it infect pets?

COVID-19 is the disease caused by the recently identified coronavirus SARS-CoV-2. COVID-19 was unknown before the recent outbreak identified late last year.

Currently there is no evidence suggesting that dogs and cats can be a source of infection for COVID-19, or that they can become sick from the COVID-19 virus. COVID-19 is currently spreading through human to human transmission. However, it is always a good idea to wash your hands with soap and water after contact with pets. This helps protect against various common bacteria, such as E. coli and Salmonella, that can pass between pets and humans.

There is a single dog in Hong Kong which tested a weak positive to the COVID-19 virus, however it is still being investigated whether this positive test result was due to environmental contamination or if the dog was truly infected. It is important to note the dog was not showing any signs of disease. This is an evolving situation and information will be updated as it becomes available from the relevant human health and veterinary bodies.

Do dogs and cats suffer illness from any coronaviruses?

Feline infectious peritonitis virus (FIP) and canine coronavirus (CCV) are two coronaviruses which have been unfortunately present and causing disease in dog and cat populations for a long time. It is important to note that FIP and CCV are distinctly different and separate to the COVID-19 virus causing the current disease outbreak with humans. CCV generally causes mild gastroenteritis in dogs, and FIP is a progressive and invariably fatal systemic disease of domestic cats. Both cannot cause illness in people.

Does Petsy Pet Insurance provide cover for COVID-19 or other coronaviruses?

Feline infectious peritonitis (FIP) and canine coronavirus (CCV) are assessed as Illness conditions under a Petsy Pet Insurance policy and are generally eligible for cover under Illness subject to the exclusion periods and provided the condition is not pre-existing.

It is important to remember, the World Health Organisation (WHO) and veterinary bodies have advised currently there is no evidence dogs and cats can become sick from COVID-19. If there are any developments in relation to COVID 19 impacting dogs and cats, we will do our best to keep our customers informed.

Rest assured if your pet is currently displaying symptoms of coughing, respiratory issues or a fever/elevated temperature, you should seek veterinary advice, and know these conditions are generally coverable under your policy provided there were no signs or symptoms that occurred prior to the start of cover or during any applicable exclusion periods (and therefore considered a pre existing condition under the policy and excluded from cover).

What are vaccine preventable diseases?

Vaccine 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

Does Petsy Pet Insurance cover vaccine preventable diseases?

With a Petsy Pet Insurance policy, we over coverage for a list of vaccine preventable diseases if you can provide sufficient evidence that your pet is up to date with their vaccinations. Vaccinatable diseases are not covered if the pet is not up to date with
vaccinations at the time of first occurrence of and at the time of treatment of a vaccinatable disease and/or related illness.

If I am quarantined or hospitalised due to COVID-19 and can’t take care of my pet, can I seek assistance for emergency boarding?

If during the Period of Insurance, You are unexpectedly hospitalised for four (4) or more consecutive days, and it is not reasonable for someone who lives with You to look after Your Pet and is therefore necessary for Your Pet to board at a licensed kennel or cattery, We will reimburse a portion of Your incurred boarding costs for a
period of up to thirty (30) days up to the Benefit Percentage, subject to the Annual Excess and Annual Limit as shown in Your Certificate of Insurance.

If you are not hospitalised and are simply quarantined at home due to COVID-19, emergency boarding for your pet will not be covered.

Additional resources

Further information relating to the Coronavirus can be sourced from the World Health Organisation (WHO) or Australian Veterinary Association (AVA) websites:

https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019

https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019/advice-for-public/myth-busters

https://www.ava.com.au/coronavirus/

Petsy Pty Ltd (ABN 54 633 343 058, AR 1277359) (‘Petsy’) distributes and promotes Petsy Pet Insurance as an authorised representative of Knose Financial Services Pty Ltd (ABN 38 620 795 735, AFSL 536651) (‘Knose’). Knose is an underwriting agency acting under a binding authority as an agent for the insurer; (a) Pacific International Insurance Pty Limited (ABN 83 169 311 193) (’Pacific) in relation to policies from 01 March 2023 or have an anniversary renewal date from 18 March 2023, and (b) the Australia branch of Allied World Assurance Company, Ltd (ABN 54 163 304 907) (‘Allied World’) in relation to policies purchased between 17 February 2022 and 28 February 2023 (inclusive) or renewed between 01 March 2023 and 17 March 2023 (inclusive).In all aspects of arranging this product, Petsy and Knose act as an agent of Pacific/Allied World (as the case may be) and not as your agent. Any advice contained on this website is general advice only and has been prepared without taking into account individual objectives, financial situation or needs and you should consider the appropriateness of any such advice, the Product Disclosure Statement (‘PDS’’) (Allied World PDS) and the Target Market Determination (‘TMD’’) (Allied World TMD) available via www.petsy.com.au or by calling 1300 952 790 before making a decision to acquire, or to continue to hold, the product.

Terms, conditions, limits and exclusions apply. Please refer to the PDS.

This article was written by Petsy Pet Insurance

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How pet insurance works: A quick overview

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Key Takeways

WHAT IS CHEAP PET INSURANCE?

WHEN IT COMES TO PET INSURANCE, WHAT IS AN ACCIDENT?

HOW MUCH CAN PET INSURANCE COST?

MAKE PET INSURANCE CHEAPER

STILL CONFUSED ABOUT AFFORDABLE PET INSURANCE?

SUMMARY

No Sub Limits

Petsy has NO SUB LIMITS

What is a Sub Limit?

Accidental injuries and illness

What is a pre-existing condition in pet insurance?

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

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

Why is it important to understand pre-existing conditions?

Benefits of completing a Pre-existing Condition Assessment

(Also known as a PECA)

What is a pre-existing condition?

Why complete a PECA?

Another Relatable example

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

What happens during a Pre-existing Condition Assessment?

How long does a PECA take?

Helpful Tips

If your pet does have pre-existing conditions

What Exactly is a Pet Insurance Quote?

What Affects the Cost of Your Premium?

Common Pitfalls When Comparing Quotes

How Can I Lower My Pet Insurance Premium?

Examples of Pet Insurance Quotes with Petsy

Wrapping It Up

Why do you need pet insurance?

Types of available pet insurance

Why compare pet insurance?