Our animals are more than just pets — they’re cherished members of the family. And as with all family members, we want the peace of mind knowing they can get the best care possible in case of an emergency. Insurance for pets can financially help you do that.
But you may be wondering whether insurance covers ALL pets. What about exotic animals or birds? Or pets with hereditary conditions? Or certain breeds? Let’s pounce into the topic.
In this article
Does insurance cover all pets?
When it comes to pet insurance, different providers cover different animals. PD Insurance specialises in dogs and cats, but there’s also cover out there for horses, rabbits, exotics pets and more.
Then there’s an entire category that covers livestock like cows and sheep – which aren’t strictly pets, but some might count them as such 😊 There are several reasons why dog and cat insurance is more common, including:
- Dogs and cats are the most popular pets in New Zealand and many parts of the world and the pets most people own and care for – so there’s a large need for cover specifically for these animals.
- They have well-documented medical histories and common health issues. This makes it easier for insurance providers to create actuarial tables and calculate risks, which helps in giving you fair premiums and coverage terms.
So whether you have a sprightly Spaniel or a majestic Maine Coon, dog or cat insurance can help with a range of medical expenses. This includes unexpected vet visits for accidents, illness and dental treatments (depending on your plan).
Pro-tip: Remember that with PD you don’t need to take out separate plans for your dog and cat. You can use multi-pet insurance and have them all on one plan. . Plus, this means you can get a 5% discount off the total base insurance premium.
What type of pet health issues aren’t covered?
Now, regardless of whether your insurance company covers just dogs and cats or other animals too, there are usually some criteria they DON’T cover. Here are the common exclusions:
Pets with pre-existing conditions
Most pet insurance policies exclude pre-existing conditions, which are health issues that existed before the policy was purchased. This means if your pet already has a chronic illness or a recurring ailment, it won’t be covered by insurance for pets. That’s because insurance is there to cover unexpected and emergency events. Check out our piece “Pre-Existing Conditions And Pet Insurance – Where Do You Stand?” for more on this.
Pets with congenital conditions
Congenital conditions are health problems your pet is born with, caused by something that went wrong during development before or just after birth. They’re different from hereditary conditions, which are health problems your pet is born with in their genes (hip dysplasia is one example). Think of it this way;
Hereditary = in the pet’s genes, passed down from parents.
Congenital = happens during development, may or may not be genetic.
Because insurers focus on covering new, unexpected events, congenital conditions usually aren’t covered by insurance. PD also doesn’t cover congenital conditions, however under our Classic and Deluxe plans, we do cover vet bills for illnesses arising from hereditary conditions (subject to age limits, the maximum cover per category and waiting periods).
Pets that are too old or too young
Some policies have age restrictions, meaning they won’t cover pets that are under or over a certain age. Most plans don’t start covering puppies or kittens until they’re about 8 weeks. PD is different – depending on their breed, we offer cover on all three of our plans from when your puppy or kitten is 6 weeks old.
There are limits in terms of how old your pet can be in order to qualify for cover – and that’s in place to prevent you from having too many potential exclusions. Happily, this is just for if you’re signing up for the first time. If your pet is already on a plan before they reach the age limit, they can then those limits don’t apply and they keep their cover! Remember to do your research before you sign up.
Law enforcement/working dogs
Because they have functions on top of being a pet, dogs with jobs (aka pups in law enforcement or working dogs like sheepdogs) often aren’t covered by pet insurance. That doesn’t mean there isn’t insurance for them – there are certain providers that specialise in this type of insurance.
Some insurance providers don’t cover assistance dogs, either. PD proudly offers pet insurance for assistance dogs.
Illegal breeds and insurance for pets
Insurance providers have to obey the law! They can’t cover animals that are illegal to bring into New Zealand.
When it comes to dogs and cats, PD doesn’t cover any breed that’s banned by any New Zealand Government, Public or Local Authority, or that’s crossed with any banned breed. The list includes these banned dog and cat breeds in New Zealand.
Pawsome insurance for pets
PD Insurance is a cat insurance and dog insurance specialist. We help you pay vet bills for a wide range of treatments, plus you can get 1 MONTH FREE* insurance when you sign up. Why not get a quote today?