Vets have expressed concerns about the number of budget pet insurance policies available on the market, claiming that these offer only limited insurance cover to pets .
A survey by insurance company More Than reveals that 90 per cent of vets say budget pet insurance policies often only offer cover for treatment of pets for a limited time.
The insurance company says many insurers fail to cover dogs that are older than eight years, with some limiting cover to pets under the age of four, particularly for some pedigree breeds .
More Than warns that these exclusions leave thousands of canine companions without adequate insurance, which means their owners will have to face potentially expensive vets’ fees themselves.
“With dogs living increasingly longer it’s unacceptable for insurers only to cover young dogs,” comments Graham Hollebon, the head of products at More Than.
He says that veterinary care has developed “significantly” over the last ten years but ageing dogs are more prone to illnesses which can often be lengthy and expensive to treat.
“It’s crucial for owners to choose a policy that doesn’t limit treatment to just the first twelve months before the pet needs any long-term care,” Mr Hollebon advises.
He notes that the insurance company’s research shows that 95 per cent of vets believe it is responsible of pet owners to take out pet insurance .
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