Getting multi pet insurance is the ideal thing to do if you have more than one furry friend in your home and want to control the amount of money you spend on their health and wellbeing, while also ensuring that they receive the best standard of care possible. It can be challenging to select the best policy. Many pet owners make basic mistakes that ultimately cost them more money. We’ll go over the things to look out for, what multi-pet insurance covers, and if it’s worth it in this article.
Having more than one pet in the house doubles the amount of love and affection, but it also doubles the amount of responsibility. Multiple pet insurance aims to safeguard your furry family members because veterinary bills can mount up quickly. But not all types of pet insurance provide the coverage you believe they do, and making a poor decision could result in you having to pay huge out of pocket bills.
Many pet owners make mistakes when selecting insurance, which can result in hundreds or even thousands of pounds in veterinary bills. These blunders can range from unclear policy limitations to hidden exclusions. Don’t worry, though! We’ll walk you through the 7 main pitfalls to avoid so you can discover the best coverage at the most affordable price
What is Multi Pet Insurance and What Does It Cover?
Multi-pet insurance is a practical solution to protect all of your pets under one policy, usually at a reduced cost, if you have multiple pets. Multi-pet policies simplify renewals, claims, and paperwork by allowing you to cover two or more pets with a single provider rather than managing many different insurance plans.
What Does Multi Pet Insurance Cover?
Most pet insurance providers offer multi-pet policies that cover the following, however coverage varies by insurer and policy type:
- Accidents & Injuries: Pet insurance provides emergency medical care in the event that your pet is injured.
- Illnesses & Diseases: Provides coverage for veterinary bills related to common ailments and long-term problems.
- Third-Party Liability: This protects you in the event that your dog injures someone or damages your property.
- Congenital & Hereditary Conditions: Certain plans cover conditions unique to a particular breed, such hip dysplasia in large dogs.
- Alternative Therapies: Depending on the therapist, these may include acupuncture, hydrotherapy, and physical therapy.
- Euthanasia & End-of-Life Expenses: Humane euthanasia, cremation, or burial are covered by certain policies.
- Lost or Stolen Pet: Certain policies assist with paying for advertising and providing a reward.
Optional Extras: Dental care, vaccinations, and flea/tick treatments.
What’s Not Covered?
Exclusions from even the best policies can include:
- Pre-existing conditions (diseases your pet had prior to obtaining insurance).
- Standard care (neutering, flea/tick treatments, and vaccinations, unless otherwise specified).
- Dental treatment (unless it was part of comprehensive plans or was the result of an accident).
- Issues with behaviour (unless a medical condition is the cause).
How Does Multi Pet Insurance Work
Most multi pet insurance companies offer separate insurance for every pet within the multi pet policy but they are all consolidated under a single plan. While some policies have individual coverage for each animal, others offer a combined coverage limit for all pets.
For instance, A £5,000 per-condition cap might imply that each of your two dogs receives £5,000 in coverage for each condition. A combined limit may apply to certain insurers, which means that the entire reimbursement for all dogs is distributed throughout the policy.
What are the Pitfalls to Avoid When Choosing Multi Pet Insurance?
Pitfall #1: Choosing the Cheapest Policy Without Checking Coverage
It can be tempting to select the least expensive policy when looking for multi-pet insurance in order to save money. However, choosing the cheapest plan without carefully examining the coverage details may result in unforeseen costs and inadequate protection for your pets at critical times. For example, selecting a policy that does not cover pre-existing conditions, only to discover that your dog’s breed is not covered since it is prone to hip dysplasia.
Why This is a Common Mistake
Many pet owners believe that the benefits of all pet insurance plans are the same, but cheaper plans usually have lower coverage limits, exclusions, and hidden restrictions. This implies that if your pet needs treatment, you might have to pay out of pocket.
How to Avoid This Pitfall
Before choosing a multi pet policy, you should consider the following:
- Examine the policies according to the level of coverage rather than on price alone.
- If your pet is prone to certain illnesses, you should opt for a lifetime coverage.
- Read the fine prints carefully to fully understand what the plan covers and what it doesn’t.
- Note that not all policies provide unlimited coverage, some policies have low annual or per-condition limits, meaning that you might run out of coverage if your pet developed a serious illness.
Pitfall #2: Ignoring Pre-Existing Condition Exclusion
One of the biggest mistakes pet owners make when selecting multi-pet insurance is assuming that pre-existing conditions will be covered. Pre-existing conditions are actually not covered by most pet insurance providers, so any illness or injury your pet experienced prior to obtaining the policy might not be covered. Ignoring this detail could result in you having to pay for costly procedures that you believed were covered out of pocket.
Pre-existing conditions are diseases, injuries or health problems that your pet had been diagnosed with, or exhibited symptoms of, prior to the start of your insurance policy. For example, getting insurance after your pet has been diagnosed with diabetes, only to find out that treatment for diabetes will not be included in the plan.
How to Avoid This Pitfall
- Ask your vet for a detailed medical history so that you’re aware of prior illnesses, injuries, or symptoms that may be categorized as pre-existing conditions.
- Insure your pets while they’re young before they develop any health conditions. Younger pets usually qualify for more comprehensive coverage at a lower cost.
- Look for insurance providers that offer some form of coverage for pre-existing conditions.
- Read the fine prints carefully especially the section on pre-existing condition exclusions. If you’re unsure about what’s covered and what’s not, ask your insurer for clarification.
Pitfall #3: Not considering Lifetime Vs. Time-Limited Cover
Not knowing the difference between time-limited and lifetime coverage can be a very costly mistake for pet owners. Although both kinds of plans help pay for veterinary care, they differ greatly in how long they cover your pet’s illnesses, which could have serious consequences in the future. Let’s define what these two types of pet insurance truly mean.
Time-Limited Coverage: Immediate Savings, Long-Term Costs
A condition is covered under a time-limited coverage for a predetermined amount of time, often 12 months after the initial treatment. Even if your pet still requires care after this time, the insurance will no longer pay for that treatment. This implies that when the allotted time has passed, you will be responsible for covering the cost of treatment if one of your pets gets a chronic condition like diabetes or arthritis.
Lifetime Cover: Continuous Protection for Your Pet
In contrast, if you renew your policy annually, a lifetime policy will cover conditions for your pet’s whole life. This implies that, instead of being discontinued after a year, your pet’s care will continue to be paid for if they are diagnosed with a chronic illness.
Lifetime coverage is costlier but it gives you peace of mind that your pet’s medical requirements will always be met. It is especially crucial for breeds that are more likely to have inherited diseases, such Labradors with knee difficulties or French Bulldogs with respiratory disorders.
How to Avoid This Pitfall
Consider the following before committing to an insurance policy:
- Is this a lifetime or time-limited policy?
- Will my pet have long-term coverage for chronic illnesses?
- If my pet requires ongoing care, am I prepared to take the chance of paying for it out of pocket?
Pitfall #4: Overlooking Annual or Per-Condition Limits
One of the most often ignored factors when selecting multi-pet insurance is the actual amount of coverage. Many pet owners believe that all veterinary expenses will be paid for once they obtain insurance, but this isn’t always the case. You may have to pay for expensive treatments out of pocket if you don’t examine the annual or per-condition limits that are included in your insurance coverage.
Understanding Per-Condition and Annual Limits
Annual Limits: This is the most your insurance will cover for veterinary care in a given year, regardless of how many claims you file. Until the policy is renewed, you will be responsible for paying any further expenses once you reach this limit.
Per-Condition Limit: This is the maximum amount your insurer will pay for a particular disease or injury. For instance, even if the coverage hasn’t expired, you will be responsible for paying the remaining medical expenses if your pet has arthritis and your per-condition maximum is £2,000 and the treatment exceeds this limit.
Certain policies mix the two, so you may still run out of coverage for a particular disease even if you haven’t reached your entire yearly limit.
How to Avoid This Pitfall
- Always verify the annual and per-condition coverage amount offered by your insurance provider.
- Consider the breed and health condition of your pet as certain breeds are more prone to genetic diseases and may require continuous care.
- Avoid seemingly cheap insurance policies as they usually have low coverage levels that may not adequately cover major medical conditions.
- You can prevent unforeseen costs and make sure your pets always get the care they require by being aware of these limits before buying your policy.
Pitfall #5: Not Considering Multi-Pet Discounts
Many pet owners believe that each coverage is priced separately when they purchase multiple pet insurance, but they are unaware that multi-pet discounts can result in significant cost savings. Neglecting these discounts can lead to higher rates and lost savings, particularly for households with several furry family members.
To entice pet owners with multiple pets, many pet insurance providers offer discounts if you opt to cover them under the same policy. Bundling your pets’ coverage together can save you money per pet rather than purchasing separate insurance for each pet.
Although these discounts may vary, they typically include; a 5%-15% discount on additional pets, a fixed price reduction on the total cost of your policy and less paper work and administrative costs because all your pets are insured under one policy.
How to Avoid This Pitfall
- Verify whether your insurance company provides savings for several pets. Since not all providers offer them, it’s important to weigh your options.
- Examine bundled versus individual policies because some breeds are more prone to health challenges and a separate policy may provide better coverage.
- Ensure that every pet is well catered for. While Bundling can save money, it may not meet the needs of all your pets.
- Look for providers that offer extra perks, some insurers provide extra benefits, like free health check-ups, lower excess fees, or loyalty rewards for multi-pet owners.
You will have peace of mind and save money to buy toys and treats by taking the time to look into multi-pet discounts, which will guarantee that your pets are completely insured without breaking the bank.
Pitfall #6: Ignoring Policy Exclusions and Waiting Periods
It is very common to assume that your pets will be covered for any medical condition as soon as you sign up for multi-pet insurance. However, policy exclusions and waiting periods sometimes catch owners off guard, leading to unanticipated out-of-pocket costs and denied claims.
Policy exclusions are specific conditions, treatments and therapies that your insurance company will not cover. Exclusions vary from one insurer to the next. Some typical exclusions include; pre-existing conditions, routine or preventive care, some breed-specific conditions and elective surgical procedures.
The waiting period on the other hand is the time you must wait before your pet insurance coverage begins. This means that during this period, any illness or injury your pet develops will be paid for by you.
How to Avoid This Pitfall
- Carefully read the terms and conditions of your policy, never assume that all ailments and therapies are covered. Make sure you review the waiting periods and exclusions.
- If you decide to switch insurers, make sure there won’t be any coverage gaps that could leave your pet without insurance.
- Seek out insurance with shorter waiting periods. If you’re switching from one insurer to another, look for providers with shorter waiting periods, or those who waive them entirely.
- Look for companies that offer optional extras such as wellness plans or treatment coverage for breed-related conditions.
Pitfall #7: Not Researching Claims Process and Customer Reviews
When choosing multi pet insurance, many pet owners simply focus on cost and coverage details without taking into account the claims procedure and reviews from actual customers who have previously used or currently using the services of the insurance provider. Failure to research on customer ratings and claims process can lead to unwanted delays, denied claims, and poor service.
How to Avoid This Pitfall
- Read customer reviews to find out how quickly and fairly issues are resolved.
- Verify the claims submission process of your preferred provider. Some insurers demand manual documentation, while others let you submit online. At Quays, our claims process is fully digital and hassle-free.
- Verify how long it takes to process a claim.
- Choose an insurer that pays directly to the vet, so that you don’t have to pay for treatments upfront.
Your pets will receive the care they require when they need it if you take the time to read through customer reviews and the claims procedure. This will help you prevent stressful delays and unforeseen costs.
Conclusion
Multi pet insurance can be a great way for pet owners to save money. If carefully considered, you can ensure your pets receive the best care without experiencing any financial strain by avoiding these pitfalls.
Always compare prices and offers from several providers before choosing one that strikes the perfect balance between comprehensive coverage and affordability. At Quays, we offer the best multi pet insurance that takes into consideration the needs of each pet in the plan. Our claims process is fast, digital and hassle-free.
Contact us to get a free quote today!
