Accident-Only Pet Insurance

What do accident-only policies cover? 

The clue is in the name here; accident-only policies will only cover accidents. But what sort? 

Well, every policy can come with its own inclusions and exclusions, but they tend to help cover things like: 

• car accidents
• snake bites
• injuries from fighting with other animals
• burns
• electrocution
• allergic reactions to insect or spider bites
• fractured bones
• traumatic ligament or tendon injuries 

As part of this cover, your pet may be able to receive treatments like x-rays, medications, surgery, and more. 

What won’t accident-only policies cover? 

Obviously, an accident-only policy isn’t going to cover illnesses and the like. That includes things like cancer, skin conditions, and hereditary and congenital conditions.  

Pre-existing conditions – those that occurred before the policy started or during the waiting period – may also be excluded. So, if a dog tore a tendon in its leg while running one day, pet insurance may not cover further damage to that tendon.  

Having said that though, there can be some wiggle room as to what counts as a pre-existing condition. If the symptoms or signs of the condition haven’t shown up for a while, you may be able to get cover for it. 

Beyond conditions and illnesses, you might be surprised to learn that some other issues may not be covered under an accident-only policy. For instance, if your dog eats something that isn’t food, like socks or a tennis ball, this may not be covered. The same goes for tick paralysis. 

Importantly, harm or injuries resulting from your actions or those of someone living with you and your pet, including through neglect, won’t be covered. 

Something to keep in mind too is your pet’s age. Pet insurance tends to not be available for animals fewer than eight weeks old. Additionally, it may not be available for older animals, or the range may be limited. As a result, you might need to get your pet covered sooner rather than later – like by age nine – to be able to have any insurance for them as they get older. 

How do accident-only policies work? 

To keep your pet covered you’ll need to pay a premium, just like with your own health insurance. With this coverage, you can then claim on eligible veterinary services.  

How much money you’ll get back from your insurer will depend on your benefits. This tends to be a set percentage, like 60% or 80%. So, if you have a bill of $1,000 and a benefit percentage of 60%, you could get up to $600 back. 

Depending on your policy, you may need to pay a deductible before your benefits kick in. This is like a gap payment for health insurance.  

Further, benefits can come with limits. This is a cap on how much can be paid out under the policy until it renews. Your own health insurance may have a similar restriction. So, if you’ve got that $1,000 bill and benefit percentage of 60%, but a benefit limit of $500, you’d only get $500 back rather than $600. Future bills until the policy renews also won’t be claimable. 

Helpful Tip from Choosi’s Team of Choosers:

While you can’t change your pet’s breed or age, your premium isn’t necessarily set in stone. Adjusting your benefit percentage, for instance, could change your premium. By opting for a lower benefit percentage, you could lower your premium.

Factors to consider when purchasing accident-only pet insurance 

No one can guarantee accidents won’t happen. Choosing to cover your pet with an accident-only insurance policy might be a way to give yourself peace of mind though if something were to happen to them. Of course, there’s a few things you may want to think about before you make your purchase.  

How healthy is your pet? 

Your pet may currently have no health issues. As a result, you might only be concerned about something happening out of the blue, like them being hit by a car or injuring themselves down at the local dog park.  

However, just because your pet is showing no signs of health problems now, doesn’t mean it’ll always be the case. They may develop a condition later in life or already have one that has not become apparent, like kidney disease. Additionally, some pets, like cats, naturally ‘hide’ their sickness until it becomes more serious.  

As their owner, you know your pet best. You may be confident an accident-only policy is all they’ll need for now, or you might want to explore something that includes illnesses and reasons to visit the vet. 

How old is your pet? 

Although your pet may not act its age, getting old can mean they’re at higher risk of developing illnesses. Additionally, with chronic conditions like arthritis or failing vision, they may be more likely to injure themselves doing something they’ve always managed fine, like jumping onto the bed. 

Remember too that it can be harder to find a policy to cover your pet the older they get. Choosing to purchase pet insurance and keeping it – even if it doesn’t have comprehensive coverage – could be one way to get cover for a pet as they age.

How much time does your pet spend outdoors? 

Unfortunately, a pet that’s allowed to wander the street unsupervised can be injured by traffic or get into fights with other animals. Outdoors and off your property, your pet may also be more likely to encounter toxic plants and harmful household chemicals, like rat baits or insecticides.  

It makes sense then that cats that are kept inside or safely confined on a property are likely to live up to three times longer than those that wander. While there’s no similar statistics for dogs, it’s safe to assume you could be saving yourself a lot of heartbreak – whether that’s from your dog going missing or limping home injured – by making sure your dog can’t take itself for a walk. 

All this is to say that the outside world can be an equally exciting and dangerous place for pets. They can become injured or poisoned through misadventure, or contract harmful diseases from parasites and other creatures.  

How much time your pet spends outside – and how safe this environment is – may be a deciding factor for choosing whether you get an accident-only policy or something that offers more coverage. 

Where can I find and compare accident-only pet insurance? 

Regularly getting your pet vaccinated and feeding them a healthy diet (and not all the treats they beg for) is part and parcel of looking after them. Getting them insured may also be another part of your overall pet care strategy. 

But if you’d rather be walking your dog or snuggling with your cat than wading through policies, we get it. That’s why iSelect has teamed up with Choosi to make it simple and quick to compare a range of pet insurance options from different brands online. You can get started today and sleep soundly knowing your furry friend is covered. 

Terms and conditions apply. Choosi does not provide information, or offer cover, for all products available in the market. This is general information only, please consider the relevant Policy Booklet and Target Market Determination to ensure the product suits your needs. Choosi is a related company of Greenstone Financial Services Pty Ltd ABN 53 128 692 884; AFSL 343079, the distributor of each insurance policy Choosi can arrange directly.