It’s an unfortunate fact that as dogs get older, they’re more likely to develop serious health problems. Paying for the medical treatment or surgeries to correct these problems can quickly become very expensive. This is why many people take out dog insurance.
Below are some of the key benefits of older dog insurance:
- The right treatment for your older dog
- Multiple payment options
- Plans to suit all budgets
- Quick and easy quotes
A guide to older dog insurance
If your dog is advancing in years but doesn’t currently have any health problems, you might view insurance as an unnecessary expense. The truth is that health issues can quickly arise out of the blue in older dogs, particularly as they get into the final years of their lives.
Having an older dog insurance policy in place will give you peace of mind that if your dog did need medical treatment, including surgery, this would be covered, at least in part, by your insurance provider.
Did you know?
What types of policies are available for older dogs?
Below are the main types of policies that are available for older dogs:
- Lifetime dog insurance – A lifetime dog insurance policy will cover your dog for the rest of their life, assuming you choose to keep renewing the policy. It’s important to note that lifetime insurance may not be an option if your dog has pre-existing conditions, especially if it’s something serious that requires ongoing care.
- Time-limited dog insurance – A time-limited policy is usually a cheaper option for older dogs compared to lifetime insurance. It will provide cover for a 12 month period after the onset of a health condition that requires care, or when the cost limit of the policy has been exceeded.
- Accident-only dog insurance – As the name suggests, accident-only dog insurance will provide cover for medical treatment that’s needed due to an accident.
- Per-condition dog insurance – This type of cover puts a limit on the amount you can claim for any given condition. Once that limit is reached, you can no longer claim for treatment for that condition, even if you renew your policy.
What is and isn’t covered?
What’s covered by your dog insurance will vary depending on the type of policy you get (see above) but typically, it will provide cover for things like:
- Medical treatment for ongoing conditions
- Medical treatment for accidents
- Cover for expenses related to getting back a lost or stolen dog
- Cover towards having your dog put to sleep or cremated/buried
- Kennel costs if you’re in the hospital and can’t find a family member or friend to look after your dog for this period of time
Did you know?
How do I know if my dog is considered old?
This is a good question and something many people with dogs over the age of 5 wonder about. As far as insurance providers are concerned, dogs aged 8 and older are usually considered old.
Things to consider when you’re insuring an older dog
There are some things to consider when you’re getting insurance for an older dog. The main ones being:
- Age limits – Some insurance providers set age limits on the policies they provide. This means if your dog passes a certain age, you’ll need to look for cover elsewhere.
- Excess – The excess is the amount you’d need to pay towards a claim. Often this is towards more expensive claims such as surgeries but it can be for other things too, so it’s worth checking the details of any policy you take out.
- Pre-existing conditions – Some insurers won’t provide cover for older dogs with pre-existing conditions, particularly if they’re more serious. If your dog does have any pre-existing conditions, it’s very likely they won’t be covered under any policy you take out.
- Liability – If your dog were to attack somebody or damage their property, you could find yourself facing a liability claim. Some dog insurance policies will allow you to have liability cover included, so it’s definitely worth considering if you have a more aggressive breed.
- Breed – The breed of your dog is another consideration. Some breeds are more susceptible to health conditions as they get older, so you might find dog insurance to be too expensive if you own such a breed.
- Level of coverage – Another thing you need to think about is the level of coverage you want to get. A lifetime policy would provide the most care for your dog but it’s also likely to be the most expensive, particularly if your dog has had previous conditions. A per-condition policy would be a cheaper option and one that many older dog owners opt for.
- Kennel fees – If you think your dog may need to be looked after at some point due to you being in the hospital, then it’s a good idea to have kennel fees included in your policy. There’s usually a minimum time you need to be in the hospital in order for this cover to be valid, so be sure to check the details of any policy you take out.
How can you save money on older dog insurance?
Getting insurance for older dogs is known to be more expensive, certainly for lifetime policies but there are still some reliable ways to save money. Below are some of the best:
- Increase excess – One way you can reduce the monthly payments on a dog insurance policy is to increase the excess you would pay in the event of making a claim.
- Shop around for quotes – A step you should always take when you’re looking for older dog insurance is to get quotes from different providers. When you have multiple quotes from different insurers, you can make an informed decision and choose the one that offers the best value for money.
In summary: Buying older dog insurance
Although older dog insurance is more expensive when compared to young dogs, that doesn’t mean you can’t find cover at a competitive price. Many great pet insurance providers offer cover for older dogs, so provided your dog doesn’t have any serious pre-existing conditions, you should still be able to get affordable cover.
Get older dog insurance quotes now!
To get older dog insurance quotes now, simply click the green button. After filing out the online form, you’ll then have access to your quotes and can pick the best one!
Older Dog Insurance FAQs
Can I get a policy for my dog at any age?
This depends on the insurance provider. Some insurers will provide cover for dogs of any age while others have an upper age limit, so it’s always important to shop around.
Is it more expensive to insure an older dog?
Generally speaking, yes. Older dogs are more likely to develop health problems that require treatment, so they typically cost more to insure than younger dogs.
If my dog needs to be put to sleep, will this be covered by my insurance?
This will depend on the insurance provider and the particular details of your policy. Some policies will cover your dog being put down as well as burial/cremation costs but this isn’t always the case.