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Pet insurance can help smooth out unexpected vet bills and provide a range of other benefits to keep your friend safe over the years.
This guide explains how to find the right pet insurance for your needs. Compare pet insurance from providers in NSW or read on to learn more about how it works.
You can pick from three different types of pet insurance:
As you look for pet insurance around New South Wales, you’ll also encounter some key differences:
If you’re after the cheapest pet insurance in New South Wales, it’s most likely going to be an accident-only policy with low limits and a low percentage of costs covered.
However, you might be able to get significantly better value in the long run with comprehensive cover.
The cost of pet insurance varies depending on a range of factors.
Have a dog? Find out how much pet insurance costs for each breed.
Your address can also affect costs substantially.
For example, when you get a quote for pet insurance in Sydney, insurers will often ask for your postcode to determine risk factors. A cat in the suburbs might be more likely to run into a Sydney funnel web spider, but a dog in Chatswood or Sydney CBD might be more likely to run into traffic.
Pet insurance in regional NSW, for example, might be more likely to involve risk factors such as venomous snake bites, ticks and other hazards.
Is pet insurance worth it or are you better off putting that money into savings?
A lot of different factors will affect costs, but even something relatively straightforward, like a broken leg, can run into thousands of dollars.
Consider the usual costs of pet insurance in New South Wales for different types of cover.
Policy | Cost per week | Cost per month | Cost per year | Cost of cover over 5 years | Cost of cover over 10 years |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Accident-only cover | $4.62 | $20 | $240 | $1,200 | $2,400 |
Accident and illness cover | $8.08 - $12.69 | $35 - $55 | $420 - $660 | $2,100 - $3,300 | $4,200 - $6,600 |
Accident and illness cover plus routine and preventative care | $13.85+ | $60+ | $720+ | $3,600+ | $7,200+ |
Now consider the cost of some common vet bills.
Illness or injury | Total cost of treatment | Amount covered by pet insurance (80% of bill) | Remaining amount you would need to pay |
---|---|---|---|
Cruciate ligament surgery | $2,500 | $2,000 | $500 |
Vomiting/diarrhoea | $200 - $3,000 | $160 - $2,400 | $40 - $600 |
Tick paralysis | $5,000 | $4,000 | $1,000 |
Snake bite | $2,000 | $1,600 | $400 |
Bone fractures | $2,500 | $2,000 | $500 |
Ingesting a foreign body | $2,000 | $1,600 | $400 |
Cancer | $2,000 | $1,600 | $400 |
*Disclaimer: Please note that the costs quoted in the above table are guides only. Costs can vary greatly based on severity, required treatment and how much your vet charges. For example, the quoted cost of snake bite is $2,000, but in severe cases treatment could cost well over $10,000.
Comprehensive pet insurance might set you back $7,000 over a decade. During that time it might have saved you a couple of hundred dollars or paid for itself five times over.
You know your pet better than anyone else, so consider how likely it is to get in trouble.
It’s typically a good idea to get pet insurance before you need it.
All insurance policies have exclusions, and pet insurance is no exception. In New South Wales, some of the conditions to watch out for as you compare pet insurance include the following:
You are also required to follow a range of state and local council laws. These are not only a legal requirement, but also a requirement of your pet insurance in many cases.
You are obligated to take care of your pet’s basic welfare, including:
Under NSW law, all cats and dogs, unless exempt, must be microchipped by 12 weeks of age, or before being sold or given away. Cats and dogs must also be registered by 6 months of age unless exempt.
Pets may be exempt if they are a working dog on a rural property or a registered racing greyhound.
Certain breeds of dogs are also restricted. If you own a restricted dog, you must report any attacks or injuries it causes to other people or animals (except vermin) to your local council within 24 hours of the incident.
Restricted dog breeds in NSW include:
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