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Accident & Illness Pet Insurance

Scared of huge vet bills? Accident and illness pet insurance can help you recoup up to 100% of vet bills if your pet gets sick or injured. Compare 14+ options.

Name Product Maximum yearly benefit Paralysis Tick Yearly Sub-Limit Reimbursement rate Illness Accidental Injury
Medibank Pet Plus Cover
$25,000
$25,000
80%
⭐Finder Exclusive: Get your 1st month’s premium free when you choose Medibank Pet Insurance. Sign up using promo code FINDERONE. Offer ends 12 December. T&Cs apply.
Everyday Comprehensive Plus Cover
$30,000
$3,000
80%
Everyday Pet Insurance customers get 10% off their monthly Woolworths shop. T&Cs apply.
Budget Direct Pet Insurance
$12,000
$1,500
80%
Current Offer: Apply online and get 15% off your first year's premium PLUS go in the draw for your chance to win 1 of 3 $10,000 cash prizes. T&Cs apply.
Kogan Pet Luxury Cover
$15,000
$2,000
80% up to age 8 & 65% over age 8
Sign up and get your first month FREE plus $10 ongoing monthly credit. T&Cs apply.
Coles Comprehensive Cover
$12,000
$2,500
80% or 100%
Specified illnesses only
Earn 10x Flybuys points per $1 spent on pet food at Coles Supermarkets. T&Cs apply.
PD Deluxe Plan
$20,000
$15,000
100%
Apply online and get your first 1 month free. T&Cs apply.
Pet Circle Dog Cover
$0
$10K or $17.5K or $30K
70% or 80% or 90%
Vets Choice Pro Cover
$12,000
$2,500
80% or 100%
Get a 5% discount when you insure more than one pet.
Guardian Gold Accident & Illness Cover
$12,000
$1,000
75%
No joining fee to pay.
PIA Comprehensive Cover
$30,000
$1,000
80%
Covers your vet bills for specified accidents and illnesses, including cruciate ligament and cancer treatment. Get 2 months free when you sign up using the code PIA241. T&Cs apply.
Petsy Top Cover
ExclusiveHighly Commended
Petsy Top Cover
$25,000
$25,000
90%
⭐ Finder Exclusive: Enjoy 30% off your first month of pet insurance, plus receive a custom pet tag. Sign up using the code FINDER. T&Cs apply.
Real Standard Accident & Illness Cover
$12,000
$1,000
75%
Covers specific accidents and illnesses for your pet. Get 10% of premiums back in the first 12 months.
Australian Seniors Essential Accident & Illness Cover
$12,000
$1,000
75%
If you're over 50 get 10% off.
RSPCA Economy Accident & Illness Cover
$11,000
$1,000
75%
Covers your pet for a range of accidents and illnesses. Get 1 month free for the first year of new policies. T&C's apply.
Knose Pet Insurance
Finder AwardExclusive
Knose Pet Insurance
$25,000
$25,000
90%
⭐Finder Exclusive: Get 10% off your first year. Sign up using promo code FINDER10. T&C's apply.
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Why compare pet insurance with Finder?

  • You pay the same price as buying directly from the pet insurer.

  • We're not owned by an insurer (unlike other comparison sites).

  • We don't ask for your phone or email.

  • We've reviewed over 35 policies on the market, so you don't have to.

What is accident and illness pet insurance?

Accident and illness pet insurance helps cover unexpected bills if your cat or dog gets sick or injured. It's a step up from accident-only cover, covers between 70% and 100% of eligble vet bills and usually comes with very similar features to comprehensive pet insurance.

However, the amount you can claim per year is generally lower than comprehensive cover – meaning policies are often a little cheaper.

Not all insurers distinguish between accident and illness pet insurance and comprehensive cover.

What does accident and illness pet insurance cover?

Ambulance vehicle with pet paw on the front

Accidents

This can cover vet bills caused by accidents that are someone else's fault, such as a car accident or allergic reaction to a snake bite. For example, if your dog gets injured in a fight with another animal and the vet bill comes to $500, pet insurance can generally cover between 80% and 100% of the costs.

Vet building with pet paw on the front

Illnesses

This can cover vet bills associated with illnesses your pet might get, including cancer, skin, eye and ear conditions, and gastrointestinal problems. For example, if your pet needs surgery for cancer treatment costing $3,500, the average pet insurance policy could pay you $2,800.

Here's a breakdown of what accident and illness pet insurance includes

Most accident and illness policies will cover you for the following:

Accidents
  • Bone fractures
  • Snake bite toxicity
  • A traumatic ligament or tendon injury
  • A bite or fight wound
  • Lacerations
  • Cruciate ligament conditions
Illnesses
  • Cancer treatment
  • Skin conditions
  • Eye and ear conditions
  • Ingestion of a foreign object
  • Gastrointestinal problems
  • Hereditary and congenital conditions (but not pre-existing conditions)

Additional benefits of accident and illness pet insurance

Many comprehensive accident and illness insurance policies also come with the following inclusions:

Emergency boarding. If you're the pet's sole carer and you need to go to hospital for more than 5 consecutive days, a comprehensive policy can cover emergency boarding costs for your pet.

Essential euthanasia. No pet owner wants to think about this, but in certain circumstances, it's the most humane thing to do. Many accident and illness policies can cover the costs.

Paralysis tick benefit. If your pet needs treatment for tick paralysis, many accident and illness policies can pay at least $1,000 towards the costs.

Travel insurance. If you take your pet with you when you travel and they get sick or injured, many policies can cover overseas vet treatment for up to 60 days.

Routine care. This is usually an optional benefit that can be added on to comprehensive policies. It can help pay for preventative health care procedures including vaccinations, dental care and vet check-ups.

How much does accident and illness pet insurance cost?

Accident and illness pet insurance is likely to cost you between $20 and $60 per month, according to Finder research.

We received quotes for the 560 dog breeds available in Australia and found that you're likely to pay around $780 per year for accident and illness cover.

However, there are several factors that impact the cost of accident and illness pet insurance. These include:

Genetics

Breed

This is likely to be a factor for insuring dogs, not cats. Purebred or pedigree dogs are often more expensive to insure as they have more breed-related inherited conditions.

Cat and dog

Adopted pets

If your pet is from a shelter, you may not know all the details about their age, breed or health. Before taking out insurance, make sure you take your pet to the vet for a full check-up and ask them about any health problems they may be likely to develop.

Calendar

Age

Many pet insurance companies will charge an extra fee for insuring older animals as they are more likely to develop health issues. Some companies do not insure pets at all if they are beyond a certain age, usually around 9 years old. Most policies allow you to insure pets as young as 8 weeks old.

Why you can trust Finder's pet insurance experts

free

We're free

You pay the same as buying directly from the pet insurer. Better still, we regularly run exclusive deals that you won't find on any other site – plus, our tables make it easy to compare policies.
expert advice

We're experts

Our team of pet insurance experts have researched and rated 25+ policies as part of the Finder Awards. We've produced guides on everything from the best policies to jargon-free explainers.
independent

We're independent

Unlike other comparison sites, we're not owned by an insurer. That means our opinions are our own and we work with lots of pet insurance brands, making it easier for you to find a good deal.
help

We're here to help

Since 2016, we've helped 110,000+ people find pet insurance by explaining your cover options, simply and clearly. We'll never ask for your number or email. We're here to help you make a decision.

Your questions about accident and illness pet insurance answered

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  • Pet insurance NSW

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  • Pet insurance Queensland

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