Can I get cover for pre-existing conditions with Budget Direct Pet Insurance?

Budget Direct Pet Insurance does not cover pre-existing conditions. A pre-existing condition is any illness or injury that your pet showed any signs or symptoms of, or received treatment for at any time before: before your policy started during any applicable waiting period. However, Budget Direct will not exclude cover where a pre-existing condition has been fully cured, except for recurring or related conditions, bilateral conditions or complications associated or resulting from any pre-existing condition. Fully cured means your pet has been free of any signs or symptoms, or has gone without treatment for a condition, or both, for at least 12 months as evidenced by the pet's medical notes or veterinary history.

Will I have to serve waiting periods with Budget Direct Pet Insurance?

Yes. You will have to wait 2 days for accidental injuries, 30 days for illnesses and tick paralysis, and 6 months for cruciate ligament conditions.

Budget Direct Pet Insurance Review

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Budget Direct offers 3 levels of cover.
Its maximum cover isn't the highest and there are no multi-pet discounts.

Pros

Budget Direct is good for those who want tailored cover. It offers 3 levels of cover; Essential, Comprehensive and Plus.
New customers can get 15% off their first year's premium when they buy online.
If you're switching from another provider to Budget Direct then you may be eligible to have your waiting periods waived, though you'll have to call them to find out.

Cons

Its highest level of cover has a yearly benefit limit of $25,000. Other providers have a benefit limit of $30,000.
There is no discount for insuring multiple pets with Budget Direct. Some other insurers offer a multi-pet discount.

Compare pet insurance from Budget Direct

Finder Score	Maximum Yearly Benefit	Paralysis Tick Yearly Sub-Limit	Reimbursement rate	Accidental Injury
Finder Score 9.8 Excellent Budget Direct Plus Cover	Finder Score 9.8 Excellent	$25,000	$3,000	80%	Apply online and get 15% off your first year's premium. T&Cs apply.	Get quote View details Compare product selectionCompare	loading
Finder Score 9.4 Excellent Budget Direct Essential Cover Finder Award	Finder Score 9.4 Excellent	$12,000	$1,000	80%	Apply online and get 15% off your first year's premium. T&Cs apply.	Get quote View details Compare product selectionCompare	loading
Finder Score 9.4 Excellent Budget Direct Comprehensive Cover	Finder Score 9.4 Excellent	$15,000	$1,500	80%	Apply online and get 15% off your first year's premium. T&Cs apply.	Get quote View details Compare product selectionCompare	loading

Finder Score for pet insurance

We designed Finder Score to make comparing pet insurance easier, assessing more than 20 products for their price and features. Finder Score assigns each product a score out of 10.

Read the full methodology

Budget Direct Pet Insurance deals

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Save 15% when you buy Budget Direct Pet Insurance online Get 15% off on your first year’s premium when you buy online. T&Cs apply. Get deal Get deal		loading Fetching your data...

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Budget Direct is a Finder Awards winner!

The Budget Direct Essential Cover won Best Value Pet Insurance in the 2026 Finder Awards.

Full list of 2026 winners

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What do Australians think of Budget Direct pet insurance brand?

4.01/5 overall for Customer Satisfaction - lower than the average of 4.15
4.19/5 for Trust - lower than the average of 4.39
4/5 for Customer Service - lower than the average of 4.16

Based on Budget Direct pet insurance brand scores in Finder's 2024 & 2025 Customer Satisfaction Awards.

How to submit a Budget Direct Pet Insurance claim

Follow these steps to make your Budget Direct pet insurance claim as simple and straightforward as possible:

Pay your vet bill
You can then make a claim via the online claims portal or you can download the claims form from the Budget Direct website and send your completed form and your vet’s itemised invoices to claims@pet.budgetdirect.com.au or by post to Budget Direct Pet Insurance PO Box 342 Toowong QLD 4066.
Within 2–⁠⁠5 business days of you lodging your claim, Budget Direct will contact you if they need any more information.
On acceptance of your claim, Budget Direct will reimburse you up to 80% of your eligible vet expenses (benefit limits and an excess apply). The money will be deposited into your nominated bank account

Frequently asked questions about Budget Direct pet insurance

Budget Direct Pet Insurance does not cover pre-existing conditions. A pre-existing condition is any illness or injury that your pet showed any signs or symptoms of, or received treatment for at any time before:
- before your policy started
- during any applicable waiting period.
However, Budget Direct will not exclude cover where a pre-existing condition has been fully cured, except for recurring or related conditions, bilateral conditions or complications associated or resulting from any pre-existing condition. Fully cured means your pet has been free of any signs or symptoms, or has gone without treatment for a condition, or both, for at least 12 months as evidenced by the pet's medical notes or veterinary history.

Sources

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Written by

Gary Ross Hunter

Journalist

Gary Ross Hunter has over 6 years of expertise writing about insurance, including life, health, home, and car insurance. Having reviewed hundreds of product disclosure statements and published over 800 articles, he loves simplifying complex insurance topics for everyday readers. Gary has contributed to major outlets like Yahoo Finance, The Sydney Morning Herald, and news.com.au, and holds a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in English Literature from the University of Glasgow, along with a Tier 2 General Advice certification, ensuring his work adheres to ASIC’s RG146 standards. See full bio

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Gary Ross has written 577 Finder guides across topics including:

Health, home, life, car, pet and travel insurance
Managing the cost of living

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