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.
All plans reimburse 80% of eligible vet bills (less any applicable excess), giving you consistent coverage regardless of the tier you choose.
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
9.2 Excellent Budget Direct Comprehensive Cover	9.2 Excellent	$15,000	$1,500	80%	Discount: Apply online and get 15% off your first year's premium. T&Cs apply.	Get quote View details Compare product selectionCompare	loading
8.9 Great Budget Direct Plus Cover	8.9 Great	$25,000	$3,000	80%	Discount: Apply online and get 15% off your first year's premium. T&Cs apply.	Get quote View details Compare product selectionCompare	loading
9.1 Excellent Budget Direct Essential Cover Finder Award	9.1 Excellent	$12,000	$1,000	80%	Discount: 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.

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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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Why choose Budget Direct pet insurance?

Tiered coverage structure. You can select from three distinct plan levels—Essential ($12,000 limit), Comprehensive ($15,000 limit), or Plus ($25,000 limit) - allowing you to match the annual benefit cap to your pet's specific needs.
Fixed reimbursement rate. All policies provide a consistent 80% reimbursement on eligible vet bills, rather than offering variable rates that could lower your coverage.
Orthopaedic and bilateral support. Coverage is included for complex conditions like hip dysplasia and intervertebral disc disease, with bilateral issues (conditions affecting both sides of the body) treated as a single claim event.
Flexible routine care add-ons. On Comprehensive and Plus plans, you can opt for Routine Care benefits with a choice of either $75 or $150 annual limit to help offset the cost of vaccinations and dental check-ups.

How much does Budget Direct pet insurance cost?

To help give you an idea about Budget Direct pet insurance costs, we gathered annual quotes for a few of Australia's favourite dog breeds. Just remember, prices are going to change based on things like your own dog's breed, age and your address, so it's always worth comparing policies and getting a few quotes.

Pet: 5-year-old dog
Breed: Dachshund, Staffordshire Bull Terrier, King Charles Cavalier Spaniel, Greyhound
DOB: 1 June 2020
Sex: Male
Quotes updated in July 2025
Desexed: Yes
Excess: $100
Owner's DOB: 1 May 1985
Address: New South Wales, 2011

Prices will differ based on a few criteria, including:

The gender, breed and age of your pet
The level of cover you choose
Your excess
Your location
If your pet is desexed.

What will not be covered with Budget Direct?

Budget Direct will not provide cover for the following issues:

Pre-existing conditions
Preventative treatments (such as vaccinations, flea, tick, and worming, unless Routine Care is added)
Elective treatments and procedures
Breeding or obstetrics
Behavioural problems or training
Dietary and nutritional products
Grooming and cosmetic procedures
Organ transplants and artificial limbs

To view the full list of exclusions before taking out cover, please review the Product Disclosure Statement (PDS).

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
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.

Finder writers are subject matter experts and use primary sources, in-depth research and interviews with other experts to ensure you're getting accurate, up-to-date information. Articles are fact checked in line with our editorial guidelines.

Thank you for your feedback!

Written by

Gary Ross Hunter

Journalist

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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 519 Finder guides across topics including:

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

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