Gap only pet insurance

Gap only pet insurance lets you claim on the spot and is available with a handful of insurers in Australia.

Pet Insurance

Key takeaways

  • Gap only pet insurance processes your claim at the vet.
  • It is intended to ease the strain on your bank account if your pet needs treatment.
  • Insurers including RSCPA, Everyday and Pet Insurance Australia all offer gap only cover.

What is gap only pet insurance?

Gap only pet insurance is designed to make claiming more convenient. Rather than paying the full vet bill, submitting your claim and waiting to be reimbursed, gap only cover calculates your pet insurance claim on the spot while you're still at the vet. All you need to do is pay the gap – that is, the difference between the vet bill and how much your pet insurance covers.

Savings
Kinder on the wallet
For example, if you have to pay $1,000 for your pet's surgery and your policy covers 80% of vet bills. With a gap only policy, you'll only need to pay $200, rather than wait on the insurer to reimburse you for $800.

How does gap only work?

Gap only pet insurance removes a couple of steps from the claims process you would ordinarily have to go through if you had a standard pet insurance policy. Here's how it works:

Pet insurance

Get a pet insurance policy

You'll need to take out a pet insurance policy that includes GapOnly cover. Say you have to pay $1,000 for your pet's surgery and your policy covers 80% of vet bills.

Vet hospital

Visit a GapOnly vet

If your pet needs to go to the vet, you'll need to take them to a GapOnly vet. The GapOnly website lets you search your location for a nearby one.

Gap payment

Pay the gap

This is where things differ to a standard policy. Once your pet has received treatment, you only need to pay the gap. You don't need to pay the full bill and wait to be reimbursed.

What does it cover?

Gap only pet insurance covers the same things as any other pet insurance policy. The difference is the claims process. In that sense, it works more like many extras health insurance policies where you generally only need to pay for upfront treatment costs. The insurer and the vet take care of the rest.

Who offers gap only pet insurance?

Here's a list of pet insurers currently offering gap only cover:

Compare pet insurance policies in Australia

Product AUFPI Accidental Injury Illness Paralysis Tick Yearly Sub-Limit Maximum yearly benefit Reimbursement rate Reimbursement Rate
tick
tick
$30,000
$30,000
90%
90%
Fetch your 1st month free. Sign up to Medibank Pet Insurance using promo code 1FREE and get your first month's premium free. Offer ends 2 April 2025. T&Cs apply.
tick
tick
$3,000
$25,000
80%
80%
Apply online and get 15% off your first year's premium. T&Cs apply.
tick
tick
$3,000
$30,000
80%
80%
Everyday Pet Insurance customers get 10% off their monthly Woolworths shop. T&Cs apply.
Bow Wow Meow Pet Insurance  logo
tick
tick
No sub-limit
$30,000
70%, 80% or 90%
70%, 80% or 90%
Get your first 2 months free by using the promo code: 2MFREE. T&Cs apply. Enjoy GapOnly claiming and complimentary use of myPetPass with 24/7 access to Live Vet Care. Also, policyholders are entitled to a free ID tag.
Knose Pet Insurance
Finder AwardExclusive
Knose Pet Insurance logo
tick
tick
$25,000
$25,000
90%
90%
⭐Finder Exclusive: Get 10% off your first year. Sign up using promo code FINDER10. T&C's apply.
Coles Pet Insurance logo
tick
tick
$2,500
$12,000
80% or 100%
80% or 100%
Earn 10x Flybuys points per $1 spent on pet food at Coles Supermarkets. T&Cs apply.
Fetch Pet  logo
tick
tick
$30,000
$30,000
80% or 90% or 100%
80% or 90% or 100%
Get dental, physio and behaviour cover included and skip wait periods by following our in-app journey.
Pet Insurance Australia logo
tick
tick
$3,000
$30,145
80%
80%
Covers specified accidents and illnesses, with Routine Care Cover included. Get 3 months free when you sign up using the code PIA303. T&Cs apply.
PD Pet Insurance logo
tick
tick
$15,000
$20,000
100%
100%
Apply online and get your first 1 month free. T&Cs apply.
Vets Choice Pet Insurance logo
tick
tick
$2,500
$15,000
80%
80%
Get a 5% discount when you insure more than one pet.
Petsy Top Cover
ExclusiveHighly commended
Petsy Pet Insurance logo
tick
tick
$25,000
$25,000
90%
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.
Guardian Pet Insurance  logo
tick
tick
$1,200
$12,000
80%
80%
Lifetime cover for cats and dogs, up to 80% covered.
Real Pet Insurance  logo
tick
tick
$1,200
$12,000
80%
80%
Claim up to a maximum of $12k per year, with no excess to pay.
RSPCA Pet Insurance  logo
tick
tick
$20,000
$20,000
80%
80%
Comprehensive cover for your pet, including the option of routine care. Get 1 month free for the first year of new policies. T&C's apply.
PetsOnMe Pet Insurance logo
tick
tick
$20,000
$20,000
80%
80%
Get 2 months free (for pets under 1 year old) or 1 month free (for pets over 1 year old) with promo code FINDER2MF. T&Cs apply.
Real Pet Insurance  logo
tick
tick
$1,000
$12,000
75%
75%
Covers specific accidents and illnesses for your pet. Get 10% of premiums back in the first 12 months.
Pet Insurance Australia logo
tick
tick
$1,000
$30,000
80%
80%
Covers your vet bills for specified accidents and illnesses, including cruciate ligament and cancer treatment. Get 3 months free when you sign up using the code PIA303. T&Cs apply.
Everyday Pet Insurance  logo
tick
tick
No
$15,000
80%
80%
Everyday Pet Insurance customers get 10% off their monthly Woolworths shop. T&Cs apply.
Guardian Pet Insurance  logo
tick
tick
$2,000
$12,000
60%
60%
No joining fee to pay.
Medibank Pet Insurance logo
tick
tick
$25,000
$25,000
80%
80%
Fetch your 1st month free. Sign up to Medibank Pet Insurance using promo code 1FREE and get your first month's premium free. Offer ends 2 April 2025. T&Cs apply.
Guide Dogs Pet Insurance  logo
tick
tick
$2,000
$15,000
80%
80%
Get 1 month free pet insurance when you sign up for cover with Guide Dogs. T&Cs apply.
Everyday Pet Insurance  logo
tick
tick
$2,000
$24,000
80%
80%
Everyday Pet Insurance customers get 10% off their monthly Woolworths shop. T&Cs apply.
Guide Dogs Pet Insurance  logo
tick
tick
$1,500
$15,000
75%
75%
Get 1 month free pet insurance when you sign up for cover with Guide Dogs. T&Cs apply.
PetsOnMe Pet Insurance logo
tick
tick
$10,000
$10,000
80%
80%
Get 2 months free (for pets under 1 year old) or 1 month free (for pets over 1 year old) with promo code FINDER2MF. T&Cs apply.
Budget Direct Pet Insurance logo
tick
tick
$1,000
$12,000
80%
80%
Apply online and get 15% off your first year's premium. T&Cs apply.
Petsy Pet Insurance logo
tick
tick
$5000 or $10,000 or $25,000
$0
80% or 90%
80% or 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 Pet Insurance  logo
tick
tick
$2,000
$12,000
60%
60%
Basic level of cover for injuries such as falls, car accidents, burns and snake bites. Get 10% of premiums back in the first 12 months.
Australian Seniors Pet Insurance  logo
tick
tick
$1,200
$12,000
80%
80%
Benefits include overseas cover when in NZ or Norfolk Island for your pet, plus an optional routine care add-on.
Coles Pet Insurance logo
tick
tick
$2,500
$15,000
80% or 100%
80% or 100%
Earn 10x Flybuys points per $1 spent on pet food at Coles Supermarkets. T&Cs apply.
RSPCA Pet Insurance  logo
tick
tick
$2,000
$11,000
60%
60%
Covers your vet bills when your cat or dog suffers an accidental injury or illness. Get 1 month free for the first year of new policies. T&C's apply.
Vets Choice Pet Insurance logo
tick
tick
$2,500
$12,000
80%
80%
Get a 5% discount when you insure more than one pet.
Australian Seniors Pet Insurance  logo
tick
tick
$1,000
$12,000
75%
75%
If you're over 50 get 10% off.
RSPCA Pet Insurance  logo
tick
tick
$1,000
$11,000
75%
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.
Coles Pet Insurance logo
tick
tick
$2,500
$10,000
80% or 100%
80% or 100%
Earn 10x Flybuys points per $1 spent on pet food at Coles Supermarkets. T&Cs apply.
Knose Pet Insurance logo
tick
tick
$12,500
$12,500
70%
70%
⭐Finder Exclusive: Get 10% off your first year. Sign up using promo code FINDER10. T&C's apply.
PD Pet Insurance logo
tick
tick
$5,000
$5,000
100%
100%
Apply online and get your first 1 month free. T&Cs apply.
Everyday Pet Insurance  logo
tick
tick
$1,500
$10,000
80%
80%
Everyday Pet Insurance customers get 10% off their monthly Woolworths shop. T&Cs apply.
Everyday Pet Insurance  logo
tick
tick
$1,500
$5,000
80%
80%
Everyday Pet Insurance customers get 10% off their monthly Woolworths shop. T&Cs apply.
Medibank Pet Insurance logo
tick
tick
$4,000
$10,000
70%
70%
Fetch your 1st month free. Sign up to Medibank Pet Insurance using promo code 1FREE and get your first month's premium free. Offer ends 2 April 2025. T&Cs apply.
Australian Seniors Pet Insurance  logo
tick
tick
$2,000
$12,000
60%
60%
If you're over 50 get 10% off.
RSPCA Pet Insurance  logo
tick
tick
$1,200
$11,000
80%
80%
RSPCA's second most comprehensive policy. For extra protection, you can add on Routine Care Cover. Get 1 month free for the first year of new policies. T&C's apply.
Guardian Pet Insurance  logo
tick
tick
$1,000
$12,000
75%
75%
No joining fee to pay.
PD Pet Insurance logo
tick
tick
$10,000
$10,000
100%
100%
Apply online and get your first 1 month free. T&Cs apply.
Budget Direct Pet Insurance logo
tick
tick
$1,500
$15,000
80%
80%
Apply online and get 15% off your first year's premium. T&Cs apply.
Pet Insurance Australia logo
tick
tick
$1,000
$6,000
90%
90%
Highest reimbursement rate out of PIA's policies. Get 3 months free when you sign up using the code PIA303. T&Cs apply.
PetsOnMe Pet Insurance logo
tick
tick
$5,000
$5,000
80%
80%
Get 2 months free (for pets under 1 year old) or 1 month free (for pets over 1 year old) with promo code FINDER2MF. T&Cs apply.
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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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