Pet Insurance Reviews

Budget Direct

• Keep things simple with the choice of one level of cover with all the essentials offered
• Cruciate ligament benefit of $2,600 is on par or higher than most of its competitors
• Covers all orthopaedic conditions – including some not covered by other insurers
• Choice of any registered vet in Australia

• Its $12,000 annual benefit limit is not market-leading
• No routine care cover available, not even as an optional add-on

PD

• Covers 100% of vet bills
• Comprehensive dental cover is included in the Deluxe Plan - one of the few that offer it
• The ​​$15,000 paralysis tick benefit is higher than many competitors
• Flexible excess options - choose from $50, $100 and $150

• Its $15,000 annual limit can be beaten by other providers
• Routine care is only available as an add-on

Vets Choice

• It's the only insurer endorsed by the Australian Veterinary Association
• The included $2,500 paralysis tick benefit is higher than 6 of the 10 insurers we looked at
• Its $15,000 annual limit is similar to many other pet insurers
• Choice of 80% or 100% back on claims so you can choose to save on premiums or on vet bills

• No cover at all if your pet is 9 or over where other insurers often provide accident-only cover
• Outside of the optional dental cover, routine care cover is not offered

Knose

• A flexible policy with a variety of excesses, limits and benefits percentages to choose from
• Its generous $25,000 annual limit is the highest we've seen
• Its 14-day waiting period for illnesses is half of most other brands
• No sub limits so you can claim up to $25,000 for paralysis tick benefit

• With only comprehensive cover on offer, it won't suit those looking for a basic policy
• No routine care available as part of your policy

Bow Wow Meow

• There's no excess, so it's worth claiming for even the smallest vet bills
• It's one of the few insurers to include dental illness cover
• It doesn't exclude cover for any hereditary breed conditions
• At $20,000, it offers one of the highest annual limits

• Like many pet insurers, you can't purchase its top plans if your pet is 9 or over

Guide Dogs

• A portion of your premium goes to Guide Dogs Australia
• Liability cover of up to $1 million for Registered Guide Dogs
• You can get cover for accidents and illnesses for pets over 9 years old

• If you want routine care, it's only available as an add-on

Prime

• 85% of vet bills covered – one of the highest reimbursement rates
• Cover for your pet while travelling overseas
• It's one of the few providers to offer dental illness benefits

• It has a $14,000 annual benefits cap. There are some pet insurers in Australia that offer more, if you're worried that it's not enough
• It comes with a paralysis tick benefit cap of $1,200

PetSecure

• Covers up to 75% or 85% of vet bills
• No excess, so your money stays in your pocket
• There are discounts for rescue animals, assistant dogs and pensioners

• Your benefits are capped at $12,000 a year, which is less than many other providers
• The paralysis tick benefit cap is low – $500 per year. Many others provide $1,000 or more

Petsy

• The only pet insurance provider on Finder that lets you claim 100% back on your vet bills
• $0 excess, always
• A generous $25,000 annual limit

• To qualify for its top policy, your pet needs to be older than 8 weeks and younger than 8 years old

Pet Insurance Australia

• You can lower your premiums if you like with Choice of $0, $100 and $200
• An incremental 5% discount for every additional pet you insure, up to a maximum of 15% off
• Emergency boarding fees if you're hospitalised or require accommodation due to family violence

• Routine care is only automatically included with Major Medical Cover. If you want it with a comprehensive policy, you'll have to pay extra

Kogan

• Flexible reimbursement rates of 65%, 70% and 80% mean you can tailor your policy
• Choice of $0, $50 or $100 excess
• A $2,000 paralysis tick benefit is more generous than most other insurers we've compared
• Bonus Kogan.com credit could be a plus for online shoppers

• You'll need to pay more if you want routine care included
• Like many pet insurers, you can't purchase its top plans if your pet is older than 8

Australian Seniors

• You get overseas cover and emergency boarding included at no extra cost
• There's no excess, so even the smallest vet bill is worth claiming for
• In-home vet visits are covered
• Save 10% on your policy if you're over 50

• Only lets you claim up to $12,000 a year which is one of the lowest limits we've seen
• Routine care is only available as an optional add-on

Guardian

• No excess and no joining fee
• Choose from any registered vet in Australia
• Get covered for life if you keep your policy

• Only lets you claim up to $12,000 a year, which isn't as much as some other pet insurers
• You can't purchase its accident and illness cover if your pet is 9 or over

RSPCA

• A portion of your premium supports the RSPCA
• No excess, meaning no out of pocket costs when you visit the vet
• A large annual benefit cap of $20,000
• No sneaky sub-limits for paralysis tick with its top policy – you get up to $20,000

• If you want routine care, you'll need to pay extra for it

Real

• 10% refund on your premium after a year
• Pay fortnightly, monthly or yearly at no extra cost
• You can visit any licensed vet in Australia

• Annual benefits are capped at $12,000, which is less than some other insurers
• If you want routine care, you'll need to pay extra for it

Medibank

• Inclusions like $2,600 cruciate ligament and $1,200 emergency boarding can help when you need it the most
• You can choose from any registered vet to treat your pet
• Save on your policy if you insure more than one pet or have Medibank health insurance
• Flexible reimbursement rate so you can save more on your premiums by claiming back less

• Its paralysis tick benefit of $1,200 is one of the lowest we've found
• No cover for pre-existing conditions

Woolworths

• Members get 10% off their Woolies shop every month
• Price beat guarantee on comparable policies
• The $24,000 annual limit is higher than most of its competitors
• Donates $10 to Pet Rescue for every new policy

• Routine care is automatically included with the comprehensive policy, but you might not want or need it (treatments are often not that expensive anyway)