Pet Insurance Comparison NZ

Premiums depend on species (cats typically attract lower premiums than dogs), breed, age and cover tier. Younger pets and accident-only plans sit at the lower end. Older pets and comprehensive cover with high annual limits cost the most. Multi-pet discounts can reduce the combined cost.

Accident-only pays vet bills from injuries (cuts, broken bones, swallowed objects). Comprehensive adds illness cover — vomiting, infections, chronic conditions, cancer. Comprehensive costs more because it also covers illness.

Minimum and maximum entry ages, and whether cover continues as your pet ages, differ by insurer and are set out in each policy wording. Check the age rules before applying for an older pet.

It varies. Some insurers exclude all hereditary conditions; others cover them if the policy was taken out before symptoms appeared. Specific breeds (eg flat-faced dogs, large breeds prone to hip dysplasia) attract higher premiums or specific exclusions.

Routine teeth cleaning is generally not covered. Dental illness is excluded by some plans (for example SPCA Pet Insurance and the Petcover Catastrophe Plan) and covered by others with its own sub-limit and waiting period: AA covers dental illness within a sub-limit after a 6-month wait; Southern Cross, Tower and Cove offer dental as an add-on or optional benefit. The dental table on this page lists each limit and waiting period. Figures are from each insurer’s policy wording; check the wording for your policy.

Almost universally excluded. The insurer checks vet history at application and at first claim. Any condition diagnosed or showing symptoms before the policy started is excluded from the related body system, sometimes for life.

Pay the vet up front, then submit the claim online with the invoice and clinical notes. Some insurers offer direct billing at specific clinics — fewer claims out of pocket. Processing times vary by insurer.

It depends on your pet, its likely vet costs and how much you could pay from savings if something went wrong. Premiums for cats and dogs differ, and so do the conditions each is prone to. A licensed adviser can help you weigh it up for your situation.

Some NZ pet insurers offer a discount for insuring more than one pet. Whether one applies, and how much, varies by insurer; compare the combined cost.

You can cancel at any time. There is no surrender value. Importantly, if you cancel and then re-apply later, any conditions that developed during the gap become "pre-existing" and may be excluded. Continuous cover from a young age locks in the lowest exclusions.