A vet has said that pet owners are often confused about the different types of pet insurance that are available.
Many pet owners do not know which insurance policy their animal is on, a vet has warned.
John Bower, a former president of the British Veterinary Association, explained that there are three different types of standard pet insurance: long life cover, individual condition cover and annual cover. These different policies vary in what they provide, but Mr Bower warned that many owners "don't understand which policy they have taken out".
Of the three types of insurance available, lifelong cover includes all conditions, even those which arise after the policy has been taken out. Individual condition cover only insures specific problems. Both must be renewed annually. Annual cover also focuses on specific conditions, but only provides insurance for a set period of time, either for a year or until the renewal date.
A recent study from esure found that many people have considered cancelling pet insurance to help them save money, while separate research from online shop Petmeds found that about two million people are considering buying a pet for Christmas.
This meant that it was imperative people knew what type of insurance they were getting, Mr Bower said. He warned that "ringing around" may not always find the cheapest policy, adding: "In general any vet will be able to advise them on pet insurance and the ways it could benefit their pet."
He made special mention of temporary policies which are being offered by some breeders which will provide cover if anything happens to the pet in the first six weeks of ownership. However, he added: "I would always recommend to people that they carry on with temporary insurance afterwards."
