For some of the policies that Choosi offers, optional routine care is also available to add to your policy (for an extra premium). This means you can pamper your pet with some preventative treatments that wouldn’t normally be covered. These treatments include:
- De-sexing
- Microchipping
- Heartworm control
- Teeth cleaning
- Dew claw removal
- Council registration fees
- Prescription diets
- Alternative therapies
- Cremation/burial
- Behavioural therapy
- Flea/tick/worm control
- Vaccinations or health checks
- Dental illness treatment
- Obedience training
There are also other benefits such as emergency boarding, essential euthanasia, pet overseas travel, and paralysis tick benefit which are included at no extra cost in all policies. Certain policies also offer dental illness after you’ve held cover for two years.
Accident only or accident and illness?
If you’re trying to decide whether you want to only be covered for accidental injuries, or both accidental injuries and illness, it’s important to see the key features of the two types of cover. Choosi can help you find pet insurance that covers both accidental injuries and illness only.
Type of cover
|
Accidental injuries only
|
Accidental injuries and illness
|
| What’s covered |
This is basic cover for accidental injury, making it a more affordable option compared to accidental injury and illness cover |
This cover offers a broader protection with specified illnesses covered too |
| Examples of what’s covered |
Accidents might be injury from a motor vehicle accident, snake bite, or broken bones |
In addition to accidental injuries like the examples to the left, this cover also includes treatment for certain illnesses like cancer* |
| Minimum entry age eligibility |
Your puppy or kitten must be at least 8 weeks old to apply, and by the time your policy starts |
Your puppy or kitten must be at least 8 weeks old to apply, and by the time your policy starts |
| Maximum entry age eligibility |
There’s no upper age limit to get cover. Once insured, your pet is insured for life provided there’s no break in your cover |
You can cover your pet as long as they’re younger than 9 years old (or younger than 16 years old for some policies) when you apply and by the time your policy starts. Once insured, your pet is insured for life provided there’s no break in your cover |
| Choice of vet |
You can use any licensed vet in Australia |
You can use any licensed vet in Australia |
| Waiting periods (apply from the day your policy starts) |
The waiting period applies from the day your policy starts. It’s important to be aware that during any waiting period, you’re not eligible to make a claim for any of the following conditions:
- Accidental injury: None. You can claim for accidental injury as soon as soon as your policy starts
- Cruciate ligament conditions: 6 months (can be waived when you apply)
|
The waiting period applies from the day your policy starts. It’s important to be aware that during any waiting period, you’re not eligible to make a claim for any of the following conditions:
- Accidental injury: None. You can claim for accidental injury as soon as soon as your policy starts
- Illness (including tick paralysis): 30 days
- Cruciate ligament conditions: 6 months (can be waived when you apply)
- Dental illness (if applicable): 2 years
|
| Exclusions |
Exclusions* are generally:
- pre-existing conditions, related conditions or conditions arising within the applicable waiting period;
- dental care;
- certain treatments and conditions;
- certain services and procedures;
- elective treatments and procedures; and
- a lack of protection for pet due to gross negligence
|
Exclusions* are generally:
- pre-existing conditions, related conditions or conditions arising within the applicable waiting period;
- dental care;
- certain treatments and conditions;
- certain services and procedures;
- elective treatments and procedures; and
- a lack of protection for pet due to gross negligence
|
* Depending on the type of cover you choose, you could claim up to 85% on eligible vet bills, up to $20,000 per year.
Premium pricing
The benefit percentage, where you and your pet permanently live, plus the breed and age of your dog or cat can affect your premium and level of cover. Visit our FAQs section for more information on how your premium is calculated.
You can insure your kitten or puppy from 8 weeks old. If your pet is aged under 9 years old (or up to 16 years for some policies) at the time of your application and by the time your cover starts, you may be eligible for combined accidental injury and illness cover. Once covered, as long as you pay the premiums and keep the policy continuously in force, your pet can keep this cover for life. Pets aged 9 years and over (or 16 years and over for some policies) are generally excluded from obtaining cover. However, some standalone accident-only cover may be available for these older pets. Choosi can help you find an insurance policy which offers both accidental injury and illness.
What’s covered?
You'll only receive benefits from your insurance policy if you claim for something that’s covered by the policy. Exclusions apply to every policy, but generally many pet insurance policies will cover:
- hereditary and congenital conditions, provided that the symptoms and/or clinical signs of defects weren’t present before the policy start date or during any applicable waiting period(provided your pet has illness cover);
- accidental injuries like burns, bone fractures, and bite wounds;
- illnesses caused by parasites like tapeworm (provided your pet has illness cover);
- patella luxation - a knee joint problem that can cause lameness (provided your pet has illness cover);
- cancer, diabetes, and some skin conditions (provided your pet has illness cover);
- elbow dysplasia - a front leg degenerative condition that may require surgery to fix (provided your pet has illness cover); and
- other specified accidental injuries or illnesses.
What most policies don’t cover
Like other types of insurance, there are a number of exclusions that won’t be covered. Generally, these include:
- pre-existing conditions, related conditions, or conditions arising within the applicable waiting period;
- chronic or recurring conditions beyond pre-set annual benefit limit;
- illegal breeds;
- pandemic diseases;
- alternative therapies;
- voluntary euthanasia;
- prosthesis and organ transplants;
- treatment related to breeding and obstetrics;
- dental care; and
- a lack of protection for pet due to gross negligence.
Pet insurance can help you recover up to 85% of eligible vet bills up to a maximum of $20,000 per year.* Choosi can help you compare, choose, and apply for pet insurance. Call Choosi’s team of Choosers on 1300 462 487 or get a quote online for pet insurance today.
The pet insurance information provided on this website is based only on the pet insurance policies that Choosi can arrange. Choosi doesn’t provide information or offer cover for all products available in the market and there may be aspects to some products that Choosi doesn’t compare. Information on this website doesn’t take into account your personal objectives, financial situation or needs. You should consider the relevant Policy Booklet for more information and to ensure the product suits your needs.