Best Pet Insurance
Get 2 Months' Free* Pet Insurance 🏆 2026
4.4Sign Up Today & Get 2 Months' Free* Pet Insurance. *T&Cs Apply. Winner Of 2025 Product Review Pet Insurance Provider of the Year.
Bow Wow Meow Pet Insurance 🏆 2026
- See all
No fuss,easy to do a claim,communication is really great too! Well done team at Bow WOW Meow.
Pet Insurance Australia 🏆 2026
- See all
Initially, great, cheap, and very good at submitting and executing claims. However, they will scrutinise large or ongoing health issues to look for… Read more
loopholes or minor, nondescript previous visits, and use this as an excuse to claim pre-existing conditions before the initial cooling-off period. (We had a skin allergy issue with our dog.) Next, I had to fight them on 3 separate occasions, all the way, using their own policy, as they tried not to pay out claims and instead returned a payment without admitting fault. The last BIGGEST issue is that, because pet insurance is not regulated, they will increase repayments at every renewal, citing rising vet costs as justification, but this is false, as that is not the case at veterinary clinics. This is done to get you to cancel as your dog ages and more health issues potentially appear. At the end of my dog's life, I was paying $315 per month for an 80% return on claims with a $100 excess. I was trapped by the time I wanted to switch; it wasn't possible. He passed at 12 years and 8 months and was insured with them his whole life.
Knose
- See all
An insurance company that was actually there when my pet needed them I have three cats insured with Knose, and after my experience with Cleo’s… Read more
recent dental treatment I genuinely wanted to take the time to leave them a great review.
Cleo needed significant dental care, and Knose’s coverage took an enormous amount of financial stress out of an already worrying situation. As a pet owner, there is nothing worse than having to think about money while you’re trying to make the best medical decision for an animal you absolutely adore.
The real test of pet insurance isn’t when you’re paying the premiums - it’s when your pet actually needs treatment. Knose was there when Cleo needed them, and that means an enormous amount to me.
I’m incredibly grateful for the level of cover I chose and for the way her dental care was handled. The experience has also made me very happy that I chose Knose for all three of my Sphynx cats - Cleo, Luna and Zeus.
Thank you to everyone at Knose who helped with Cleo’s claim. You didn’t just help pay a veterinary bill; you gave a worried cat mum the freedom to concentrate on getting her baby the care she needed.
Five very enthusiastic stars from me - and three slightly wrinkly ones from Cleo, Luna & Zeus. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
THANK YOU, KNOSE! Love, Cleo One very grateful (and freshly dental-ed) little wrinkle
Fetch Pet
- See all
Just changing over to Fetch Pet and needed to ask a question and add details after downloading App. This was done very easily and quickly and sorted for me. Looking forward to my Fetch cover
Petsy Pet Insurance
- See all
I'm a veterinarian and have not only been a customer of petsy for many years but I've had the pleasure of dealing with them on many occasions. They are people who actually care and it really shows.
Seniors Pet Insurance
- See all
I effected the policy in May 2026 and was assured of the cover. I lodged a claim in August 2026. The invoice was for 2 issues, however, I only… Read more
claimed for one as the other issue was a pre-existing condition which I noted on the claim. After repetitive contact with me for further information, some 2 weeks later I received a declinature for both issues. Clearly my claim wasn't read properly as I was only claiming for one issue...a polyp in the ear. Their rejection for both issues was pre-existing condition. My pet had an ear infection about 7 months earlier and their opinion was that this polyp is related to the previous ear infection 7 months earlier. If I was properly advised that any previous incident would be used to assess claims then I wouldn't have wasted my time and money. Obviously I cancelled the policy. Be careful with this insurance company as you could be wasting your money!
Hi Ella, Thank you for sharing your review… Read more (+5 replies)
Real Pet Insurance
- See all
Losing our beloved dog, Ollie, was incredibly difficult, but Real Pet Insurance made the claims process simple and stress-free. The claim was… Read more
approved exactly as per the policy, with no hassles. The process was straightforward, and every staff member was friendly, compassionate, and genuinely helpful. Thank you for making a difficult time a little easier. I highly recommend Real Pet Insurance to any pet owner.
Pet Circle Insurance
- See all
Very fast in accepting the claim and paying out the claim
Trupanion Australia
- See all
Spoke on the phone with representative Hero: very understanding and patient with my requests, truthful and helpful. Thank you!
Guide Dogs Pet Insurance
- See all
My 6th German Shepherd Solomon developed Gastric-Dilation Volvulus (GDV) or 'twisted stomach' for us non-medical folk. The condition is… Read more
overrepresented in this breed and I have lost 2 Shephard's previously to the condition. My wife and I had travelled from the Gold Coast to Helensburgh near Sydney to visit one of our sons and took 2 dogs along. On the day following our arrival I noted Solomon seemed lethargic in the afternoon after being very normal late morning and I checked his gums for sign of snake bite and then his stomach for potential GDV, His stomach was bloated and I could feel the twist. We rushed him to the ARH Emergency Vet Hospital in Wollongong and they triaged Solomon on arrival and prepared him for surgery. The staff who were brilliant assisted with contacting Guide Dogs and within minutes, we had pre-approval for the treatment. This rapid outcome was the best news along with the ARH surgeons quick assessment and I left the hospital with the confidence that I didn't need to worry about the cost or the level of treatment Solomin would receive. Solomon's had 4 days in intensive care and pulled through and is now recovering at home on the Gold Coast. He was discharged from the hospital in a very seamless process and all I needed to do was cover the gap.
I changed to Guide Dogs after a rejected claim from another insurer when Solomon was 7 months old and have been with Guide Dogs ever since (he'll be 8 in June) for multiple pets and this isn't my first claim with Guide Dogs.
If you are shopping around for an insurance option for your pet, I'm more than happy to recommend Guide Dogs.
Petinsurance.com.au
- See all
They have asked for vet notes x3 times and every time I provided a document from the vet stating that they need to contact the vet directly. They… Read more
just don't read docs! On last occasion the agent put me on hold to get notes from the vet (finally). I called after a few days as nothing happened. And then I learned I need to wait 7-10 business days (which seems to keep resetting every time they make a mistake). At this stage the result of the claim is really less important! They request info but they don't read response and cannot provide any timeframe.
Hi Sia, you are welcome to reach out to our… Read more
Everyday Pet Insurance
- See all
This is a very toothless pet insurance so I updated to comprehensive and still totally useless so after 3 years and never ever being able to use it I… Read more
decided to stop donating money to Woolworths plus they now wont be getting my monthly big shop $$$ for being so greedy. I've changed to RSPCA and cheaper insurance with teeth. Woolworths you get what you deserve and that's not loyalty.
Hi Ashley McFadden Thank you for raising… Read more
Potiki
- See all
Have made numerous claims over last 2.5 years for two pets with Potiki and have had no problems and prompt service every time. Has saved me a lot of money from unexpected vet visits and hospitalisations.
Buddy Pet Insurance
- See all
Marlon was fantastic- informative- respectful and full of knowledge! 5 star!!!
Medibank Pet Insurance
- See all
Let down horribly in my dog’s time of need. Dog had emergency and vet classified all expenses accurately. Medibank changed how they classified it,… Read more
putting tick paralysis treatments as conjunctivitis so they could not be claimed. Took excess multiple times by classifying what was one treatment as many. They said vet coded it this way. This was a complete lie. Vet was disgusted and tried to contact Medibank directly. Nobody would pick up. I also waited on hold for more than an hour while my dog dying in vet as they had taken all my funds (out of pocket thousands for first round of treatment and the gap was $700 short of what should have been reimbursed). They acknowledged error by email and offered a free month’s premium but they tied up all my money so I couldn’t fund co pay amount for dog’s treatment. Only in your time of need could you realise how bad this company could let you down. Their error and sneaky way of trying to get out of paying… took me hours at a time of high stress to correct and wasted precious time in getting my dog treated. I’m still awaiting final reimbursement. Horrible horrible experience. Don’t buy this insurance!!!
Hi Salachu, Thank you for taking the time to share your… Read more
Petcover
- See all
I took out PetCover (previously PetPlan) cover 10years ago for both my cat and dog. I work in the veterinary industry and at the time they were the… Read more
best out there. However over time, significantly better policies have become available. I process insurance claims daily for clients, and very few people are with PetCover and I certainly know why.
Reasons I would avoid PetCover..
1. PetCover still use an electronic form to fill out and email in to claim. This is incredibly clunky, and I often find when I email it in, it regularly gets lost in their inbox.
2. Claims take at least 10 business days to assess. If you have a sick pet, you don’t want to be waiting 10days for your money back. I often have to follow up the progress of my claim. Most companies have on the spot claims so you just pay the gap - not PetCover.
3. Initially I got back 100% of my claim (minus $150 excess) per illness. As my pets reached 7yrs old , it dropped to 80%, then from 9yrs only 65% back, but my premiums continued to climb. So the more I paid in premiums the less I got back on my claims. Which statistically, you’re going to need insurance the most as your pets age.
4. When I took out the policy’s my dog had up to $15k in cover then this dropped to $10k. I did not initiate this change, and my premiums increased. I don’t think a policy she be allowed to change half way through your pets life.
5. The $150 excess per illness, per policy year is an absolute rort. Many of the newer companies don’t charge an excess or if they do, it’s once for the life time of the pet
Unfortunately with pet insurance, once you start with a policy and your pet has vet visits you can’t swap to another provider as those conditions will instantly become “pre-existing”, which is what happened in my situation, so I was stuck with PetCover. So do you research… and avoid Petcover
Bupa Pet Insurance
Agent was friendly, easy to talk to and very helpful. If you have NPS and CSAT, I will give her a 10 out of 10 for both. I have just been made redundant (ironically, from Bupa) and 3 months free is a massive help while I cut costs. Thank you!
Prosure
- See all
I would not recommend this company. The automatic annual increases applied by this company is unscrupulous and excessive. Watch out. First year for… Read more
gold was $1,000 a year in GST. 2nd year auto-renewal (I missed) rose to over $1,600 in GST Who does a 60% increase? Year 3 they tried to renew for over $2,000 incl GST. When I called to cancel they offered a discount on the excessive $2,000 and bonus free months. No company can explain these increases by keeping up with CPI increases and even allowing for your pet ageing. If you pet lived to 10 years you would be up for $20,000 +. Yopu're better off finding the cash, even with vet bills being so high.
Guardian Pet Insurance
Great pet insurance – Guardian were excellent to deal with. If the vet clinic was unable to process a gap payment it was easy to submit invoice and vet notes through the… Read more
portal when lodging a claim. Claims were always processed within a few days and received 80% of vet fees incurred. Definitely value for money for our dog who had numerous issues. Had our policy with guardian for 6&1/2 yrs until we unfortunately had to have her euthanised due to terminal illness.
HCF Pet Insurance
- See all
Don't waste your money. They decided a skin condition was a preexisting condition for my pet so every claim for over 2 years was rejected by them… Read more
because they said it was preexisting. The final straw was when they said that an insect bite on a paw was linked to a "preexisting" ear skin condition. It was only after complaining and getting them to review the claim TWICE that they finally agreed to approved the claim, which they did not reimburse because it was less than the excess. Total vet bills in nearly three years was around $1200. Total pet insurance paid was close to $3000 and not one claim paid.
PetsOnMe
I have recently made a third claim on my policy. As before the payment was in my account within a couple of days! Thanks Mallory!
Petmed
Seriously disappointed – Have had insurance with Petmed for over 10 years and with the premium increasing to an outrageous cost requested to drop cover to a lower level. Was… Read more
told they are not modifying or doing any new policies. So disappointing because now my dog is over 10 it seems I either cough up $2600 a year for his policy amor have no insurance m. Seriously disappointed!!!
RACQ Pet Insurance
RAC Pet Insurance ARE NOT cooperating. So, we've had pet insurance with RAC for well over a year. Two weeks ago, our dog was treated for a sudden… Read more
stomach condition - he'd been vomiting continuously for most of the day. All ended well albeit with a sizeable vet bill. Next came the attempt to claim. RAC were suggesting a pre-existing condition and wanted all kinds of irrelevant information??? Helloooo! The vet detailed a sudden onset - this is just an attempt to dodge a claim payout but here's the kicker - I have now (in writing) asked four times for an update and have not received a single response other than an auto generated "we'll get back to you". Not happy at all and now we are considering changing out our house policy ($1 mill) contents ($100k) and car ($85k) thinking RAC cannot be trusted.
1300 Insurance Pet Protect
Great Insurance for your pet – Very happy with our pet insurance which we've had for 7 yrs Show details
Petbarn Pet Insurance
I spoke to your rep Mahdi this morning. He explained everything in detail and only now i understood the pet insurance cover. Due to his explaination i decided not to cancel the policy. Show details
Coles Pet Insurance
- See all
Absolute junk insurance. They only pay out to a very narrow group of illnesses! If your Vet can't work out what is wrong, then Coles doesn't pay. Try cancelling your policy! I'm still trying!
Budget Direct Pet Insurance
I recently switched to Budget Direct to save on premiums, and just three weeks into my policy, I ended up with a weekend emergency vet visit. Budget… Read more
Direct processed and paid out their share remarkably fast with zero issues. Since then, I’ve also used the policy for routine care, and once again, the payout was quick and seamless.
Total claims have come to over $3,000 across these appointments, and the 80% coverage was reimbursed without friction or unnecessary delays. The online claims portal is incredibly user-friendly and easy to navigate.
They have done all the claim payments within a week which really relieved the financial burden. (I’ve made 3 claims, including routine care)
Kogan Pet Insurance
I’m very happy as a long time customer, and got the help I neededed, far more than I expected with a 3 months free cover for my girl Lucky to help me… Read more
out short term. Very appreciative and happy that Kogan also value my customer. Thankyou to all involved. A loyal customer. Lisa and Lucky
Vets Choice Insurance For Pets
Due to separation the insurance needed to be changed into my ex partner’s name as he was going to be looking after the payments and the dog was… Read more
staying with him. Dog was staying in the same house since brought home in 2023. Same Elite cover insurance policy since the same time, same dog. When the name on the policy was changed we were told there was a 21 day stand down period. Why? Dog hasn’t changed, his home hasn’t changed only the person whose name was on the policy has. Very dissatisfied and disappointed at such a ridiculous clause.
Dear nolygirl, Thank you for your… Read more (+1 reply)
Absolute worse experience dealing with RSPCA , NEVER again and wouldn’t recommend to anyone. You will never get your claim through , they only take money.
Hi Cristina, we appreciate you taking the… Read more
Get 2 Months' Free* Pet Insurance 🏆 2026
4.4Sign Up Today & Get 2 Months' Free* Pet Insurance. *T&Cs Apply. Winner Of 2025 Product Review Pet Insurance Provider of the Year.
Is pet insurance worth it?
Pet insurance may be worth it if you don't think you'll be able to afford the upfront costs of paying for veterinary treatment when your dog or cat is sick or injured.
This is the primary reason pet insurance exists - to help you afford veterinary costs. The nature of an accident or even an unexpected illness is that it's sudden and unplanned. If you don't have enough money saved up for a rainy day, you could find yourself in a stressful situation, prolonging treatment for your pet until you figure out how to get the money.
How does pet insurance work?
Pet owners pay an insurance premium, which is usually deducted monthly. When the time comes for you to claim, your pet insurer will cover a certain percentage of eligible vet bills, up to the annual limit specified by your policy.
This usually falls within the gambit of 65-85% of the bill, depending on the level of cover you've chosen. For certain conditions, you may have to pay both an excess and a co-payment.
How much is pet insurance in Australia?
MoneySmart estimates that the cost of a monthly pet insurance premium is around $20-60, which amounts to a higher-end figure of $720 per year. This is comparable to the sum you’d spend on ‘premium dog food, plus treats’ which MoneySmart ballparks at $800 per year.
The exact price of a pet insurance premium is tricky to zero in on, as it depends on several factors that make each pet insurance quote unique. Here are some of the primary factors that will affect the price of your premium.
Your pet’s age, breed and species
Age: The best time to insure your pet is when they’re still a puppy or a kitten. Many policies allow coverage from 8 weeks old. Insuring your pet while they're young means they're less likely to develop a pre-existing condition that's excluded from coverage. The older your pet becomes, the more expensive pet insurance becomes, too.
Species: Pet insurance is mainly available for dogs and cats, however some insurers offer coverage for other animals, too (like 'exotic' pet insurance for rabbits or birds).
Cat insurance is generally cheaper than dog insurance, and there’s less of a price discrepancy between cat breeds, whereas for dogs the cost of a premium will fluctuate greatly depending on their breed.
Breed: Some breeds have inherent health conditions that make them more expensive to insure. For example, the average cost of insuring a 1-year old French Bulldog on an annual comprehensive policy is around $1,456, compared to $610 for a Jack Russell terrier.
Excess
The amount of excess you choose to pay also effects the price of your premium (a lower excess equals a higher premium). Some pet insurance plans are 'no excess,' but will cost more each month.
Excesses may be charged as a one-off per condition - letting you claim on the same condition multiple times in a year, while only paying an excess once. They can alterntively be charged each time you claim for that condition. Sometimes an insurer will require a co-payment along with an excess fee.
Discounts
Some pet insurers offer discounts as incentives. For example, you may receive a discount if your pet is desexed and microchipped, if you have multiple pets insured with the same provider (a 'multi-pet policy,') or if you have other active policies with the insurer. For example, some companies offer pet insurance as an add-on to home and contents insurance - however coverage is usually limited.
Your chosen level of cover
There are usually three tiers of pet insurance you can opt for, discussed below. Accident-only coverage is the budget option, whereas a comprehensive policy equates to a higher premium.
Types of Pet Insurance
Accident-only coverage
This most basic policy type covers your pet for accidental injury, but excludes coverage if they become ill. Note that some insurers don’t offer this policy type. Instead, they skip straight up to the next level, which is the case with Seniors Pet Insurance.
Accident and Illness coverage
This provides coverage in the event of accidental injury or illness. This is the mid-tier level of coverage, and often the most popular policy with pet owners in Australia.
Comprehensive Pet Insurance
Comprehensive policies offer coverage for all manner of misfortunes that could befall your pet, including accidents and illnesses. This includes the costs of surgery, hospitalisation, and medication.
Routine care, also called preventative care, may be offered as a standard inclusion or an optional extra as part of a comprehensive policy. The benefit amount isn’t usually very high, and may or may not include treatments or procedures like dental care, vaccinations, flea, tick and worm control.
Note that a routine care benefit is often differentiated from vet’s consultation visits in a policy. Make sure to clarify the difference between them with your insurer before signing up.
Is there anything a pet insurance policy won't cover the cost of?
Yes - there are actually several types of conditions, treatments or circumstances that may exclude you from being reimbursed by a pet insurance provider.
Pet insurance policies can be tricky to navigate, because of the sheer number of exclusions and trying to understand the differences in wording. Make sure to scour a Product Disclosure Statement and know the terms and conditions before committing, to ensure you’re getting the optimum protection for your animal companion.
General Exclusions
While these will be covered in your specific policy, here are some examples of general exclusions commonly found in pet insurance policies:
- Bilateral conditions: These refer to pre-existing conditions that affect two parts of the body. For example, if your pet had a condition in their left eye, they won't be covered if they later develop that same condition in their right eye.
- Elective treatments: These may actually be included - but only in some comprehensive policies. They refer to any treatments that are 'not medically necessary,’ such as de-sexing, orthodontics and check-ups.
- Diseases with a known vaccine: If the disease could have been preventied by a vaccinaton (such as kennel cough) it's excluded.
- Dental treatments: While dental disease is one of the most common medical conditions in dogs over four years old, most pet insurance policies exclude it. This includes cleaning, orthodontics and treatment for gum disease.
Other Exclusions
Pre-existing conditions
This refers to any illnesses or injuries that your pet has, which you’re aware of. You’re required to disclose these to your insurer when applying for pet insurance. They will make the cost of your premium higher.
Pretty much all pet insurance companies will exclude pre-existing conditions from being covered. This is another reason why it’s important to get pet insurance as early as possible into the life of your pet, when they have few to no pre-existing conditions.
Waiting periods
Just like human health insurance, waiting periods also apply for pet insurance. In most cases, for routine treatments you can make a claim after serving a 30-day waiting period. However for more serious health conditions like tick paralysis and cruciate ligament problems, you might have to wait up to 6 months.
Sub-limits
While you'll have an annual benefit limit, which caps the costs you can claim, there are also sub-limits. For certain conditions, you can only claim up to a certain amount each year - even if you have 'spare' money in your overall benefit limit. These include conditions such as tick paralysis and cruciate ligament issues.
Age restrictions on illness cover
Many pet insurers exclude illness coverage for pets nine years and older (however accident cover is always available, regardless of age).
Switching insurance providers when your pet is a senior is often a headache. You'll have to list their medical history as pre-conditions, which makes coverage much more expensive than if you'd stayed on the same policy from the get-go.
Sometimes the only way to avoid this is to sign up to a lifetime pet insurance policy, as opposed to an annual policy, referred to as a time-limited policy. This means your pet will be comprehensively insured throughout their lifetime. Keep in mind though that lifetime policies are dearer than time-limited ones.
Alternatives to Pet Insurance
If the idea of being locked into a monthly pet insurance premium seems daunting, you're not alone. According to the RSPCA, only 30% of dog owners and 21% of cat owners had pet insurance in 2019.
So what are the alternatives?
Dedicated savings account
Some families set money aside into a special savings account for their pet. Whether you'll have enough saved up when the time comes can be hard to predict with this contingency plan. For some pet owners, a temporary savings accounts may be a good option while they sit through longer, 6-month waiting periods at the start of their policies.
Vet payment plans
Some vets offer these, but they exclude a number of the benefits afforded by insurance, such as expensive surgery costs.
Ultimately, while pet insurance can be expensive and confusing, the truth is that some accidents can throw you a real curve ball, like your dog ingesting a foreign object, or your cat falling from a height. It can be heartbreaking to watch your pet suffer without having a means of helping them.
Many pet insurance reviews on ProductReview noted that without pet insurance they might not have been able to ‘keep' their pet. Since around 10% of vet visits result in pets being put to sleep according to Pet Insurance Australia, paying a monthly premium seems like a small price to pay to safeguard the precious life of your fur baby.
The bottom line
Pet insurance can really help ease some of the burden associated with your pet becoming sick or injured unexpectedly. There are different levels of cover that can cater to your budget, however always make sure that the policy you choose is the right match for your pet's age, breed and any existing or foreseeable health conditions.
Know your non-negotiables when it comes to what you want to claim, and always read the PDS carefully to ensure that these benefits are not ruled out by any policy exclusions.
Disclaimer: The information on this website is for general information only. It should not be taken as constituting professional advice from the website owner - ProductReview.com.au. ProductReview.com.au is not a financial adviser. You should consider seeking independent legal, financial, taxation or other advice to check how the website information relates to your unique circumstances. ProductReview.com.au is not liable for any loss caused, whether due to negligence or otherwise arising from the use of, or reliance on, the information provided directly or indirectly, by use of this website.
Hi Sam, we are sorry to hear of your… Read more