Why insure your pet?

Because you’ve made them part of your family

And it goes without saying that you would do anything to get them better if they were injured or unwell.

We know that, as caring pet parents, you value your pets’ health and ensure they are always well looked after. Unfortunately, the fact is that no matter how well you look after them, most pets will require veterinary treatment at some stage.

  • Pets are naturally curious about everything around them and injuries commonly occur during everyday running, jumping or playing, especially in the early years.
  • Many breeds are susceptible to hereditary and congenital conditions, which increases the likelihood of illness during their lifetime (excluding pre-existing conditions).

The good news & the bad news

The good news is that nowadays the medical treatment available to pets is comparable with what people receive and the likelihood of getting your cat or dog back to full health has never been better. The bad news is that for pets there is no Medicare and no safety net, and veterinary costs are rising. If there is a bill, you have to foot it…all of it, which can quickly amount to thousands of dollars.

Pet insurance is a way to protect both you and your pet from unexpected vet bills. If you’d like to understand more about the pros and cons of insuring your pet, please read our article, “Is pet insurance worth it?”.

Cover them from Nose-to-Tail

Bow Wow Meow offers a range of pet insurance options, which will cover your dog or cat for up to 90% of your eligible vet bills in case of accidental injury or illness. We also offer optional Booster Care, which covers specified dental conditions and specialised therapies including behavioural conditions and physiotherapy, as well as optional Routine care (non-insurance benefit) to contribute towards items such as vaccinations and health checks.

Our insurance cover has been designed to suit you and your pet’s needs and is administered by Australia’s first and only general insurer dedicated to pet insurance, Petsure.

And you can rest easy knowing that you are covered by Product Review’s Pet Insurance Award winners every year from 2018-2024 and the winners of Founder’s Best Value Pet Insurance for 2024.

 

 


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Over $3 million in claims paid out each month18

We've insured over 170,000 Aussie pets since 2008

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What is pet insurance?

Pet insurance is a financial product that helps pet owners cover the risk of eligible veterinary expenses resulting from accident and illness conditions in their dogs and cats. Pet insurance plans available in Australia cover anywhere from 60% to 100% of the vet bill (the majority cover 80%) and come with different inclusions, exclusions, excesses, annual benefit limits and sub-limits on certain conditions e.g. sub-limits on cruciate ligaments conditions.

Many pet owners question whether they need to take out pet insurance for their dog or cat. With the cost of veterinary care outstripping inflation and advances in available treatments, vet care for an ill or injured pet can quickly add up to thousands of dollars, particularly if the condition is chronic and ongoing. Unless you have savings to cover this, it can be very difficult to find the money to pay for the care your cat or dog needs.

We find that the value of pet insurance is often realised by pet owners after they are faced with a large vet bill, and unfortunately this can be too late. You should also be aware that any condition that arises before you take up pet insurance, or during the applicable waiting period is considered a pre-existing condition and will not be covered by pet insurance in the future.

When researching pet insurance products in Australia, we recommend getting an understanding of what is covered by the different types of products on the market. While the product names and benefit amounts may change, the main types of pet insurance cover are generally quite consistent, ranging from plans that only cover accidental injury to those that include extra benefits like routine care items, dental and other behavioural and alternative therapies.

Specified accidental injury and illness plans

These type of plans typically include cover for a range of accidental injuries and illnesses. Bow Wow Meow’s Nose-to-Tail Cover is a comprehensive policy that covers minor as well as major conditions, ranging from skin conditions and ear infections to cancer, diabetes, broken bones and hereditary conditions11 , with the offer of policy renewal for your pet’s life4. It also offers optional Booster Care benefits for specialised therapies and specified dental conditions and optional non-insurance benefits for Routine Care.

Booster Care option

Our Booster Care optional benefit gives you up to $2,000 per year cover for specified dental conditions and specialised therapies including behavioural therapies and physiotherapy. Read more about it here.

Routine Care (non-insurance benefit) 

This additional benefit provides assistance with costs for routine items such as vaccinations and microchipping. Bow Wow Meow offers this as an optional extra. Read more here.

 

 

How much could I save on my vet bills with pet insurance?

Here are some examples of our top claims
Top Claim# $0.00
You could save
$0.00*

#Based on maximum Bow Wow Meow claims evidenced between 01/01/2019 to 31/12/2019 for a particular species and breed.

*Based on a benefit rate of 80%. This is the calculated amount saved after the co-payment amount (20% of the vet bill in this case) has been deducted.

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10% discount for multiple pets1

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