Pet Insurance

Pet insurance - coming soon to Ripe

Types of pet insurance

It can be difficult to choose the best policy for your pet if you don’t fully understand the options.

You might be searching for pet insurance for pre-existing conditions and dental but be confused when faced with terms you’re not familiar with.

At Ripe, our aim is to make insurance simple to understand and jargon-free. Here’s a quick breakdown of the different types of pet insurance available on the market:

Time limited

Time Limited policies cover each new condition for 12 months from the date your dog first shows any signs or symptoms – as long as you renew your policy.

There’s also typically a cap in place for how much you can claim for treatment during this time, and you cannot claim for the same condition again once the initial period is up or you reach your treatment limit.

Pet insurance for pre-existing conditions isn’t usually available in the form of a time limited policy.

Maximum benefit

This policy type covers your pet for each injury or condition up to a set amount, also known as the ‘maximum benefit’.

There’s no time limit on how long it takes you to reach this amount, unlike an annual policy which we discuss above.

If you do reach the specified limit for one condition, your pet may still be covered for other conditions they may develop during your policy.

Lifetime

Lifetime pet insurance is the most extensive form of cover you can purchase.

There’s no time limit on the conditions your dog or cat is covered for, and any new conditions they develop will be covered up to your yearly vet fee limit as long as you keep renewing your policy.

However, there is typically a cap in place on the amount you can claim within a 12-month period for each condition.

Pet insurance for pre-existing conditions can be available on a lifetime policy, but it’s best to check with your chosen insurer before arranging your pet insurance.

What does pet insurance cover?

The cover you receive depends on the type of pet insurance you select when arranging your policy.

However, here’s a quick overview of the options typically available to you:

• Vet fees (up to a set yearly amount)
• Dental cover (accident & illness)
• Holiday cover (vet fees, cancellation, documents & quarantine)
• Lost pets (advertising & rewards)
• Theft & straying
• Death & farewell cover
• Emergency boarding
• Public liability

Ripe will soon be launching a specialist pet insurance product, so be sure to check back soon for details of the cover.

Why should I consider pet insurance?

Our pets are our family, and there’s nothing we wouldn’t do to ensure their safety. However, if the unexpected happens, veterinary bills or related costs can be devastating to cover alone.

Say your dog is attacked by another dog and requires urgent care, or your cat goes missing and you need help with advertising or setting a reward to get them back home.

Specialist pet insurance provides financial protection in the worst-case scenarios, so you can focus on getting your furry friend back to good health.