Lifetime Cover Pet Insurance (UK)

This page is for UK pet owners who want to understand what lifetime cover means and how it differs from other types of pet insurance. You might be comparing cover types for the first time, looking to switch policies, or simply trying to understand whether lifetime cover is suitable for your pet's circumstances.

It's also relevant if you're considering a policy for a new puppy or kitten and want to understand how different cover types work over the long term, or if your pet has developed a condition and you're trying to understand what continued cover might look like.

Whether your pet is young and healthy or managing ongoing health needs, this page explains the general principles of lifetime cover and what to consider when comparing policies.

Pet insurance in the UK is generally sold in three main types: accident-only, time-limited, and lifetime. Lifetime cover is designed to provide ongoing support for conditions that may need treatment year after year.

With lifetime cover, the policy can renew annually for as long as you continue to pay the premium and the insurer continues to offer renewal. This contrasts with time-limited policies, which usually cover each condition for a fixed period (commonly 12 months from the first treatment), after which that condition is no longer covered. Maximum-benefit policies set a total limit per condition over the entire lifetime of the policy, with no time restriction but a cumulative cap.

Ongoing conditions and annual limit resets

The cover limit for each condition typically resets each policy year. This means if your pet develops a chronic condition, you can continue to claim for treatment of that condition in future years, up to the annual limit, as long as you maintain continuous cover with the same insurer.

Because lifetime cover can provide ongoing support for long-term conditions, it's often the most comprehensive type of cover available, though it typically comes with a higher premium than time-limited or accident-only policies. What you pay depends on factors like your pet's age, breed, location, and the level of cover you choose.

Importance of continuous cover

If your pet develops a condition and you want to continue claiming for it in future years, you'll need to maintain continuous cover with the same insurer. Switching insurers after a condition has developed means the new insurer will exclude that condition as pre-existing. This is one of the key considerations with lifetime cover.

Lifetime cover policies typically include a range of benefits, but the specifics vary significantly between providers. Understanding what's included and what the limits are is essential when comparing quotes.

Vet fees and annual limits

The core element of lifetime cover is vet fee cover. Policies set an annual limit for vet fees, which can range from a few thousand pounds to £10,000 or more per year. This limit usually applies per condition per year, meaning if your pet has multiple conditions, you can claim up to the limit for each one, subject to the total annual limit on the policy.

Some policies express the limit differently (for example, a total annual limit across all conditions rather than per condition), so checking the policy wording is important. The limit resets at renewal, allowing you to continue claiming for ongoing conditions in future years.

Cover beyond vet fees

Many lifetime policies include additional benefits beyond basic vet fees. These can include complementary treatment (such as physiotherapy or hydrotherapy), dental cover for accidents or illness, behavioural treatment, and overseas travel cover if you take your pet abroad temporarily.

Some policies also include cover for death from injury or illness, theft or straying, advertising and reward costs if your pet goes missing, and third-party liability (more common for dog insurance). What's included and the limits for each benefit vary by insurer, so comparing policy documents is important.

Lifetime policies, like all pet insurance, exclude pre-existing conditions. A pre-existing condition is any illness, injury, or symptom that your pet showed signs of before the policy started or during any waiting period.

You must declare any illness, injury, or symptoms your pet has shown before the policy start date or during any waiting period. Conditions not declared are typically excluded from cover. If your pet has a condition before you take out the policy, that condition and any related conditions will not be covered.

This is why starting a lifetime policy when your pet is young and healthy, and maintaining continuous cover, can be important. If you switch insurers after your pet develops a condition, the new insurer will treat that condition as pre-existing and exclude it.

Other common exclusions include routine treatments (such as vaccinations, neutering, and dental cleaning), preventable conditions (such as fleas or ticks if you haven't used preventive treatment), and certain breed-specific conditions that some insurers exclude.

Several factors influence whether you can get lifetime cover and how much you'll pay. Understanding these can help you compare policies more effectively.

Pet age: Younger pets are generally cheaper to insure. As your pet gets older, premiums typically increase to reflect the higher likelihood of illness or injury. Some insurers have upper age limits for new lifetime policies (for example, 8 or 10 years old), though existing policies usually continue to renew as long as you keep paying the premium.

Breed and size: Certain breeds are predisposed to specific health conditions, which insurers factor into pricing. Larger dogs, for example, are statistically more prone to joint problems, while some pedigree breeds have higher rates of certain hereditary conditions. Cross-breeds are sometimes cheaper to insure than pedigrees, though this varies by insurer.

Location: Where you live affects vet fees, which in turn affects premiums. Areas with higher veterinary costs (typically urban areas and certain regions) generally see higher insurance premiums. Your postcode is one of the factors insurers use to calculate your quote.

Level of cover: Lifetime policies come with different annual limits. A policy with a £4,000 annual limit will be cheaper than one with a £10,000 limit. You'll need to balance the level of cover you want against what you're comfortable paying in premium.

Excess: Most policies have an excess (the amount you pay towards each claim). A higher excess typically means a lower premium. Some policies have a fixed excess (for example, £99), while others have a fixed excess plus a percentage excess (for example, 20% of the claim). The percentage excess often increases as your pet ages.

Claims history: If you make a claim, your premium may increase at renewal. Some insurers offer no-claims discounts, while others adjust premiums based on the number and cost of claims. Your claims history with previous insurers may also be taken into account when you apply for new cover.

Before comparing lifetime cover policies, there are a few practical points to think about that can help you make an informed decision.

Start early if you can: Lifetime cover is most beneficial when you start it while your pet is young and healthy. Any conditions that develop after the policy starts (and after any waiting periods) will be covered, subject to the policy terms. If you wait until your pet is older or has developed health issues, those conditions will likely be excluded as pre-existing.

Understand the importance of continuity: If your pet develops a condition and you want to continue claiming for it in future years, you'll need to maintain continuous cover with the same insurer. Switching insurers after a condition has developed means the new insurer will exclude that condition as pre-existing. This is one of the key considerations with lifetime cover.

Check how limits reset: Most lifetime policies reset the limit each year at renewal. This means if you claim £3,000 for a condition in year one, you'll have a fresh limit for that condition in year two. However, the way this works can vary slightly between insurers, so checking the policy wording is important. Some policies may have cumulative limits or other restrictions.

Be prepared for premium increases: Lifetime cover premiums typically increase each year, even if you don't make a claim. This is partly due to your pet aging, partly due to vet fee inflation, and partly due to general insurance market trends. What you pay in year one is unlikely to be what you pay in year five or ten. Budgeting for increasing premiums over your pet's lifetime is worth considering.

Read the policy document, not just the summary: The policy document (often called the policy wording or terms and conditions) tells you exactly what is and isn't covered, exclusions, waiting periods, excess structure, and claims procedures. The summary or key facts document gives an overview, but the full policy document is legally binding and contains the detail you need.

Compare multiple providers: Different insurers assess risk differently and offer different levels of cover. Getting quotes from several providers allows you to compare not just price, but also what's included, limits, excesses, and any specific exclusions that might apply to your pet's breed or circumstances.