Find the best
pet insurance
for your breed

A waiting period is the time between when you take out a policy and when you can make a claim. Most policies have a 1–2 day waiting period for accidents and a 14–30 day waiting period for illnesses. Some policies have longer waiting periods for specific conditions like cruciate ligament injuries (often 6 months). This is why it's important to insure your pet while they're young and healthy.

A pre-existing condition is any illness, injury, or symptom your pet had before your policy started (or during the waiting period). Most standard policies exclude pre-existing conditions permanently. Some insurers like Petcover and RSPCA offer cover for "curable" pre-existing conditions after a symptom-free period of 12–18 months. Always declare your pet's full medical history when applying.

The reimbursement rate (or benefit percentage) is the percentage of eligible vet bills your insurer will pay after your excess. For example, if your policy has an 80% reimbursement rate and a $100 excess, and your vet bill is $1,000: you pay $100 excess first, then the insurer pays 80% of the remaining $900 = $720. You pay $280 total out of pocket.

Yes — and the younger and healthier your pet is when you start, the better. Insuring early means no pre-existing conditions are excluded, premiums are lower, and you're covered before any hereditary conditions develop. A young Labrador can develop cruciate ligament issues as early as 2–3 years old, which would be excluded if you wait until after symptoms appear.

Yes, several insurers cover senior pets with no upper age limit, including Medibank, RSPCA, and Bow Wow Meow. However, premiums will be higher and more conditions may be excluded as pre-existing. Some insurers stop accepting new applications for pets over 8–9 years, so check the policy details carefully. Use our filter above to find policies that accept senior pets.

The annual limit is the maximum total amount you can claim across all conditions in a policy year. Sub-limits cap how much you can claim for specific conditions or treatments within that annual limit. For example, a policy might have a $25,000 annual limit but a $3,000 sub-limit for tick paralysis — meaning even if your annual limit isn't exhausted, you can only claim up to $3,000 for tick paralysis treatment.

Yes, significantly. French Bulldogs, Cavalier King Charles Spaniels, and Pugs are among the most expensive breeds to insure due to their predisposition to respiratory, cardiac, and orthopaedic conditions. Crossbreeds and mixed-breed dogs are often cheaper to insure than purebreds. Use our breed estimator above to get a personalised price range for your specific breed.