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Veteran dog and cat owners know how much it can cost to take care of your pet’s health. Vet costs can add up quickly, and an unexpected illness or injury can require hundreds of pounds worth of bills. Pet insurance is a great way to protect yourself from some of that cost, and it may be cheaper than you think!
Waggel Pet Insurance is a popular UK-based insurance option that will help you protect your pet.
The Importance of Pet Insurance
Your pet’s health is important, and quality vet care will add years to their lives and improve their well-being. But vet care can be expensive, especially if your pet develops a chronic health condition or requires major surgery. That’s where pet insurance comes in. By paying a small monthly fee, you’re given coverage that can help your pet overcome any number of health problems so that you don’t have to break the bank if your cat or dog needs treatment.
Even if your pet is young and healthy, it’s smart to get pet insurance right away. You never know when your pet might need healthcare. Another reason to start when your pet is young is that Waggel and most other pet insurance options don’t cover pre-existing conditions. That means that if your pet develops a health problem before you get an insurance policy, you’ll have to pay for all treatment on that problem yourself.
How Much Does Waggel Pet Insurance Cost?
Waggel Pet Insurance will have a wide range of costs that depend on your pet, as well as the part of the country you live in. The cost will also vary depending on the coverage amount you purchase. You can expect to pay as little as around £5 a month or more than £75 a month depending on your insurance needs.
Pet
One of the biggest factors of insurance cost is your pet. Waggel covers both dogs and cats, and your pet’s breed, size, and age all factor into the cost. In general, small breeds of dogs and cats are the cheapest, while large breeds of dogs are more expensive. Some breeds with higher risks of certain conditions may be more expensive as well.
Location
Your location will have an affect on insurance cost as well. Vet treatment has different costs throughout the country, and insurance takes this into account when they give you a quote. The range of price can vary by about 30% depending on location.
Coverage
The biggest factor in your price by far is the coverage amount you choose. This is the amount that Waggel is obligated to pay annually for your pet’s health needs. Waggel’s coverage ranges from £1,000 to £10,000. Choosing the highest coverage level can be three or four times as expensive as the lowest coverage level, so it’s important to consider what you need when purchasing a plan.
Claim Contribution
Claim contribution is the minimum amount you’ll pay annually before Waggel starts paying for your pet’s care. Most Waggel plans default to £250. So for example, if you receive a vet bill for £1,000, you’ll pay £250 and Waggel will pay £750. After that, your pet might need a follow up treatment that costs £500, but Waggel will cover that whole cost because your claim contribution for the year has already been met.
Sample Quotes
Although there are too many factors to give you a quote for every situation, we pulled some sample quotes to help you get an idea of what to expect. We got a quote for four example pets—a small, medium, and large mixed breed dog and a mixed breed cat—and checked how much coverage would cost in two different post codes. The first is a postcode in Greater London, while the second is from a small town in the Northern UK. In each sample, the pet is a two year old male and the claim contribution is set to default. As you can see, the breed, location, and coverage can have a big impact on the price!
| Pet (2 Year Old Male) | Quote 1 (Greater London) | Quote 2 (Small Town) |
| Small Dog | £9–£34 | £6–£22 |
| Medium Dog | £10–£40 | £7–£26 |
| Large Dog | £20–£75 | £13–£50 |
| Cat | £9–£30 | £6–£19 |
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What Does Waggel Pet Insurance Cover?
Waggel Pet Insurance is a comprehensive pet insurance that covers accidents, illnesses, and most health conditions. This puts it a step above many other pet insurance types that cover only accidents or don’t offer lifetime coverage. Waggel covers vet fees, treatments such as physiotherapy, hydrotherapy, and behavioral treatments, illness or injury related dental treatments, pet loss from theft or straying, death from accident or illness, and third-party liabilities. Claims cannot be made within 14 days of purchasing the policy and must be submitted within 12 months of vet treatment.
Waggel doesn’t cover pre-existing health conditions, routine treatments such as vaccinations, euthanasia except in specific circumstances, or cremation. There are also certain types of pets that are excluded. Pets under 8 weeks of age and pets used for breeding purposes aren’t eligible for Waggel insurance. Certain breeds are also excluded.
How Does Waggel Pet Insurance Work?
When you buy pet insurance, your insurer is responsible for a portion of your vet bills. In order to receive payment from Waggel, you need to first meet your claim contribution. This claim contribution can be anywhere from £0 to £250 and is the amount that you pay before Waggel begins paying for your bills. Once you’ve reached the claim contribution amount, the remainder of your bill will be paid by Waggel until they reach the maximum coverage amount that you choose. This can be between £1,000 and £10,000. After that, any additional pet care costs are up to you to pay.
Let’s give an example. You purchase a policy on your dog that has a £2,000 coverage amount and a £200 claim contribution. Your dog then gets in an accident that requires three £1,000 vet visits to treat. For the first visit, you pay the £200 claim contribution, and then Waggel pays the £800 remaining. The second visit is fully covered by Waggel—they’ve now paid £1,800 total. After the third visit, Waggel contributes £200, but they have then reached their maximum coverage amount and you are required to pay the remaining £800. As you can see, a higher maximum coverage makes a big difference in an emergency.
Additional Limits on Your Insurance
Waggel does have a few additional limits on your insurance. No matter how much your maximum coverage amount is, they won’t pay more than £1,000 each towards complementary treatments, behavioral treatments, and dental treatments. But on the other hand, their policy covers beyond the maximum payout amount in certain cases. If your pet dies from accidents or illness, or if your pet is lost or stolen, you can receive up to £1,000, even if your maximum limit has already been reached.
Submitting a Claim Via Waggel
Waggel offers online claims filing. If you receive a vet bill, you can log into Waggel via your phone or computer to submit a claim. You’ll fill out a simple form with your vet information and medical details. You’ll also submit your bank account info so that Waggel knows where to deposit your money. Most Waggel claims are processed within 14 days.
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Conclusion
As you can see, Waggel is a great choice for pet insurance in the UK. They offer great flexibility in plans, making it easy to decide how much coverage you need and what fits your budget best. It also offers a high level of coverage for pets. However, it’s also important to consider the limits and exclusions on Waggel before you buy so that you can be sure that this insurance best fits your needs.
Featured Image Credit: Africa Studio, Shutterstock
