Lifetime Dog Insurance

We’re committed to simplicity and quality, which is why we have just one comprehensive Lifetime policy, with the option of 5 different cover levels to suit your needs.

Get a Quote

> Cover levels

> What is Insured

> Where am I Insured?

> What is not insured?

> What are my obligations?

> When and how do I pay?

> When does the cover start and end?

> How do I cancel the policy?

> FAQs

Cover Levels

Our lifetime policy will cover vet fees up to the cover level that you choose. This is reinstated each year the policy is renewed.

If you go over your annual cover limit, you will be liable for any further costs within that 12-month period (policy term), however your annual limit is reinstated upon renewal.

What is Insured?

Veterinary fees

Our lifetime policy will cover vet fees up to the cover level that you choose.

Included within the overall veterinary fee limit is:

☑ Dental Treatment

Up to £2,000 each policy term to treat your pet.

☑ Complementary Treatment

Up to £1,000 each policy term towards vet recommended treatment to treat your pet for an illness or injury.

☑ Death from Injury or illness

Up to £1,000 towards the purchase price, or if you have no proof of purchase, up to £150 for the loss of a dog, whichever is less.

☑ Third party liability cover

Provides cover if a person or third party is accidentally injured, killed, or their property is damaged as a result of an incident involving your dog - up to £1,000,000 each policy term.

Where am I Insured?

☑ Within the territorial limits of the United Kingdom (which consists of England, Scotland, Northern Ireland & Wales).

☑ Third Party Liability only applies to incidents in the United Kingdom.

☑ This insurance also extends your vet fees cover to your pet whilst temporarily located in a member Country of the PETS Travel Scheme, the Channel Islands, or Isle of Man for a maximum of 30 days per trip up to a total of 60 days in a policy term.

What is not insured?

This policy does not provide cover in any circumstances for:

Any pet that is listed as an excluded breed in the Policy Terms and Conditions
Any pet which has shown adverse behavioural or aggressive tendencies
Any dog that is a gun dog, working dog, Guide, Therapy or Assistance Dog
Pre-existing conditions and/or clinical signs.

Under Veterinary fees

More than the maximum benefit in the policy term.
Costs of treatment relating directly or indirectly to an illness or disease within the first 14 days, or to an injury or accident within the first 48 hours of the start of cover (not applicable at renewal).
Any treatment or complementary medicine for any cruciate ligament in the first 30 days however caused, or any arthritis or any other illness or injury that develops from them.
Costs of preventative treatment recommended by your vet, or elective treatments.
Costs of dental treatment carried out 3 months or more after the recommendation of treatment from a vet.
Cost of house calls, unless the vet confirmed your pet was or could have been suffering from a life-endangering condition.
Costs of treating your pet outside normal surgery hours unless the vet considers an emergency consultation was necessary.
Costs relating to the cremation or burial of your pet of putting your pet to sleep.

Death from Injury or Illness

Resulting from an illness within the first 14 days, or an injury or accident within the first 48 hours of the start of cover.
As a result of breeding, pregnancy, giving birth or aggression/aggressive tendencies.
Any treatment or complementary medicine for any cruciate ligament in the first 30 days however caused, or any arthritis or any other illness or injury that develops from them.
Due to illness once your pet reaches the age of 8 years during a policy term.

Third party liability cover (dog owners)

Any claim costs if you are insured under any other liability policy unless that cover has been exhausted

What are my obligations?

You are responsible for paying an excess in the event of a claim, refer to the policy wording for full details.
You must answer any questions accurately and with reasonable care in relation to this insurance. If the answers you provide are not accurate, this may result in your claim being reduced, rejected or your policy being cancelled without refund.
Monthly or annual payments must be paid on time.
You must tell us as soon as you are aware of any information about you or your pet which has changed. This includes if your pet has shown any adverse behavioural or aggressive tendencies before the start of cover or before your policy renews.
If you use up your vet fee limit in a policy term, you have to pay for any veterinary treatment until your policy renews if we invite renewal.
You must make sure your pet’s vaccinations are kept up to date.
During the policy term, you must take reasonable steps to prevent your pet suffering from an accident, injury or from contracting an illness or disease.
You must tell us about any claim as soon as possible and be submitted within 3 months.
You must tell us if you move abroad permanently or if you are going to be temporarily resident outside of the UK for more than 2 months of the policy term.
You must tell us if you sell your pet, your pet no longer lives with you, or you transfer ownership of the pet to another person.

When and how do I pay?

You can pay either annually or monthly by Direct Debit. We are unable to take payment by credit card.
If you pay monthly, your policy will automatically renew at the end of the policy year; this is unless we advise you otherwise or you tell us not to.
If you pay for your policy annually, your policy will not automatically renew at the end of the policy year. You must contact Lifetime Pet Cover and confirm you wish to renew your cover and make your annual payment.

When does the cover start and end?

A policy term lasts for one year (12 months) and the dates of cover are specified on your Policy Schedule

How do I cancel the policy?

You can cancel your policy at any time by contacting us by phone, email or letter.
If you cancel within 14 days from the policy start or renewal date, Lifetime Pet Cover will refund any premiums paid, and cancel your policy back to the start or renewal date and you will not be able to submit a claim.
If you cancel your policy after 14 days, as long as no claim has been paid in the policy term, a refund of premiums will be made for the time your pet is not covered.

If you cancel after 14 days and a claim has been paid in the policy term (including for the death of your pet), the full annual premium is still payable.

All our policies include unlimited access to 24/7 online veterinary consultations with FirstVet.

FirstVet is staffed by experienced UK-registered veterinarians, who provide triage and advice. The service runs 24 hours a day and 7 days a week, so whether you are at home, at the park, or hiking in the mountains, you can access professional advice for your dog wherever you are.

FAQs

How much cover do I need?

Unfortunately, there's no way to predict future health issues with your pet. You might never need to make a claim, or your pet might need treatment at some point. While you can't foresee the future, it's helpful to research your pet's breed to learn about common illnesses and potential treatment costs. We offer a choice of cover levels providing between £2,000 - £10,000 every year to cover the costs of unexpected vet fees. This allows you to choose a policy that is right for both your pet and your budget.

Can I change cover levels later?

At renewal, you can change the level of cover that you have for your pets but this can only be changed to a lower level of cover. Once the cover level has been changed, this can't be changed back to any higher level of cover available.

Is there a limit to how many claims I can make?

No, there are no limits to the number of claims you can make in any year. You can claim as many times as you need to, up to the cover limit you choose.

What are your opening hours?

Monday to Friday from 9 am to 5 pm. We're closed on weekends and and bank holidays. Claims are open Monday to Friday from 9:00 am to 5 pm and closed Bank Holidays.

What do I do if I need to cancel my policy?

Contact our customer service team on 0203 750 0022 or email us at [email protected]. If you haven't made any claims and don't plan to, customers who pay in full will receive a pro-rated refund based on how long the policy was live. Monthly payers will simply stop having any further payments collected. If you have made, or are looking to make a claim(s) for any reason on your policy, you will need to pay the remaining years premium as part of the cancellation.

Can I check if a specific illness/scenario will be covered before I buy the policy?

We work on a non-advisory basis, so we cannot make any recommendations or indicate/guarantee cover for a claim in advance of our claims colleagues having reviewed all the claim information and your pet’s medical history.

Can I send you my pet's veterinary notes so you can review beforehand if anything specific would/would not be covered?

No, this isn’t necessary as we do not require any of your pet’s medical history unless you ever need to make a claim. We are currently unable to offer any type of “pre-authorisation” on potential claims.

Is routine flea and tick treatment covered?

No. Pet insurance intends to cover unexpected vet fees because of illness or injury. It will not provide cover for routine treatments or neutering/spaying your pet, as these are general wellbeing treatments and part of responsible pet ownership.

Does it cost more to pay monthly instead of annually?

No, we don't charge any APR for monthly payments.

Will the cost of my policy go up in the future?

Yes. Like humans, pets are more likely to fall ill as they get older. As a result, premiums increase yearly as your pet gets older and to reflect changes in veterinary inflation. Making a claim can cause a more significant premium increase at the next renewal.

How do I change details on my policy?

Contact our customer service team on 0203 750 0022 or email us at [email protected]. Like other insurance products, changing policy details can result in an increase or decrease to your premium. We'll let you know of any changes to your premium after updating the details.

What happens if I am unable to pay for my insurance or miss my payments?

We’re here to help. If you are struggling to pay for your policy, contact our customer service team on 0203 750 0022 or email us at [email protected] to discuss any options we can offer you.

Policy Wording Document

Insurance Product Information Document