Pet policy disputes rise by 60 per cent
After the Financial Ombudsman Service (FOS) reported a massive rise in complaints about pet insurance policies last year, experts are urging that owners read the small print to check that their animal is adequately covered.The majority of the cases called were found in favour of the insurers because policyholders had failed to disclose pre-existing conditions.FOS spokeswoman Emma Parker told the Telegraph: "We would like to see more questioning of owners about the health of their animals before purchase. It is also important that documentation clearly lays out the level of benefit."Buyers are also advised to check whether cover will be continued for certain types of treatment on renewal, as in many cases pet owners do not realise that it will not until it is too late. Ms Parker said: "This can be particularly distressing when a pet is in the middle of a course of treatment."Despite the rise in the number of policies available with supermarkets and others now jumping on the bandwagon, only 17 per cent of cat owners insure their animal, while less than a third of dogs are covered.Most pet insurance only covers cats and dogs, with reduced rates for neutered and microchipped animals. NFU Mutual offers an 'all pets in the family' add-on option, which allows cover for smaller pets, such as rabbits and guinea pigs.
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