Choosing the right pet insurance plan can be a challenging task. With all the various options available and technical pet insurance terms, it is difficult to understand and compare different plans. To help pet owners make informed decisions to best suit their budget and pet’s needs, we’ve prepared this guide to help you navigate the key factors in pet insurance plans.
Key Factors to Consider in Pet Insurance
1. Standard and Additional Coverage Options
Pet insurance is designed to help offset the cost of unexpected veterinary bills. When comparing pet insurance plans, evaluate the coverage being offered. A good policy for you might be the one that include both injury and illness coverage for your pet.
Many plans in Australia cover hereditary and congenital conditions, provided that there are no signs or symptoms of the condition before the policy was purchased and during any applicable exclusion period.
Routine care add-ons are another consideration for pet owners. However, each of these may also have its own specific maximum limit or sub-limit within the policy year.
| Example of a Routine Care Plan worth $150 annually | |
| Routine Care Inclusions | Capped Amount |
| Urinalysis | $20 |
| Stool tests | $30 |
| Blood screens | $50 |
| Parasite and tick medication | $50 |
| Total: $150 | |
Typical Pet Insurance Approach in Australia:
- Many pet insurance policies cover both accidents and illnesses, and have benefit percentages that typically range between 70% to 90% (Mozo).
- Some insurers include cover for hereditary or congenital conditions, provided there are no prior signs or symptoms before policy start or during an exclusion or waiting period (CHOICE).
- A growing number of pet insurers offer optional extras such as dental disease, behavioural therapy and wellness add‑ons which are added to the base policy (Forbes).
Knose’s Pet Insurance Approach: Knose Pet Insurance offers coverage for injuries, illnesses, most hereditary and congenital conditions, including prescription medications for eligible conditions, that are not pre-existing symptoms and conditions. Knose also provides Optional Benefits which cover dental diseases, specialised therapies, and behavioural issues for eligible pets.
2. Exclusions and Limitations
When you compare pet insurance, understanding what is excluded is just as important as knowing what is covered. The following are typical exclusions and limitations.
1. Pre-existing symptoms and conditions
Pet insurance generally doesn’t pay for claims relating to conditions that arose before a policy was bought or during the applicable exclusion period. Instead, insurance is designed to manage the financial impact of future events. It’s the same as insuring a car: you can’t buy insurance for a car after it has been stolen.
You need to present an honest medical history when applying for insurance. Also, it’s just as important to know how different insurers handle pre-existing conditions and symptoms in their policies. If you’re unsure, your vet can help you understand what pre-existing symptoms and conditions your pet might have.
A common exclusion is Bilateral Conditions. These conditions, such as Cruciate Ligament Disease (CLD) or elbow dysplasia, are likely to occur on both sides of the body if it’s already present on one side or leg, so if your pet had an CLD in one leg before you purchased the pet insurance policy, any CLD in other legs that occurred after the purchase of your policy may not be covered.
Over the last few years, pet insurance policies in Australia have seen improvements, with many providers (including Knose) now offering to remove exclusions for certain pre-existing symptoms and conditions, if they have been successfully treated or resolved after a specified period. Removing of these exclusions are not always automatic and may require you to take certain steps to get cover for those conditions reinstated. Sadly, many conditions are not curable and if a pre-existing condition is not curable, then the cover for that condition cannot be reinstated. Diabetes is an example of a non-curable condition.
2. Standard Exclusions
- Age Limits: The standard maximum age of signing up for Pet Insurance in Australia is 9 years old, while some specific breeds or benefits have an even lower limit. Once they have joined, policy renewals are offered regardless of age so pets can stay insured for the rest of their lives.
- Breed-specific Exclusions: Some pet insurance plans may exclude certain cat or dog breeds for legal reasons (eg. banned breeds in Australia) or due to their genetic predispositions to specific conditions.
- Annual Limits: The annual limit is the most your insurer will pay in one policy year, and it resets when you renew your policy. When choosing a plan, think about how much coverage you might need each year, and balance that with what you can afford to pay in premiums or out-of-pocket vet bills.
- Sub-limits: Many pet insurance plans also have sub-limits, or smaller pay-out limits for certain treatments or conditions. Your insurer will stop paying for a particular treatment once its sub-limit is reached. When comparing plans, decide if the lower premiums are worth these restrictions.
Typical Pet Insurance Approach in Australia:
- Most policies exclude pre‑existing symptoms and conditions; although some providers may reassess conditions if symptom‑free for a specified period (comparethemarket).
- Pet insurance providers commonly have specific exclusions for bilateral conditions like cruciate ligament disease (CHOICE).
Knose’s Pet Insurance Approach: Knose’s standard pet insurance policy has exclusion periods for Pre-existing Symptoms and Conditions. But with Knose, there are no sub-limits! If you insure your pet within the age requirements (minimum 6 weeks and maximum 8 years and 364 days), there are no age restrictions at renewal times
3. Financial Considerations
Several financial considerations will go beyond the basic monthly premium:
- Premiums: Your premium, the amount you pay for your pet insurance, depends on things like your pet’s species, age, breed, gender, and where you live. Some insurers also look at other factors, like whether your pet came from a breeder or a rescue or if your pet is desexed.
- Benefit Percentage: Most pet insurance policies don’t cover 100% of vet bills. Instead, they pay a benefit percentage, usually between 70% and 90% of eligible costs. You pay the rest as a co-payment.
- For example: If your vet bill is $1,000 and your benefit percentage is 80%, the insurer pays $800 and you pay $200. Some plans do offer 100% benefit percentage, but they often include a mandatory excess.
- Excess: The excess is the amount you pay out of pocket before your insurance starts paying. It helps lower your premium. Make sure you choose an excess you can comfortably afford, since you’ll have to pay both the excess and your co-payment (based on the benefit percentage). Here are examples of how excess works:
- Per Condition per Year: You pay the excess for each condition each year.
- Example: If your pet has two unrelated issues in one year, you’ll pay the excess twice.
- Per Claim / Per Incident: You pay the excess each time you make a claim. Only costs above that excess are reimbursed.
- Example: If your average vet bill is $300 and your excess is $100 per claim with an 80% benefit percentage, you’d be reimbursed $140 (($300 × 80%) – $100).
- Per Condition per Year: You pay the excess for each condition each year.
- Additional Fees: Joining or transaction fees are more common overseas, but it’s still worth asking whether the premium quoted is the total amount you’ll pay. Any additional charges should be listed in the product’s Product Disclosure Statement (PDS).
Typical Pet Insurance Approach in Australia:
- Premiums are based on factors such as pet’s age, breed, species and location. However, some breeds with known hereditary risks attract higher premiums (Canstar).
- Excesses and co‑payments are central to cost/benefit trade‑offs so choosing a higher excess can reduce premium, but increases out‑of‑pocket risk at claim time (gocompare).
Knose’s Pet Insurance Approach: Knose offers competitive premiums that deliver value for a wide coverage. We provide flexible excess options to suit your financial preferences, so you can choose a plan that aligns with your budget. bKnose has no sub-limits! This allows customers to get up to 90% of an eligible veterinary bill, with no hidden costs.
3. Comparing Pet Insurance Prices or Monthly Premiums
Most pet insurance premiums are paid monthly and renewed once a year. A few providers offer policies that can be renewed monthly instead.
- Fortnightly premiums: Some insurers let you pay every two weeks. This can make payments feel smaller, but there are about 2.17 fortnights in a month, not just two. That means fortnightly payments can look about 8% cheaper than monthly ones, even though they’re not.
- Annual premium: Some providers offer an annual payment option, where you pay the full year’s premium upfront. Before you choose this, check whether you’ll get a discount for paying annually. In many cases, the annual premium is simply 12 × the monthly premium, with no savings.
Pet insurance is an important long-term decision because of the financial impact on your budget, but also for your pet’s well-being through their lifespan. Make sure the policy and provider are right for you and your pet over the long term commitment as your pet may live upward of 12 years, and because of pre-existing conditions, it may be difficult to switch providers. So, be careful of not selecting a provider simply because they have a strong introductory offer, if they are not likely to be the best provider for you and your pet over the long term.
Typical Pet Insurance Approach in Australia:
- Most providers offer multiple payment options, including monthly and annual (Mozo).
- The largest price difference in annual premiums for a single pet was $2,479, proving the importance of comparing pet insurance providers (Mozo).
Knose’s Pet Insurance Approach: Knose offers flexible payment options with transparent pricing, making it easier for you to budget over the long term. Knose has an introductory offer of 2 months free to certain eligible customers, and occasionally announces bigger discounts through social media giveaways and web promos.
4. Claim Process
When comparing pet insurance plans, don’t just look at what’s covered; also check how simple it is to make a claim. A smooth claims process can save you stress when your pet needs care.
- Ease of Lodging Claims: Find out how you can submit a claim. Does the insurer have a simple online process, or do you need to fill out and post paper forms? It’s also helpful if your vet can submit claims for you.
- For example: With Knose, you can make claims online through the customer portal (on desktop or mobile), or you or your vet can email Knose directly to start the process.
- Claim Turnaround Time: Ask how long it usually takes for claims to be processed and paid. Quick reimbursement can make a big difference during emergencies.
- Direct Pay vs. Reimbursement: Some insurers pay the vet directly, while others ask you to pay first and get reimbursed. If an advertisement says you’ll “only pay the gap”, look into the details, check how it actually works and read customer reviews to see if the process is as smooth as advertised.
Typical Pet Insurance Approach in Australia:
- Pet Insurance Award agencies emphasise ease of claims and direct payment options as key quality indicators (Mozo).
- Some pet insurance companies offer direct payment options to veterinarians to simplify the claim process for pet owners (Mozo).
Knose’s Pet Insurance Approach: Knose has a user-friendly online claim process that makes submitting claims quick and easy. We have prompt claim processing and quick reimbursements, to help you get your money back as soon we can.
5. Customer Support and Reviews
Reliable customer support can make a significant difference in your overall experience.
- Availability of Support: You can never predict emergencies. Look for providers that offer customer service, online chat, and email support to address your concerns promptly during emergencies.
- Customer Reviews and Ratings: Check reviews on platforms like Product Review, Trustpilot, Google, and others to gain first-hand insights into the provider’s reliability and service quality.
Typical Pet Insurance Approach in Australia:
- Some pet insurance providers offer 24/7 customer support (Mozo).
- Customer satisfaction ratings among providers vary depending on the service quality (Mozo).
Knose’s Pet Insurance Approach: Knose has earned a 4.7 rating from customers on Product Review as of November 2025, reflecting a strong customer satisfaction and service quality. Knose also has an Australian customer care team who is committed to delivering the highest level of service. Knose customers also get support from a team of registered vet nurses via the Knose Pet Health Hotline.
6. Additional Benefits
Some pet insurance plans include extra features that can make them more valuable when you’re comparing options.
- Wellness Programs: Some insurers offer extra cover for preventative care like behavioural therapy, dental check-ups, and routine check-ups.
- Travel Coverage: If you travel with your pet, check whether the policy covers vet care while you’re traveling within Australia or overseas.
Typical Pet Insurance Approach in Australia:
- Dental treatments or specialised therapies (hydrotherapy, acupuncture, behavioural consults) are often subject to separate sub-limits (gocompare).
- Travel and boarding cover for pets is less widely included in many pet insurance policies (Canstar).
Knose’s Pet Insurance Approach: Knose offers routine wellness care through Pet Care Plans, separate from Knose Pet Insurance Plan. Knose Pet Insurance covers eligible vet costs during overseas travel to New Zealand and Norfolk Island for trips of not more than 60 days.
Where and how to compare pet insurance plans
When comparing pet insurance, use trusted comparison websites to save time and effort.
You can find Knose and other providers on platforms like Product Review, Finder, Canstar, Mozo, and WeMoney. They review plans based on coverage, price, customer reviews, and extra benefits, helping you understand the pros and cons of each provider and their plans before deciding.
Finding the right fit for you and your pet
Choosing the best pet insurance for you and your pet takes a bit of time, but it’s time well spent. Every pet is different, so the ideal plan is one that fits your pet’s unique needs and your budget.
By taking the time to compare and understand what each plan really offers, you’ll feel confident knowing you’ve made a choice that helps protect your pet’s health for years to come.
Disclaimer
Coverage for illnesses and injuries is subject to your selected plan, Knose Pet Insurance terms and conditions, and only applies where the condition is not a Pre-Existing Symptom or Condition and is outside any applicable Exclusion Periods. See the Product Disclosure Statement (PDS) for full details.
