Pet Insurance
Pet insurance is an important part of being a responsible pet owner. If your pet becomes unwell or has an injury and requires life-changing or even lifesaving treatment, getting them the treatment they need (rather than the treatment you can afford at the time) can be vital.
Pet insurance can help you cover unexpected treatment costs at your veterinary practice and referral centres, and many policies offer additional benefits too.
While our Lifetime Care Club is not an insurance policy, the benefits received via membership can help reduce the costs you may need to claim back for insured patients, and therefore may give you access to more treatment though your insurance policy.
View our Lifetime Care Club
Types of pet insurance policies
Some pet insurance policies, called ‘lifetime policies’, will cover up to a certain amount per condition per year and the pot will refill for that condition when you renew. These can be particularly helpful if your pet develops a long-term condition that requires ongoing treatment.
There are also accident-only policies, however, as the name suggests, they do not cover any illnesses. At Larkmead Vets, we strongly recommend pet owners insure their pets against accident and illness.
With so many different Pet Insurers to choose from, it is important to compare exactly what they will and won’t cover your pet for, and for how long. If you’re thinking of switching to a new pet insurance provider and your pet has existing conditions, be aware that your new provider is unlikely to cover them (potentially even if you have not claimed for these conditions on your insurance policy).
Pet Proactive Pet Insurance
At Larkmead we partner with Pet Proactive to provide a new approach to pet insurance for dogs and cats which directly benefits Larkmead clients.
As vets, we see pet insurance as a means for pet owners to budget for the unexpected, and if the worst happens, it enables our vets to carry out the most effective treatment, increasing the likelihood of recovery and a better quality of life for your pet.
At the same time, pet insurance can be frustrating with many terms & conditions or exclusions, meaning claims are often not paid in full. On top of this our customers regularly complain of hefty price increases as their pet gets older, at the time when they are most likely to need insurance.
Pet Proactive was formed to tackle these types of issues. By designing pet insurance for vet practices, they can offer greater clarity to customers and take away the hassle. Our collective aim is that you don’t waste time worrying about pet insurance, you deal with us, and we focus on your pet.
Whichever Pet Proactive lifetime policy you choose comes with the following good to know features:
- A clear and simple policy which confirms any exclusions from the start
- Based upon trust in our practice, so any treatment or referral we prescribe is covered up to your policy limit *
- Premiums are based on the fair pricing at Larkmead Vets and making a claim will not affect your premium
- Unlike most policies where you may need to pay an excess per condition per year, with a Pet Proactive policy, you only pay one excess per year irrespective of how many conditions you are claiming for, up to your annual claim limit. Larkmead will process your claims upon request with payment made directly to Larkmead. **
- Covers treatment through another vet practice if you are away from home
- Lifetime cover so your policy limits refresh every year
*excluding any pre-existing conditions
** Provided monthly premiums are up to date with Pet Proactive
To take out a policy with Pet Proactive you must already be registered with Larkmead Vets, commit to your primary care with Larkmead Vets and your pet must be less than 6 years old (when taking out the policy). To find out more please visit the Pet Proactive website.
Visit the Pet Proactive webpage
Although Larkmead Vets will accept direct claim payments from Pet Proactive insured clients, you may need to settle any outstanding account yourself when using an alternative veterinary practice or referral clinic (for example, when on holiday or when your pet is referred for advanced specialist care). You may then be able to claim reimbursement for this amount back (within your policy limit/cover) from Pet Proactive.
Please note that Pet Proactive insurance does not include Liability Insurance – you may wish to consider separate liability cover (although you may find this is already included with your home insurance policy).
- Costs unrelated to medical treatment, e.g. theft, third party liability (you may find this included with your home insurance policy).
- Pre-existing conditions – health conditions and injuries that your pet suffered before taking out your policy with Pet Proactive, but these will be confirmed to you as soon as possible after you take out your policy.
- Specialist dogs – Pet Proactive do not cover dogs used for guarding, security or racing.
- Breeding – Pet Proactive do not cover treatment related to breeding, pregnancy and breeding-related illnesses.
- Routine (expected ) treatments – e.g. flea treatments, wormers, dental scale & polish and vaccinations. Some of these are included with Larkmead Lifetime Care Club membership so you may wish to consider this along side your insurance policy.
- Joining age – Pet Proactive only take on new animals under six years old, but once insured, your animal is covered for as long as you keep up the payments.
Direct claims at Larkmead Vets
We may be able to process direct claims with a small number of pet insurance companies (including Pet Proactive). Contact our reception team to learn more.
Please read our Pet Insurance Claim Procedures & Claim Application Form
Contact us
It’s important to remember that any contract of insurance is between pet owner and insurer, so you should always refer to the terms and conditions of your own insurance policy.
