Dog insurance reimburses you for some of the costs when you take your dog to the vet. After your dog is treated, you can make a claim for the cost of the vet bill and get back a percentage of what you paid. When you combine the cunning drive for adventure that most dogs have with the high standard of animal care in New Zealand, it’s easy to see how dog insurance might just become your second-best friend. In fact, over 90% of Kiwis say the main reason for owning a dog is to add an extra member to their family.1
According to the latest data, less than 20% of dog owners in New Zealand have pet insurance, which is often because they’re not aware of the value it offers.2 However, at least 75% of dog owners take their companion to the vet once a year or more, which means they’re paying for these costs out-of-pocket and missing out on the benefit of pet insurance.
Get a free information pack about SPCA Pet Insurance.
SPCA Pet Insurance offers three different options for dog owners to avoid expensive vet bills.
Every SPCA Pet Insurance policy covers your dog for both injuries and illnesses, which includes things like:
Although every animal is different, common conditions among dogs include4:
The table below shows the health concerns that dog owners in New Zealand think are most important. Keep in mind that this data is based on the individual concerns of other owners – your dog’s own health might be different.
You might be able to claim on vet bills for some of these but it’s always important to check what’s covered under each policy first.
| Concern | Percentage of dog owners5 |
|---|---|
| Worming treatments | 94.9% |
| Micro-chipping | 94.7% |
| Keeping vaccinations up to date | 91.3% |
| Flea treatments | 90.8% |
| Regular health checks | 85.1% |
| Desexing | 83.2% |
| Weight concerns as indicated by the appearance of hips, spine, and ribs | 78% |
| Specialised diets or nutrition from the vet | 27% |
Making a claim for your dog’s treatment is easy when you’re with SPCA Pet Insurance. You can claim online at any time using our claims portal – it’s the easiest part of dealing with a sick dog!
Pay your vet bill as usual when your dog receives treatment
To make a claim, you’ll need to provide a copy of the itemised invoice from the vet
We’ll pay your eligible claim within 1-2 business days once approved, so you can focus on looking after your dog
The payment you receive after making a claim will be based on your level of cover. If there are any exclusions, waiting periods, or limits under your policy, these might affect the amount you receive.
Here are some examples of how claims are calculated depending on your level of cover.
| Features | Amount |
|---|---|
| Total cost of vet bill | $5,000 |
| Amount you can claim (90%) | $4,500 |
| Excess payable | $1,000 |
| Your out-of-pocket expense | $1,500 |
| Features | Amount |
|---|---|
| Total cost of vet bill | $300 |
| Amount you can claim (70%) | $210 |
| Your out-of-pocket expense | $90 |
| Features | Amount |
|---|---|
| Total cost of vet bill | $850 |
| Amount you can claim (80%) | $680 |
| Your out-of-pocket expense | $170 |
On top of vet bills for your dog, you’ll also need to consider other common expenses like dog food, accessories, and toys. These can add up especially if you’re dealing with expensive vet bills at the same time. Managing these ongoing expenses is an important part of every dog owner’s responsibility.
Yes, you can still apply if your dog has pre-existing health conditions, however if your dog has existing conditions that require medical treatment or ongoing medication and you take out a new policy, these will generally be considered pre-existing conditions and may be permanently excluded from cover. You can apply to have a pre-existing condition exclusion reviewed by downloading a copy of the pre-existing condition review form.
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