Frequently Asked Questions

Pet insurance provides coverage for veterinary expenses that your pet may require in times of illness or injury. In others words, it is used to cover for unexpected veterinary bills that are challenging to budget for, as opposed to routine expected healthcare maintenance costs, such as vaccinations and parasite preventatives. It is a reimbursement program which means you initially cover the cost of the veterinary expense and submit a claim to be reimbursed.

Unexpected bills can be tricky to budget for, and no pets are excluded from possibility of illnesses or injuries. Having peace of mind that you can go ahead with the medical or surgical treatment your pet requires when sick or injured can let you focus on providing what they need rather than worrying about the cost and how you will afford it. However it is important to remember that not all conditions are covered, such as Pre-existing Conditions (including those that arise with a relevant Exclusion Period).

When purchasing a new Policy:

• the minimum age for entry for a Pet is 6 weeks old; and
• the maximum age for entry is 8 years and 364 days old.

Once you have insurance there is no age limit, this is called Lifetime Cover as long as continuous cover is held.

Yes, you can insure multiple pets.

A Pre-existing Condition is defined as an illness or injury, dental illness or behavioural problem that was present before the policy begins or before the end of the Exclusion Period. They are not covered as pet insurance policies are there to protect from the unexpected, not known conditions.

If you purchase a policy with 360 Care extras, it will include coverage for dental illness such as dental disease, gingivitis and periodontal disease as long as it is not Pre-existing Condition (including those arising within a relevant Exclusion Period). However, it does not include cover for routine or elective dental work. Please see the PDS for more details and other exclusions.

An Exclusion Period is a period of time (which differs for injuries, illness and specific conditions) at the start of the policy (or at the start date of your increased cover) when coverage is restricted. This is to prevent insurance fraud from pet parents who apply for pet insurance already knowing their pet is unwell or injured.

Dogs and cats

Our policy has been designed for pets, so it does not provide cover for cats or dogs that participate in commercial or sporting activity, such as working (including work on a farm), fighting, racing, personal protection, gun sports, law enforcement or guarding.

Our policy may cover dogs and cats who are training for, participate

in, or are, show dogs/cats, search and rescue dogs, guide dogs or assistance dogs.

No, Pet Circle Insurance provides cover for unexpected veterinary and other expenses due to an illness or injury, as opposed to expected health maintenance costs, such as vaccinations, health check-ups, parasite preventatives, food, grooming and supplements.

Yes, you can use any licensed and currently registered vet in Australia

Pet Circle Insurance will provide cover for companion dogs and cats that reside with you in Australia, but does not cover a dangerous or banned breed. Cats and dogs participating in commercial or sporting activity such as breeding or obstetrics, working, fighting, racing, personal protection, gun sports, law enforcement or guarding are not eligible for cover.

Note that it is possible to purchase cover for pets who participate in or are show dogs/cats, search and rescue dogs, guide dogs, assistance dogs or customs sniffer dogs.

There are a number of factors involved in determining the premium levels, and a pet’s age plays an important part. Like humans, as pets age, the likelihood of them falling ill increases and the cost of veterinary procedures generally also increases. This means that the Premium is likely to increase each year to make sure we can keep helping with your pet’s veterinary costs.This is a general guide only, and future premium levels can also be impacted by other factors including, but not limited to, a pet’s breed and general increase in the cost of veterinary treatment over time.

It is probably easier to answer this by stating what is not covered. Pet Circle Insurance does not provide cover for the cost of preventative and routine items, such as health examinations and tests, vaccinations, grooming, food, parasite prevention and supplements. It also does not provide coverage for any Pre-existing Conditions. Furthermore, any elective procedure such as desexing or additional vet costs such as after-hours fees or house-call costs when a vet does not consider it an emergency are not covered. Please see the PDS for more details and other exclusions.

No your premium will not automatically increase based on your claims.

No.

Just like other insurers, Pet Circle Insurance does not cover for vet costs associated with the treatment of Pre-existing Conditions. However, some Pre-existing Conditions may be reviewable at a certain future date. This means certain conditions which have evidence of resolution or treatment may be considered for review based on supported veterinary documentation. They are not automatically lifted at the review date and will need documentation for the condition to be reviewed by an assessor.

Once you have insurance there is no age limit. However, there are minimum and maximum ages for starting insurance:

Minimum and maximum age of Pets on entry

When purchasing a new Policy:

1. The minimum age for entry for a Pet is 6 weeks old; and
2. The maximum age for entry is 8 years and 364 days old.

You can change your pet insurance as long as your pet falls into the required age limits and meet other eligibility criteria -eg. you may need to provide all available history to conduct a Pre-existing Condition assessment.