In this independent review, we take a look at Healthy Pets pet insurance including the types of policies on offer, the level of cover you can expect, the estimated premium costs and customer reviews.
We also compare Healthy Pets to alternatives like Petgevity* and the PDSA to help you understand your options and make the best choice for your pet.
What is Healthy Pets pet insurance?
Healthy Pets was founded in 1996 by dog lover Mark Effenberg who saw a gap in the pet insurance market when he realised that pet insurance companies didn't seem to understand the special bond that exists between pets and their owners. Healthy Pets was launched in an effort to change this and it's been going strong ever since with Trustpilot score of 4.4 out of 5.0 based on more than 3,400 reviews.
Key features
- Pet insurance for puppies and kittens from 5 weeks old (cover will be for accidents only until your pet is 8 weeks old)
- Vet fees covered up to £7,500 depending on your policy of choice
- Vet fees paid directly to your vet on your behalf
- Lifetime or maximum benefit insurance policies
- Compulsory co-payment once your pet reaches a certain age (dependent on type of pet and type of policy)
- Upper age limit for new customers of 11 years old for dogs and 13 years old for cats
- Online introductory discount
- 50% of flea, tick and worm protection with Protect My Pet
- 24hr free vet phone line
What does Healthy Pets pet insurance cover?
Healthy Pets offers two types of policy, lifetime or maximum benefit. The other types of cover that are not offered by Healthy Pets are time-limited pet insurance and accident-only pet insurance.
Healthy Pets Lifetime policies
Healthy Pets' Lifetime insurance policies (Select and Select Plus) provide vet fee cover with an annual limit per condition and this limit will renew every year you have a policy in place and there is no limit to the number of conditions you can claim for each year. There are 3 levels of vet fee cover for the lifetime insurance policies; £2,000, £3,000 and £7,000 but the other levels of cover provided vary depending on whether you choose Select or Select Plus.
Healthy Pets Maximum Benefit policies
Healthy Pets' Maximum Benefit policies cover new conditions up to a specific limit. There is no time limit to claim, but once you have exhausted your allowance for a particular condition, it is then deemed "pre-existing" and you will not be able to claim for it again when you renew. Healthy Pets offer three different levels of maximum benefit insurance with a choice of vet fee cover of £1,000, £4,250 and £7,500.
Inner limits
It is worth noting that there are inner limits for certain conditions and these vary depending on the policy you choose so it is vital that you check the policy documents before purchasing. For example the Select £4,000 insurance has a £2,500 limit when claiming for a cruciate ligament disease even though the vet fee cover is £4,000, where as the Select Plus £4,000 policy there is no inner limit when claiming for cruciate ligament disease so you can claim up to the £4,000 vet fee limit.
Bi-lateral conditions
Bi-lateral conditions will be subject to vet fee cover limits if they occur within twelve months of the condition developing on the first side. So if your dog had cruciate ligament disease in their right leg and 8 months later it occured in their left leg this would be classed as a bi-lateral condition and you would only have £3,000 for treatment for both.
Healthy Pets do not offer time-limited and accident-only insurance, for more information on the different types of pet insurance read our article 'What are the different types of pet insurance?'
In the below comparison tables we compare the levels of cover you can expect with a Healthy Pets lifetime and maximum benefit pet insurance policy. We look into the cost of these policies later in the article.
Healthy Pets pet insurance policy comparison
(scroll right to see full table)
| Max Benefit Bronze |
Max Benefit Silver |
Max Benefit Gold |
Select £2,000 |
Select Plus £2,000 |
Select £4,000 |
Select Plus £4,000 |
Select £7,000 |
Select Plus £7,000 | |
| Vets fees limit | £1,000 | £4,250 | £7,500 | £2,000 | £2,000 | £4,000 | £4,000 | £7,000 | £7,000 |
| Excess options | £125 | £125 | £125 | £99 | £99 | £99/£125/£150/ £200/£250 | £99/125/£150/ £200/£250 | £99/£125/£150/ £200/£250 | £99/£125/£150/ £200/£250 |
| Optional co-payment | No | No | No | No | No | 20% | 20% | 20% | 20% |
| Compulsory co-payment | 15% when pet reaches 5 years old 20% thereafter |
15% when pet reaches 5 years old 20% thereafter |
15% when pet reaches 5 years old 20% thereafter |
20% for dogs 5 years and over and for cats 7 years and over | 20% for dogs 5 years and over and for cats 7 years and over | 20% for dogs 5 yrs and over and cats 7 yrs and over | 20% for dogs 5 yrs and over and cats 7 yrs and over | 20% for dogs 5 yrs and over and cats 7 yrs and over | 20% for dogs 5 yrs and over and cats 7 yrs and over |
| Lifetime cover for new conditions | No | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Death due to illness¹ | No | £500 | £1,000 | No | £1,000 | No | £1,500 | No | £2,000 |
| Death due to accident | No | £500 | £1,000 | No | £1,000 | No | £1,500 | No | £2,000 |
| Advertising & Reward | No | £500 | £1,000 | No | £600 | No | £800 | No | £1,000 |
| Theft or straying cover | No | £500 | £1,000 | £500 | £1,000 | £500 | £1,500 | £500 | £2,000 |
| Boarding kennel fees | No | £500 | £1,000 | £500 | £500 | £500 | £750 | £500 | £1,000 |
| Holiday cancellation | No | £500 | £2,000 | No | £500 | No | £750 | No | £1,000 |
| Overseas travel | Up to 30 days | Up to 30 days | Up to 12 months | No | Up to 30 days | No | Up to 60 days | No | Up to 90 days |
| Third party liability (dogs only) | £1m | £1m | £1m | £1m | £1m | £1m | £1m | £1m | £1m |
¹Not payable for dogs 9 years and older and for cats 11 years or older
What is Healthy Pets' pre-existing conditions policy?
Healthy Pets won't cover your pets for pre-existing conditions. If your pet has received treatment, medication, or advice for specific symptoms before the policy came into force, then these symptoms and conditions will be excluded at the start of your policy. If you are looking for a policy which could offer cover for pre-existing conditions for your pet, you should take a look at our article, 'Best pet insurance for pre-existing conditions' useful.
Healthy Pets insurance policy exclusions
Healthy Pets' pet insurance policies come with several general exclusions. These include, but are not limited to:
Any pre-existing conditions
Any costs for the cremation or burial of your pet
The first £250 of any third party liability claims
Any claims for accidents that occur within the first 2 days of the policy starting
Any claims for illness occurring within the first 10 days of the policy starting
Pets under 5 weeks old (pets aged between 5 and 8 weeks old will only be insured for accidents
Can pets be refused cover with Healthy Pets?
Certain pets can't be insured through Healthy Pets. This includes pets that have carried out commercial guard work or security work, as well as pets that have been used in racing. Pets with aggressive tendencies and those with pending third-party prosecutions against them also can't be insured via Healthy Pets.
There is also an upper age limit which means your older pets might struggle to get pet insurance with Healthy Pets unless they already have a policy. Dogs over the age of 11 can't get insurance with Healthy Pets for the first time. Similarly, cats over the age of 13 may need to look elsewhere as well. If you need cover for an older pet, there are many providers that don't impose an upper age limit such as Petgevity*, Scratch & Patch and Tesco Pet insurance and we recommend reading our article, 'The best pet insurance for older pets'.
How much does a policy with Healthy Pets cost?
In the below comparison tables, we compare the cost of Healthy Pets pet insurance policies for a mixed breed 1-year-old cat and dog. The quotes are based on a pet living in a South East postcode and with no underlying health conditions. The cost of your pet insurance may vary depending on the age, type and breed of your pet. Where you live may also affect the cost of your pet insurance premium due to the cost of veterinary care in your local area. For more information on what affects the cost of pet insurance read our article '7 factors that affect the cost of pet insurance'.
The cost of Healthy Pets cover for a 1-year-old dog
The quotes below are for a medium 1-year-old cross-breed male dog with no underlying health conditions. The dog is neutered.
| Policy Type | Vet fee cover | Excess | Monthly Cost |
| Select £2,000 | £2,000 | £99 | £10.39 |
| Select £4,000 | £4,000 | £99 | £16.16 |
| Select £7,000 | £7,000 | £99 | £19.93 |
| Select Plus £2,000 | £2,000 | £99 | £11.38 |
| Select Plus £4,000 | £4,000 | £99 | £17.77 |
| Select Plus £7,000 | £7,000 | £99 | £21.04 |
| Maximum Benefit Bronze | £1,000 | £125 | £8.06 |
| Maximum Benefit Silver | £4,250 | £125 | £12.56 |
| Maximum Benefit Gold | £7,500 | £125 | £18.21 |
The figures above are accurate as of 23/03/26 and include a 20% introductory discount
The cost of Healthy Pets cover for a 1-year-old cat
The quotes below are for a 1-year-old mixed-breed cat with no underlying health conditions. The cat is neutered.
| Policy Type | Vet fee cover | Excess | Monthly Cost |
| Select £2,000 | £2,000 | £99 | £6.86 |
| Select £4,000 | £4,000 | £99 | £9.36 |
| Select £7,000 | £7,000 | £99 | £12.46 |
| Select Plus £2,000 | £2,000 | £99 | £6.95 |
| Select Plus £4,000 | £4,000 | £99 | £9.94 |
| Select Plus £7,000 | £7,000 | £99 | £12.64 |
| Maximum Benefit Bronze | £1,000 | £125 | £5.16 |
| Maximum Benefit Silver | £4,250 | £125 | £7.89 |
| Maximum Benefit Gold | £7,500 | £125 | £13.21 |
The figures above are accurate as of 23/03/26 and include a 20% introductory discount
How do I make a claim with Healthy Pets?
To make a claim with Healthy Pets, simply head to the Existing Clients section on the website and follow the steps below:
- Select "Make a Claim"
- Fill out the claims request form on the website including your policy number
- Wait to receive an email with the claims form
- Fill out the claims form with the requested information
- Return the form as per the instructions
Alternatively you can call them on 01730 268 592 or email [email protected]
Once the completed form is submitted, Healthy Pets aims to decide on your claim within 10 working days. However, you don't need to let them know before your pet receives treatment and can submit the form after the treatment takes place. Also, Healthy Pets can pay out your claim to the vet directly if preferred.
Healthy Pets customer reviews
Healthy Pets currently scores 4.4 out of 5.0 on independent review site Trustpilot, based on more than 3,400 reviews. Approximately 77% of reviewers have rated Healthy Pets "Excellent" while 9% have rated it "Bad". Reviewers who gave Healthy Pets high scores raved about its excellent customer service team and competitive pricing and there are reviews from customers who are happy with how their claim was dealt with. However, some reviewers rating it poorly complained about the company's slow claims process, the inner limits for how much you can claim for a condition and increasing premiums upon renewal.
Alternatives to Healthy Pets
If you aren't sure Healthy Pets is right for you, it might be worth considering alternatives like Petgevity* and the PDSA. We take a look at these Healthy Pets alternatives below.
Petgevity
While Petgevity* is a relatively newcomer to the pet insurance market, it offers policies for pre-existing conditions with no compulsory excess and no upper age limit for cover. There is also an optional co-payment to tailor the policy to suit your budget. Petgevity offers an attractive multi-pet discount and continuous cover when switching from another provider (terms apply). If your pet needs cover for a pre-existing condition or is older, Petgevity could be a good option. Petgevity only offer lifetime pet insurance which tends to be the most expensive as it is the most comprehensive. For more information read our independent Petgevity pet insurance review.
PDSA
The PDSA offers competitive lifetime and time-limited policies with a charitable contribution with every policy taken out. Their Lifetime £8,000 policy has a 5* Defaqto rating. Like Healthy Pets,there is an upper age limit when taking out an insurance policy for PDSA this is 8 years for dogs (5 years for selected breeds) and 8 years for cats and a compulsory co-payment of 20% when your pet reaches these ages. PDSA like Healthy Pets has a fixed excess and there is no optional co-payment to help reduce your annual premium. Check out our independent PDSA review here for more information.
Below, we compare the three pet insurance companies to help you decide which one fits your needs better.
Healthy Pets vs Petgevity vs PDSA
| Healthy Pets | Petgevity* | PDSA | |
| Policies offered | Lifetime & maximum benefit | Lifetime | Lifetime & time-limited |
| Option to pay no excess | No | Yes | No |
| Covers pre-existing conditions | No | Yes | No |
| Upper age limit for new policies | Yes | No | Yes |
| Compulsory co-payment | Lifetime policies - 20% for dogs 5 yrs and over and cats 7 yrs and over
Maximum benefit policies - 15% when pet reaches 5 years old |
No | 20% when your dog reaches 8 years old (some breeds 5 years old) and your cat 10 years old |
| Multi-pet discount | No | Yes | No |
| 24/7 Vet helpline | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Trustpilot score | 4.4 out of 5.0 | 4.4 out of 5.0 | 4.4 out of 5.0 |
| More information | Petgevity pet insurance review | PDSA pet insurance review |
Another way to compare pet insurance policies is via a comparison website such as MoneySuperMarket* as this allows you to compare multiple policies at once to find the best cover for your pet. One thing to consider, however, is that not all comparison sites are whole of market, which means you may get a better deal from another insurer that is not on the comparison site.
Healthy Pets pros and cons
Below, we sum up some of the pros and cons of taking out a policy through Healthy Pets.
Healthy Pets pros
- Insures pets from 5 weeks old with puppy and kitten insurance (for accidents only until 8 weeks)
- Low cost policies compared to others on the market
- Generous 20% introductory discount
Healthy Pets cons
- Compulsory co-payment from a younger age than competitors
- No multi-pet discount
- Upper age limit for pet cover
Summary
Healthy Pets is a well-established pet insurance brand with more than 25 years of experience in insuring cats and dogs. It has an "Excellent" Trustpilot score and offers a variety of policies designed to suit all budgets and needs and offers some of the cheaper premiums on the market. Although they do offer a generous 20% introductory discount so you must be ready for the premiums to significantly increase upon renewal.
Healthy Pets offer a choice of two types of insurance cover with a fixed excess, the maximum vet fee cover available with the lifetime insurance is £7,000 per year which is relatively low to competitors, such as Agria* and ManyPets who offer up to £20,000 per year. Healthy Pets won't cover older pets and implement a compulsory co-payment when your pet reaches a certain age (dependent on type of pet and type of policy) and these ages are quite low compared to other pet insurance providers. There is also no cover for pre-existing conditions.
As with all pet insurance policies it is advisable to shop around and check the terms and conditions to ensure you are getting the best cover for your pet. Our article, 'Best pet insurance in the UK' compares some of the best pet insurance providers in the UK.
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