In this review, we explore Petsure's* pet insurance policies, including the types of policies you can choose from, the level of cover you can expect, estimated premium costs and other key features. We also compare Petsure to other alternatives including ManyPets*.
What is Petsure pet insurance?
Petsure launched in 2021 with a very specific goal in mind - create inclusive pet insurance for cats and dogs regardless of their age or pre-existing medical conditions. They offer special policies that cover pre-existing conditions with no upper age limit.
All Petsure policies come with free, unlimited access to FirstVet which includes 24/7 video consultations with a UK-based vet. Owners also get access to BlueCross to help with emotional support in the event of a pet's death. Its lifetime pet insurance policy is 5-star Defaqto rated if you select vet fees over £4,000.
Key features
Here's a quick overview of Petsure's pet insurance policies and what it offers:
- Lifetime cover for your cat or dog
- Possible cover for pre-existing conditions (assessed on a case-by-case basis)
- No upper age limit for pet insurance policies
- No compulsory excess regardless of the pet's age
- Vet fees cover up to £15,000
- Optional add-ons like dental illness and farewell cover
- Insure up to 8 pets with its customisable multi-pet policies
Policy types
Petsure's core offering is a lifetime policy for cats and dogs with no upper age limit. Lifetime pet insurance policies are considered the most comprehensive on the market. As long as you renew your policy every year, your pet will be insured for its whole life and for any new conditions that occur.
As part of the lifetime policy, Petsure may also insure your pet for certain pre-existing conditions that they have, even if they're still experiencing symptoms and taking medications. We look at this in more detail below.
Petsure doesn't offer time-limited policies. Time-limited policies tend to be cheaper, but the plans only cover your pets for accidents and illnesses that happen during the specified time limit. So, for example, if your pet is injured during the duration of the time-limited policy and you have 6 months left on your policy, your pet will only be covered for those remaining 6 months. If they need treatment after your time-limited policy lapses, you'll need to cover the costs yourself or find alternative cover.
What is Petsure's pre-existing conditions policy?
Petsure is committed to considering cover for any pre-existing condition that your pet might have. In the past, it has covered pets with the following pre-existing conditions:
- Abscesses
- Arthritis
- Bronchitis
- FIV
You'll be considered for cover for a pre-existing policy as part of getting a quote. When you fill out the form on Petsure's website, you'll need to declare any medical conditions your pet has had in the last two years. If it can cover your pet for the condition you've listed, it'll offer you a transparent quote. You can then decide whether you wish to purchase a policy which includes that pre-existing condition, or whether you wish to exclude it.
If Petsure agrees to cover the pre-existing condition, your pet can get lifetime pet insurance with up to £15,000 vet fee coverage. The full vet fee limit can typically be used for most pre-existing conditions that you've declared and that Petsure has agreed to cover. The pre-existing conditions policy will also pay out if the condition worsens or if your pet develops new symptoms as a result of the condition.
This pre-existing conditions policy applies to older pets as well. You won't be required to make any compulsory co-payments even if your pet is on the older end and has specific pre-existing conditions.
There are, however, some exclusions to the pre-existing conditions policy that you'll need to be aware of. These include:
- Maintenance treatment for pre-existing conditions - this means you typically won't be able to claim for things like repeat prescriptions or planned consultations that you knew about when you took out cover with Petsure.
- Undiagnosed conditions - if your pet's symptoms still haven't been diagnosed when you take out cover, then Petsure typically won't cover the condition.
- Pending surgery - if your pet is about to have surgery for a pre-existing condition when you take out a Petsure policy, this typically won't be covered under the policy.
The good news is that if your pet is prescribed new medication or therapies for a pre-existing condition that Petsure has agreed to insure, then this should be covered under your policy.
What does Petsure pet insurance cover?
Petsure's standard lifetime pet insurance policies cover the following:
- Vet fees ranging between £1,000 to £15,000 depending on the level of cover you require
- Third-Party liability for dogs up to £2,000,000
- Emergency care up to £1,500
- Up to 12 sessions per year of behavioural treatment or complementary therapy
Petsure pet insurance add-ons
You can also include a range of add-ons to your policy when you request a quote or further down the line if you choose to do so. Some of the add-ons include:
- Dental illness add-on - This provides dental cover for your pet as a result of an accident or illness.
- Farewell add-on - This provides compensation if your pet dies. Cremation or burial costs up to £250 are also included
- Missing pet add-on - This provides compensation if your pet goes missing or is stolen and you offer a reward.
- Travel and holiday add-on - This provides cover if you take your pet abroad and it also covers you if you need to cancel your trip or cut it short due to your pet.
When you request a quote, you'll be able to see the price of each add-on per month and decide whether to add it to your policy. The exact price of the add-on will vary depending on several factors such as the level of vet fee cover you've selected, the voluntary excess, and the optional bill share percentage.
Petsure pet insurance policy exclusions
Petsure's pet insurance policies come with certain exclusions that you may need to consider. These include:
- Pre-existing conditions that weren't declared or that Petsure hasn't explicitly agreed to cover
- Death due to accidental injury that happens within 2 days of taking out the policy
- Vet fees for treatment for symptoms that develop within 14 days of taking out the policy
- Claims for loss, theft, or straying if your pet goes missing within 14 days of taking out the policy
It's worth keeping in mind that the latter three exclusions only apply if your pet wasn't insured prior to taking out the policy. If this is a renewal, or if your pet was insured and you're simply switching providers with no gap in cover, then your pet will still be covered.
How much does Petsure pet insurance cost?
The cost to cover a pet with Petsure will be based on several factors including their breed, age, and any pre-existing conditions they may have.
Petsure provides an easy online form that can be filled out in minutes to give you an indication of the costs you might face depending on your pet's circumstances. Below, we've looked at the costs you might expect to pay in a few different scenarios.
Cost to cover a 6-year-old dog with no pre-existing conditions
We obtained a quote for a 6-year old dog with no pre-existing conditions. As part of this, we included information about our dog's breed, address, and gender. We also filled out a declaration stating that our dog has had no pre-existing conditions.
The table below illustrates what your premiums could look like if you choose to cover a 6-year-old dog with no pre-existing conditions with Petsure.
| Vet fee cover per year | Voluntary excess | Bill share | Monthly premium for a healthy dog |
| £3,000 | £0 | 0% | £29.78 |
| £3,000 | £200 | 10% | £14.53 |
| £5,000 | £0 | 0% | £36.08 |
| £5,000 | £200 | 10% | £17.60 |
| £10,000 | £0 | 0% | £50.41 |
| £10,000 | £200 | 10% | £24.59 |
These quotes are correct as of May 2024.
Cost to cover a 6-year old dog with Arthritis
We obtained a quote for a 6-year old crossbreed with Arthritis via the Petsure portal. As part of this, we filled in a standard form and then we completed a medical form where we indicated that our pet has had a flare-up and has had medication for her condition in the last 12 months. However, we also indicated that she hasn't had surgery and has since lost weight on her vet's recommendation. Based on this information, Petsure was able to offer us a quote which included cover for our pet's Arthritis condition.
Petsure doesn't require pet owners to pay a compulsory excess or a co-payment towards vet bills. But, your monthly premium will be higher if you opt out of a voluntary excess or bill share.
The table below shows what your premiums could look like to cover a six-year-old crossbreed with Arthritis depending on your cover choices.
| Vet fee cover per year | Voluntary excess | Bill share | Monthly premium for a dog with Arthritis |
| £3,000 | £0 | 0% | £83.50 |
| £3,000 | £200 | 10% | £40.72 |
| £5,000 | £0 | 0% | £101.16 |
| £5,000 | £200 | 10% | £49.33 |
| £10,000 | £0 | 0% | £141.33 |
| £10,000 | £200 | 10% | £68.93 |
These quotes are correct as of May 2024.
Cost to cover a 4-year-old cat with no pre-existing conditions
We requested a quote for a 4-year-old Moggie with no pre-existing conditions. As part of this, we had to fill out a simple online form with details about our cat's age, gender, and whether she's purebred or not. We were also asked to declare whether she's spayed and neutered and whether she has pre-existing conditions.
| Vet fee cover per year | Voluntary excess | Bill share | Monthly premium for a healthy cat |
| £3,000 | £0 | 0% | £17.86 |
| £3,000 | £200 | 10% | £9.18 |
| £5,000 | £0 | 0% | £21.22 |
| £5,000 | £200 | 10% | £10.91 |
| £10,000 | £0 | 0% | £27.07 |
| £10,000 | £200 | 10% | £13.92 |
These quotes are correct as of May 2024.
Cost to cover a 4-year-old cat with Arthritis
We requested a quote for a 4-year-old moggie with Arthritis via the Petsure portal. As part of this, we filled in a standard form and then we completed a medical form where we indicated that our pet has had a flare-up and has had medication for her condition in the last 12 months. We also declared that she hasn't had surgery and has since lost weight on her vet's recommendation.
Based on this information, Petsure was able to offer us a quote which included cover for our cat's Arthritis. While Petsure doesn't require owners to pay a compulsory excess or co-payment towards the vet's bills, opting for a voluntary excess or bill share can lower your premium. The table below sums up what your premiums could look like depending on your cover choices.
| Vet fee cover per year | Voluntary excess | Bill share | Monthly premium for a cat with arthritis |
| £3,000 | £0 | 0% | £58.97 |
| £3,000 | £200 | 10% | £30.32 |
| £5,000 | £0 | 0% | £70.08 |
| £5,000 | £200 | 10% | £36.04 |
| £10,000 | £0 | 0% | £89.40 |
| £10,000 | £200 | 10% | £45.97 |
These quotes are correct as of May 2024.
How do I make a claim with Petsure pet insurance?
Making a claim with Petsure is relatively straightforward. All you need to do is:
- Login to My Petsure and go to the claims section or call the claims team on 0333 009 0998.
- Complete your claim and attach any relevant invoices as well as your vet's details if applicable.
The Petsure team will contact your vet and process the claim with them. It will then either pay the money owed to the vet directly or send you the money minus any agreed-upon voluntary excess and bill share payments.
Petsure customer reviews
In 2024, Petsure is ranked "Excellent" on Trustpilot with a score of 4.7 out of 5.0 based on more than 3,100 reviews. Approximately 84% of reviewers gave Petsure a 5-star review, citing its quick account setup, competitive prices, and smooth claims process. Approximately 4% of reviewers gave it a 1-star ranking citing issues with customer service and individual cases where certain pre-existing conditions were excluded despite Petsure's mission to create an inclusive pet policy.
Alternatives to Petsure
If you aren't certain that Petsure is right for you, you might want to consider alternatives like ManyPets* or the PDSA. You can also find the most competitive pet insurance deals on comparison websites such as Quotezone* and MoneySuperMarket*. With comparison sites, you can look at a few different providers and ensure you're getting the best value for your money.
ManyPets
Like Petsure, ManyPets* offers cover for pre-existing conditions and has no upper age limit when it comes to insuring pets. ManyPets' policies come with "pet perks" such as discounted flea, tick and worming treatments, for example. You could also get access to free pet sitters through ManyPets. In 2024, Manypets' Trustpilot rating is 4.0 out of 5.0 based on more than 16,000 reviews. Find out more about ManyPets in our independent review.
PDSA
Unlike ManyPets and Petsure, the PDSA doesn't offer cover for pre-existing conditions. It also won't insure older pets. However, it does offer time-limited policies which might be of interest to some pet owners. It also claims to pay out 98% of all claims within 5 working days. In 2024, the PDSA is rated 4.5 out of 5.0 on Trustpilot. This score is based on more than 750 reviews. You can find out more about the PDSA in our independent review.
Petsure vs ManyPets vs PDSA
The table below sums up the key features of each policy to help you decide which one might work better for you.
| Petsure* | ManyPets* | PDSA | |
| Offers lifetime policies |  |
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| Offers time-limited policies |  |
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| No compulsory excess | |
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| Covers pre-existing conditions | |
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| Covers older pets | |
|
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| Offers vet video calls | |
|
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| Trustpilot score | 4.7 out of 5.0 based on 3,100+ reviews | 4.0 out of 5.0 based on 19,000+ reviews | 4.5 out of 5.0 based on 890+ reviews |
Petsure pros and cons
There's lots to love about Petsure's pet insurance policies, but there are also some drawbacks you need to think about as well. See below for an overview of the key pros and cons of Petsure's policies.
Petsure pros
- Cover for some pre-existing conditions
- No compulsory excess regardless of your pet's age
- No upper age limit for insuring pets
Petsure cons
- No time-limited policies are available
- Doesn't offer cover for undiagnosed symptoms before taking out a policy
- Doesn't offer cover for prescriptions and therapies before taking out a policy
Summary
Petsure* is a great option for pet owners who are looking for cover for pre-existing conditions for their older pets. There is no upper age limit for insuring pets with Petsure. The company's commitment to inclusivity means that pet owners won't face a compulsory co-payment or excess. They can opt for a voluntary excess to lower their monthly premium if they choose to do so.
But, pet owners need to be aware that Petsure only offers lifetime policies. Those looking for time-limited policies may need to look elsewhere. While Petsure offers cover for pre-existing conditions, this is assessed on a case-by-case basis and exclusions apply.
If you want to take a look at other pet insurance options before deciding whether Petsure's right for you, make sure to check out the best pet insurance policies in the UK in 2024.
If a link has an * beside it this means that it is an affiliated link. If you go via the link, Money to the Masses may receive a small fee which helps keep Money to the Masses free to use. The following link can be used if you do not wish to help Money to the Masses or take advantage of any exclusive offers - Petsure, ManyPets, MoneySuperMarket
