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Frequently asked questions

  • A pre-existing condition is:

    • A condition that existed or occurred prior to the commencement date of your first policy period or within any applicable waiting period.
    • A condition that you or your vet were aware of, or a reasonable person in your circumstances would have been aware of.

    This is irrespective of whether the underlying or causative condition was diagnosed at the time.

    Whether it is a pre-existing condition will depend on its nature and experience. Outside of any applicable waiting period, if your Pet has a Temporary Condition that is considered to be a Pre-existing Condition (because it occurred or existed prior to the Commencement Date of the First Policy Period, or during any applicable Waiting Period, but that Condition has not existed, occurred or shown noticeable signs, symptoms or an abnormality in the 18-month period immediately prior to your claim Treatment date), it will no longer be excluded from Cover as a Pre-existing Condition. Chronic Conditions and several other specified Conditions cannot fall within this category. For more information please refer to the relevant Policy Booklet.

  • If your pet has had a temporary condition that was subject to the pre-existing condition exclusion, you can apply to have it reviewed.

    Your vet will need to certify and provide veterinary records verifying that the condition remains a temporary condition and has not existed, occurred or shown noticeable signs, symptoms or an abnormality for a period of 18 months. The pre-existing condition exclusion(s) will not be deemed to have been lifted unless agreed to by us in writing.

    You can download a copy of the Pre-existing Condition Review form here: rspcapetinsurance.org.au/useful-documents

    If your pet has a chronic condition that existed or occurred before the commencement date of your first policy period or during any applicable waiting period, that condition will always be excluded from your policy.

    For more information please refer to the relevant Policy Booklet.

  • Pet insurance can take care of the unexpected expenses that come with the unpredictable lives of cats and dogs. Thankfully, there are a range of different insurance options, from basic policies to comprehensive coverage. That means you can choose one that suits your budget and lifestyle.

  • With so many pet insurance options, the costs can vary depending on which policy you choose, the type of pet you have, it’s age and breed and whether it has been desexed. Get a quote from RSPCA Pet Insurance

  • Most traditional policies don't cover behavioural problems, elective treatments, procedures, food and diet, grooming and pregnancy. If a condition exists or occurs before the commencement date of the first policy period or within an applicable waiting period, it may be excluded from cover as a pre-existing condition. Whether that is the case will depend on the nature and experience of the condition, and some conditions are eligible for review after an 18-month period. For more information please refer to the relevant Policy Booklet.

  • Yes — as long as you continue to renew your policy with us each year and pay your premiums with no break in cover and we continue to offer the product, we will continue to provide cover for chronic, recurring or lifelong conditions such as cancer or arthritis. Benefits for these conditions, like any other, are subject to the annual policy limits and exclude some pre-existing conditions. For more information please refer to the relevant Policy Booklet.

  • All our pet insurance policies are available from 8 weeks of age and depending on the level of cover you choose, you can take out cover for your pet up until 16 years of age. Once your pet is covered with RSPCA Pet Insurance they can be covered for life (provided there is no break in their policy, we continue to offer the product and subject to the terms and conditions of the renewal policy).
    Note: Puppies and kittens under the age of 8 weeks are not able to be insured on any RSPCA Pet Insurance policy.

  • Yes, in line with the RSPCA’s policies we recommend and encourage responsible pet ownership. This includes desexing your dog or cat, microchipping and annual vaccinations. If you choose the RSPCA Ultimate or Ultimate Plus cover as well as the optional routine care options, you’ll receive benefits that cover part of the cost of these services, up to $80 a year.

  • Hereditary and congenital conditions will be eligible for cover if they have not shown noticeable signs, symptoms or an abnormality at any time before the Commencement Date of the first policy period or during any applicable waiting period.

  • Depending on the level of cover you choose, as well as the conditions and cover limits set out in the Certificate, you can receive up to 60%, 75% or 80% of your dog or cat’s eligible vet expenses.

  • Absolutely. With RSPCA Pet Insurance, you have the freedom to choose any vet currently registered to practice in Australia.

  • Yes. You can check the Pet Portal for a summary of your coverage or refer to your Policy Booklet and Certificate of Insurance for all your coverage information.

    Pre-approvals aren’t mandatory, but can provide you with additional reassurance, if you want to know if an upcoming or specific treatment for your pet will be covered, email us at claimreview@petsure.com.au with the following information:

    • Policy number or policy holder and pet name
    • Name of the condition being treated and the proposed procedure
    • Name of your regular vet and the vet where the procedure will take place
    • An itemised estimate of costs relating to the procedure (optional)

    Once we receive this information, you can expect to hear back from us within two business days.

    Note: A pre-approval will not be deemed to be valid unless we have agreed to it in writing. The reimbursed amount may vary from the pre-approval if the treatment provided by your vet differs from the treatment request in the pre-approval.

  • RSPCA Pet Insurance covers your dog or cat for a range of specified accidental injuries and illnesses. Depending on the level of cover you choose you can receive back a portion of vet expenses for things such as ear infections and bee stings, to major conditions such as broken bones, diabetes and cancer.

    By adding our optional routine care cover to your RSPCA Ultimate or Ultimate Plus cover policy, you can also cover your dog or cat for preventative care such as flea, tick and worm control, vaccinations and teeth cleaning for up to $80 a year.

  • You have an obligation-free, 30-day cooling-off period from the start date of your policy to review and cancel your policy if you choose to. If we have already received your premium, we will gladly give you a full refund within this period, as long as you haven’t submitted or received payment for any claims.

  • An illness means an unexpected sickness or disease, or any change to your dog or cat’s normal healthy state, such as an upset stomach, a skin condition or an ear infection, which is not caused by an accidental injury to your dog or cat.

  • Specified accidental injury cover includes coverage for physical harm or injury arising from an accident that is a consequence of or results in one of the following specified events:

    • A motor vehicle incident;
    • A burn or electrocution;
    • An allergic reaction to the following insect and arachnid bites;
    • A bone fracture;
    • A snake bite toxicity;
    • A traumatic ligament or tendon injury;
    • A bite wound or fight wound abscesses; or
    • Lacerations or abrasion of tissue, skin or mucous membrane due to external violence
  • As with most insurance products, there are certain situations in which you will not be covered. There are some general exclusions such as pre-existing conditions, dental procedures, fractured teeth, routine or preventative treatments (unless Routine Care cover is purchased, which provides a contribution up to the Routine Care limits), some elective treatments and procedures and breeding or obstetrics. There may also be specific exclusions which may apply to specific levels of cover.

  • Your policy will start at one minute to midnight (11.59pm) on the commencement date shown in your Certificate of Insurance. You can claim immediately for events covered under the accidental injury section of the policy, provided the accident occurred after the start date.

    You can claim for illnesses for your dog or cat that first occurred 30 days after the start date of the policy.

    For cruciate ligament conditions, regardless of what caused the condition, there is a waiting period of six months, beginning from the start date of the first policy period. You can apply to have this waiting period waived by completing the Cruciate Ligament Waiver Form.

  • You can apply for RSPCA Pet Insurance for any cat or dog that is aged between eight weeks (and depending on the level of cover you choose) up to sixteen years of age. Once your dog or cat is accepted, you can continue to cover them for life.

  • RSPCA Pet Insurance is issued by The Hollard Insurance Company and is distributed and promoted by Greenstone Financial Services Pty Ltd (GFS) and by its Authorised Representative (AR) RSPCA Australia. It is arranged and administered through PetSure (Australia) Pty Ltd.

    The RSPCA is Australia’s most recognised and best-loved animal welfare organisation, with a history stretching back more than 150 years. Our underwriting partner, The Hollard Insurance Company, is a member of the international Hollard Insurance Group, with 6.5 million policyholders worldwide. PetSure is the leading Australian Pet Insurance underwriting manager and administrator.

  • While rabbits can make great pets in some states, like Queensland, rabbit ownership is banned entirely. As such, you can’t insure — or even legally keep — rabbits in places like Brisbane.

    If you live in a state where a pet rabbit is legal, you can look into getting insurance through an ‘exotic pet’ plan. RSPCA Pet Insurance does not offer pet insurance for rabbits.

  • Pet insurance covers up to a set percentage of the cost of eligible vet bills when your animal friend is sick or injured. You choose your level of cover and then make payments — usually monthly — to your provider. When it’s time to make a claim, if your vet expense is covered under your policy, your insurer will cover a portion of the costs.

  • It’s often hard to know what’s wrong with our pets since they aren’t able to tell us how they are feeling. And vet bills can get very expensive for even the smallest issue. Pet insurance can provide peace of mind and cover a large portion of eligible vet bills — which is certainly worth it when the unexpected happens. Learn more

  • Standard pet insurance covers expenses due to specified accidental injuries and illnesses. For more comprehensive coverage, you can add optional Routine Care which provides cover for a range of preventative healthcare treatments up to a limit (such as desexing, teeth cleaning and vaccinations).

    It’s also important to know how your insurance provider treats pre-existing conditions. For more information please refer to the relevant Policy Booklet.

  • A waiting period is a period starting from the commencement date of the first policy period. If a condition exists or occurs during the waiting period, it will be considered a pre-existing condition and may be excluded from cover. For more information please refer to the relevant Policy Booklet. With RSPCA Pet Insurance the following waiting periods apply:

    • No waiting period for specified accidental injuries
    • 30 days for Illnesses
    • 6 months for cruciate ligament conditions
      (may be waived on application — refer to the relevant Policy Booklet for more information)
  • You can simply jump online and take your pick of a range of pet insurance providers. However, it’s important to do your research and find a policy that matches your — and your pet’s — lifestyle. Alternatively, you may wish to discuss pet insurance options with your local vet. Learn more

  • There is no pet insurance policy that covers everything. It is normal for insurers to include exclusions and limitations in their policy in order to make the cover affordable for a wide range of customers and to ensure that customers take prudent risk-reduction steps in addition to taking out insurance.

    However, if you are willing to pay high premiums on a monthly basis, you can choose from top-of-the-line insurance coverage from most pet insurance providers. Pet insurance can give you peace of mind that you won’t be out of pocket if your animal buddy is under the weather for an extended period. Learn more

  • Similar to other forms of insurance, anything that existed or you were aware of before your pet was insured is generally excluded from cover. Insurance policies are there to protect against the unexpected so for this reason, claims relating to pre-existing conditions are not covered. This helps keep coverage fair for all of our customers.

    However, we know that some conditions can genuinely be resolved or cured. So for that reason, pre-existing conditions are assessed differently depending on whether they are chronic conditions or temporary conditions for your pet.

    For more information please refer to the relevant Policy Booklet.

  • If your dog or cat 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.

    Whether it is a pre-existing condition will depend on its nature and experience. If your pet has a temporary condition that has not existed, occurred or shown noticeable signs, symptoms or an abnormality in the 18-month period immediately prior to your claim treatment date, it will no longer be excluded from cover as a pre-existing condition. Chronic Conditions and several other specified Conditions cannot fall within this category. For more information please refer to the relevant Policy Booklet.

  • Pet insurance is a way to protect your animal’s health and wellbeing now and into the future. For a regular payment (called premiums), you can claim back a set percentage of certain eligible expenses incurred for the treatment of your pet. It’s a way to save on expensive vet bills should the unexpected happen.

  • Most pet insurance policies cover cats and dogs, however other animals can be covered on special pet insurance policies.

  • Cataracts are an unfortunate part of life for many animals, especially dogs and cats. If your furry friend has eye issues and needs to undergo cataract surgery, you may be covered under your current plan — so long as it’s not a pre-existing condition. Check your policy’s PDS for confirmation.

  • The great thing about pet insurance is the incredible range of choice. If you want to switch providers, you can do so whenever you please — just be aware there may be waiting periods with your new insurer. There are also risks associated with changing policies as your new insurer may consider a condition your pet has already suffered as a pre-existing condition, while your current insurer may cover it.

    Alternatively you might want to upgrade your current policy and stay with the same provider, in which case there may be no additional waiting periods.

  • If you’re unhappy with your current pet insurance plan, or simply want to upgrade it to a better policy, all you need to do is contact your current provider and go through the necessary steps to switch out your pet insurance policy for a new one.

  • Generally speaking most pet insurance does not cover dental costs. However, a routine care plan which is available on some policies, may provide some cover for this cost. It’s important to speak with your provider to find out which policies cover dental.

  • Hip dysplasia is an unfortunate problem for a lot of animals — especially as our pets get into old age. While some pet insurance policies will cover the associated costs of hip dysplasia, many will require you to be on a higher plan to make a claim. Research with your current provider to see if your policy covers hip dysplasia.

  • Luxating patella is a common condition where your animal’s kneecaps dislocate suddenly or don’t stay in the correct place. While many premium policies will cover luxating patella, it’s important to verify this with your provider to ensure you are on the right plan.

  • Routine desexing is an elective procedure and is a general exclusion under most policies. Under some policies, you can opt to have routine care which provides cover for desexing up to a limit.

    Desexing procedures that are required to treat your pet’s reproductive organs due to inflammation, infection or cancer are generally covered under illness cover.

  • Pregnancy in your pet and all associated costs that come with it are generally not covered as standard in pet insurance policies. If you’re unsure of what coverage you have, speak with your provider and they will direct you to the appropriate coverage.

  • Preventative care for your pets can involve a number of things, such as tick medication, vaccinations and general day-to-day care. Pet insurance generally provides cover for unexpected specified accidental injuries and illnesses only, and preventative treatments are excluded (particularly under basic plans).

    Under some policies, you can opt to have routine care which provides cover for specified preventative care up to a limit.

  • Teeth cleaning falls into the dental care category and is not generally covered in basic plans. You may decide to take out a policy that covers dental treatments such as teeth cleaning, so be sure to speak to your provider to find out what is covered.

  • Pet insurance generally provides cover for unexpected accidents and illnesses only, and preventative treatments are excluded (particularly under basic plans). If you would like to know whether your plan allows you to claim on yearly vaccination expenses, speak to your provider who will discuss what you are covered for.

    Under some policies, you can opt to have routine care which provides cover for specified preventative care (including vaccinations) up to a limit.

  • GapOnly® allows your vet to lodge your claim during your visit, which is assessed in approximately 10 minutes. Once the claim for your insured pet has been processed and a benefit outcome is calculated, you simply pay the gap2. That’s the difference between the vet’s invoice and your insurance benefit amount, so you don’t need to worry about being out of pocket while your claim is being processed.

  • Firstly, check that your vet is enabled by visiting gaponly.com.au. If they are, simply let your vet know that you’d like to submit a GapOnly® claim the next time you are there. To minimise delays, it’s best to let your vet know that you intend to make a GapOnly® claim as early as possible so they can prepare your claim ahead of time.

  • You can request a pre-approval (from any participating vet practice) prior to your pet's treatment, or have your claim processed ahead of picking up your pet from the vet. Pre-approvals can be lodged Monday — Friday 8:00am — 8:00pm, and Saturday 8:00am — 5:00pm AEST (excluding NSW public holidays).

  • You can contact your current vet and ask if they offer GapOnly®, or simply visit gaponly.com.au.

  • When GapOnly® isn’t available, an electronic pet insurance claim can either be made online by your treating vet or you can submit the claim yourself via our online pet portal. Claims would then be assessed and paid in the form of reimbursement of any eligible vet bill.

  • If the claims assessment concludes a $0 benefit, you will need to pay your vet for the full invoice amount. If you’re not totally happy with the outcome of a claim decision, we will do our best to work with you to resolve it. You can get in touch with us by calling one of our trained consultants on 1300 881 492. Alternatively, you can put your concerns in writing to:

    RSPCA Pet Insurance

    Locked Bag No. 9021
    Castle Hill NSW 1765

    Or fax: 1300 738 979
    Or email: claimreview@petsure.com.au

    Remember to provide us with your name, policy number and full details relating to your concerns. Further detailed information about our complaints process can also be found in your Policy Booklet.

  • GapOnly® claims are available at participating vets Monday — Friday 8:00am — 8:00pm, and Saturday 8:00am — 5:00pm AEST (excluding NSW public holidays). When GapOnly® isn’t available, your vet may be able to submit an electronic pet insurance claim instead.

  • A GapOnly® claim made in a vet clinic will take around 10 minutes to process. If the claim is likely to take a little longer, the vet clinic staff will let you know so you can decide whether you’d like to wait or not. If you’re not able to wait, you will be required to pay your vet the full invoice amount so your vet clinic can adjust your GapOnly® claim to a standard electronic claim, and your insurance provider will consider the claim and reimburse you the calculated benefit of an eligible vet bill.

  • GapOnly® works in partnership with participating vets, and as long as your vet is GapOnly® enabled, you can use it for all eligible vet fees covered in your policy.

  • Yes, you can ask your vet to submit a GapOnly® claim so you don’t have to wait for your claim to be processed when you pick up your pet. Simply let your vet know when you drop off your pet that you’d like them to submit a GapOnly® claim for your pet’s treatment and, if available, they can arrange this for you.

  • So long as there are no pre-existing conditions that may be relevant to anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries, most pet insurance coverage will take care of a portion of your pet’s ACL expenses. However, do note that most providers required a six-month waiting period for ACL injuries.

  • Many pet insurance policies cover allergy-related expenses such as allergic reactions to insects, food allergies and contact allergies.

    There is generally a 30-day waiting period that applies to allergies, unless it falls under one of the specified events under specified accidental injury cover. For more information please refer to the relevant Policy Booklet.

  • Blood and intradermal allergy testing is generally covered under illness cover, as long as it doesn’t relate to a pre-existing condition or exclusion. If your vet recommends DNA testing, please note genetic/chromosome testing is a general exclusion.

  • Depending on the level of cover you choose, your pet may be covered for expenses associated with cataract surgery. Your pet insurance provider and the relevant Policy Booklet will explain in detail all coverage related to eye surgeries.

  • No, typically declawing is recognised as an elective (i.e. non-essential) procedure and will not be covered under most pet insurance policies.

  • That depends on when you took out your pet insurance. Some providers will cover expenses related to diabetes in your pet so long as it wasn't a pre-existing condition at the time of taking out the policy. Be sure to discuss any diabetes-related issues with your provider so you understand what you are covered for.

  • Most pet insurance policies will cover elbow dysplasia so long as the condition is diagnosed after taking out a policy and after any waiting periods. Check with your provider if there are any age limits to certain issues like dysplasia.

  • Foxtails can agitate your pet and lead to more serious health issues. Most pet insurance policies will cover foxtails and other outdoor-related issues, so long as you have the correct level of coverage and the incident isn't related to any pre-existing conditions.

  • Pet insurance generally provides cover for unexpected specified accidental injuries and illnesses only, and preventative treatments are excluded (particularly under basic plans).

    Under some policies, you can opt to have routine care which provides cover for specified preventative care (including heartworm control) up to a limit.

  • As long as the condition is not pre-existing at the time of taking out a pet insurance policy, your animal may be covered for hip dysplasia treatments. Be sure to check your PDS to know which procedures are considered elective and therefore not covered under your plan.

  • Depending on your provider and your current level of pet insurance policy, you may be covered for injuries and treatments related to luxating patella. It's important to check your PDS for clarification and to speak with your provider if you are unsure, or if it's related to a pre-existing condition

  • It may be necessary for your vet or a medical specialist to conduct an MRI on your pet. If this is the case and it's not related to a pre-existing condition, your policy will likely cover a portion of the costs for an MRI – so long as you have the appropriate level of coverage and it is not an elective procedure.

  • Spaying is not considered an essential procedure in most pet insurance policies, so it's usually not covered. You may speak with your provider to see if you can purchase an optional benefit to cover spaying expenses.

  • Many surgeries and associated expenses are covered under pet insurance plans. However non-essential and elective procedures are not. You should ensure your coverage includes benefits for surgeries.

  • Yes, so long as the issue is not related to a pre-existing condition and the x-ray itself is not an elective decision, most pet insurance plans will cover a portion of x-ray expenses as part of their standard 'treatment' coverage.

  • Our pets' lives are often unpredictable, and when the unexpected happens it can end up costing Australians thousands (or more) in vet expenses. Pet insurance eases the burden and means you can be properly covered for any of your pet's accidents or injuries. Get a quote today.

  • In the general sense, yes you can get pet insurance at any time, so long as your pet is at least eight weeks old. If — after any waiting periods have expired — your pet requires surgery, your pet insurance may cover a portion of those expenses.

    However, if you know that your pet requires surgery and you take out cover in advance of this, you will generally not be eligible for a claim as the insurer will deem this to be a pre-existing condition.

    To speak to your provider for more information regarding your policy contact 1300 881 492.

  • You can apply for pet insurance as long as your pet is over 8 weeks old and younger than 9 years for RSPCA Economy, Ultimate and Ultimate Plus Cover and under 16 years for RSPCA General Cover. Once your pet is accepted and as long as you continue to renew your policy, your pet will be covered for eligible Vet Expense.

  • Because a dog's life is unpredictable at the best of times, it's absolutely worth getting pet insurance from the earliest age possible. Your furry friend's health and wellbeing will be protected by top-quality coverage, and you'll have peace of mind knowing you're financially covered in the event of an accident or illness. Get a quote today.

  • Owning a pet and all the expenses that come with it are considered private costs and therefore not able to be deducted under Australian tax law.

  • While a deductible is the amount you'll have to pay (out of pocket) before your pet insurance coverage kicks in, the premium is the amount you pay in order to maintain that coverage.

    Premiums are typically monthly repayments and they scale according to the amount of coverage you've chosen for your pet.

  • Whether your pet has an accident with a car, is injured in a park incident or simply contracts an illness that requires multiple vet visits, pet insurance can ease the burden of those expenses.

    There are a huge number of treatments that fall under standard pet insurance, so it's an important part of owning a dog or cat — not just for your animal's continued wellbeing, but for your peace of mind as well.

  • New policies

    Your premium is calculated using a combination of factors about you and your pet. These factors can affect the premium amount up or down depending upon whether we believe it increases or decreases the risk to us, such as the cover you have chosen, the benefit percentage applicable to the cover you have chosen, the species, breed and age of your pet and other factors related to our cost of doing business.

    Renewing policies

    Factors that are taken into consideration for renewal premium calculation include your pet’s age and breed, as well as data relating to the health of pets that are of a similar age and breed. Each year we review premiums based on these factors to ensure we can accommodate the costs of possible treatment up to your annual benefit limit, in the event that your pet becomes injured or ill.

  • Yes, your premium will increase each year. This is for two main reasons:

    Reason #1: Just like humans, the older our pets get, the more likely they are to have health hiccups. Cats and dogs age faster than we do, which means that their likely veterinary treatment costs go up rapidly each year too. As a result, the cost of insuring your pet will also increase as they get older.

    Reason #2: Advancements in Veterinary Treatments. The overall cost of medical treatment for pets has increased in recent years due to the increased availability of medical treatments and technology-enabled services and ongoing demand for these services. The treatment options and advancements in technology are providing us with great opportunities to give our pets a great quality of life for longer. While this is great news for the care of our pets, these treatments come at a significant cost. Year on year treatment costs increase, and this is factored into the cost of pet insurance.

    Please see ‘How do you calculate my premium’ for more information about calculation of premiums.

  • Every year, we review the cost of everyone’s insurance with regards to a combination of factors. This includes increases in our claims costs due to increases in the range of available veterinary procedures, or due to an increased take-up of those services.

    Your premium takes into account the average cost of care for pets like yours. To provide an example of this, a pet parent with a three-year-old French Bulldog will be affected by the trends we see in our data from hundreds of three-year-old French Bulldogs that we insure.

  • No. Pet insurance does not work like health insurance. Health insurance is ‘community rated’, which means that everyone pays the same premium for their health insurance regardless of their individual health status, age or claims history. This is not the case for pet insurance.

    Health insurance providers are able to community rate health insurance because there are many other factors at play in the human health care system, such as Medicare and government rebates and subsidies, which is not the case with veterinary care and pet insurance.

    Pet insurance claim reimbursements are paid for purely by the premiums received by those who insure their pets. In order for each person to pay a fair price for their pet insurance, premiums vary depending on your and your pet’s risk factors.

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