What does low-priced pet insurance for a microchipped dog leave out?

Today the lowest price on this page is S$310.67, from Etiqa. Six insurers price a microchipped dog aged 8 weeks to 9 years with no known conditions. Prices run from S$310.67 to S$1,471.50 today. These are the example's prices, not what you will pay, and a low price can come with less cover.

What the example assumes

The price page prices one example. It is a microchipped dog aged 8 weeks to 9 years, with no known conditions. Your own dog may differ, and so may your quote.

Today 6 insurers price this example. You can see every plan on the price page for this dog. It ranks plans by premium or by a value score. Each priced plan has a Buy Now link, so you can buy through Shenton once you have compared them.

A dog without a microchip is priced on its own page: dog, not microchipped.

What moves the price for a microchipped dog

The gap between the lowest and highest price is wide. Several things sit behind it:

• The excess. This is the part of each claim you pay first.
• The vet bill limit. Plans cap what they pay for accidents, illness and surgery.
• Liability cover. Some plans include third-party liability if your dog hurts someone or damages property.
• Add-ons. Cremation or burial costs and boarding fees if you are in hospital may be included, limited or left out.
• Your dog's details. Age, breed and health history all feed into the quote.

Two plans with a similar price can still differ on these points. Two plans with a big price gap often do too.

What the lowest-priced plans usually trim

A low premium has to come from somewhere. Three places are common. Check each one in the plan's policy wording.

A higher excess

A higher excess lowers the premium, but you pay more on every claim. On a small vet bill, you may pay all of it yourself. Ask how the excess applies: per claim, per condition or per year.

Lower limits

A lower limit caps what the insurer pays for vet bills. Surgery is where limits matter most. Look at the limit for one illness and the limit for the whole year. Also check whether surgery has its own cap.

Fewer add-ons

The site lists four things pet insurance can cover: vet bills, third-party liability, cremation or burial, and boarding fees. A lower-priced plan may offer only some of them, or pay less on them. If liability matters to you, confirm it is there.

What pet insurance does not cover, whatever the price

Some exclusions apply however much you pay. The site lists these for pet insurance:

• Conditions your dog already had before cover started
• Routine care such as vaccinations, grooming and neutering
• Breeding, pregnancy and birth
• Restricted breeds, for example Akitas and Pit Bull types

The example assumes no known conditions. If your dog has had a health problem, a plan may treat it as pre-existing. A higher price will not change that. Read the exclusions before you compare premiums.

When paying more is worth it, and when it is not

A lower-priced plan is better for an owner who wants cover against a large, sudden bill and can pay smaller bills from savings. Accepting a higher excess and fewer add-ons fits that choice.

A higher-priced plan is better for an owner who wants more of each bill paid and more items covered. This can include liability, boarding and cremation. It may also suit someone who cannot easily pay a large vet bill in one go.

A higher price is not worth it if the extras do not apply to you. For example, you may already have a boarding arrangement and not need that cover. A higher price is also not worth it if it buys cover for things every plan excludes.

The price page does not say which plan suits you. It shows the premiums and lets you compare the terms.

How to compare like for like

A premium on its own tells you little. Follow these steps so you compare the same things.

1. Start with the same example. Use the price page so each plan prices the same dog.
2. Compare the excess. Note the amount and how it applies.
3. Compare the vet bill limits. Check the yearly limit and any separate limit for surgery.
4. Check liability. See whether it is included and what it pays for.
5. Check the add-ons. Look at cremation or burial, and boarding fees.
6. Read the exclusions. Look at pre-existing conditions, routine care, breeding and restricted breeds.
7. Then compare premiums. Use the premium order or the value score to narrow the list.

For more on how claims work, see claims. For other pet plans, see the pet insurance page.

Frequently asked questions

How many insurers price pet insurance for a microchipped dog?

Today 6 insurers price this example. It is a microchipped dog aged 8 weeks to 9 years with no known conditions. The price page lists each plan.

What is the price range today?

Today the prices run from S$310.67 to S$1,471.50. These figures are for the example only. Your own quote can differ with your dog's details.

Does a low price mean worse cover?

Not always, but it can. A lower premium may come with a higher excess, lower limits or fewer add-ons. Check these terms before you compare the premiums.

Does pet insurance cover vaccinations or neutering?

No. The site lists routine care such as vaccinations, grooming and neutering as not covered. Conditions your dog had before cover started are also not covered.

Compare pet insurance for dog, microchipped today

The prices on this page update daily. See every plan priced for dog, microchipped, ranked by premium, with what the example assumes, or get a quote with your own details through Shenton Brokers.