Is cat insurance worth it?
Is cat insurance worth it?
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The benefits on this page apply to policies taken out after 10 July 2022. See your policy documents for full benefits and exclusions. |
John Lewis Pet Insurance rated by experts
We pay 96% of claims within 5 days
(Average claims data from November 2023 to October 2024)
Defaqto 5 Star Rating applies to vet fee limits of £5,000, £7,500, £9,000 & £12,000
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What’s included in our Cat Insurance?
Cats bring so much joy to our lives, so naturally we want the best care for them. That’s why John Lewis Pet Insurance is only available as a lifetime policy. It’s packed with benefits to help you keep on top of your cat’s health, giving you the freedom to focus on their happiness. You can choose a level of vet fee cover that suits your cat's needs when you get a quote.
Enjoy these benefits:
Annual online health checks
From home, or wherever you choose. You can schedule an annual consultation with a veterinary specialist at vetfone™. It’s a convenient service that complements your in-person vet check-ups.
Find out more about annual health checks
Lifetime cover
If your cat develops a long-term illness, they can be taken care of for life. Just as long as you renew your policy with John Lewis and there is no break in cover.
Learn about lifetime cover
24/7 vetfone™ helpline
Got a question about your cat's health or behaviour? For expert advice call the vetfone™ helpline. It comes as part of your policy and you can use the service as often as you want.
Read more about vetfone™
Dental treatment
John Lewis comprehensive cat insurance provides cover for accidental dental care and illness. This includes tooth decay, gum disease and post-illness teeth removal.³
If you are an existing customer, check your policy document to see if this benefit is included.Lifetime cover also includes:
What's not included with John Lewis Pet Insurance?
Treatment for any pre-existing medical conditions, illness or injuries that occurred or first showed signs before your policy started
Vet fees following an accident in the first 48 hours of your cover start date
Changes to your pet's health or behaviour in the first 14 days of your cover start date
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Choose from six levels of vet fee cover
Every pet is different. But this shouldn’t affect the quality of care your cat has access to. You can choose a level of vet fee cover that suits your cat's needs when you get a quote. Whichever level you choose, you’ll still receive the full range of benefits.
The six levels of vet fee cover:
Plus, we offer excess options to suit your budget, helping you reduce your premium costs without any loss of cover:
- Increasing your excess on claims - you can choose an excess (ranging from £60 to £500) to pay each time you claim. By paying more when you claim, it enables us to bring your annual premium down.
- Contribute to your vet fees - if your pet is under nine years old, there is a voluntary option to pay either 10% or 20% towards the rest of the vet treatment costs. This in addition to your chosen excess amount, which can reduce the cost of your premium payments. Once your pet turns 9, a 20% co-payment will apply in addition to your chosen fixed excess.
Top tips for new cat owners
We have put together a series of guides to help you care for your new cat at all stages of their life.
Unlimited access to veterinary experts
Existing policy holders can book an appointment by calling the vetfone™ helpline on 0800 316 7119 (24 hours a day, 365 days a year). Calls may be recorded or monitored, and charges will vary.
Save money with a multi-pet discount
Lots of pets in the family? You can add multiple pets to one policy to get a 10% discount on your premium. That means your one cat insurance policy can work for several kitties.
Common questions cat owners asked us:
It’s estimated that there are around 11 million pet cats in the UK – that’s a lot of cats. But many of their owners do not have cat insurance. This means they’ll need to pay vet bills when their cat falls ill or has an accident.
John Lewis Cat Insurance is designed to reassure you that you're financially protected if the unexpected happens.
For full details of coverage please review the policy document.
Your cover can start when your kitten turns eight weeks old. Taking out cat insurance as early as possible can help you prepare for any unexpected illnesses or injuries.
No, your kitten’s vaccinations are regarded as routine treatments, which aren’t covered under our policy.
It’s important to keep up to date with their vaccinations as they grow. They not only help to keep your cat healthy, but can also save you from future treatment costs. Illnesses that can be prevented by vaccinations are not covered if your pet is not up to date with their vaccinations.
No, your cat’s insurance is there to help when injury or illness happens unexpectedly. Procedures like neutering or spaying are considered routine.
Cats are vulnerable to getting sick just like us or any other animal. Old age brings the kinds of challenges you’d expect, like thyroid and kidney issues.
Understanding these realities is why John Lewis Pet Insurance only offers lifetime cover. The length of treatment your cat receives won’t be limited, as long as your policy remains with John Lewis and there’s no break in cover.
Through John Lewis, your cat receives lifetime cover. This means they’ll be covered for ongoing conditions, as well as one-off mishaps. Like most things, the cost of this is likely to increase over time.
According to our claims data, the cost of looking after your cat's health doubles every four to five years. So, to keep giving them the care they need, it’s normal to expect the cost of your premium to increase as your cat ages.
How much your premium goes up can vary, and depends on several factors such as your cat’s breed, age and health. Changing insurers could leave you out of pocket if the new policy doesn’t cover any pre-existing conditions that your pet may already have. A pre-existing condition is a health issue, concern, illness or injury that your cat has developed, or is showing signs of. If you or your vet were aware of this condition before you took out a new policy it may not be covered.
If you have a John Lewis Pet Insurance policy, select the relevant link below to view and print your policy documents.
If your policy ID starts with RSAP and you first bought your policy on or after 10 July 2022,
or you're not yet a customer:
If your policy ID starts with RSAP and you first bought your policy before 10 July 2022:
Summary documents:
Our Partner
We’ve carefully selected Royal & Sun Alliance Insurance Ltd to underwrite
Pet Insurance from John Lewis Money.
3For dental care up to your chosen vet fee limit we will pay;
1. For teeth or gums damaged in an accident,
2. If an underlying illness causes tooth decay or gum disease, or
3. To remove teeth as treatment of an illness which is not gum disease or tooth decay.
If your pet has a dental check every 12 months: once it has had its first check and your vet has done any necessary work, additionally we will pay;
1. If your pet suffers from tooth decay or gum disease before the next 12 month check.
2. If tooth decay or gum disease is found at the time of the next check.
John Lewis Money, John Lewis Finance and John Lewis Insurance are trading names of John Lewis plc. Registered office: 1 Drummond Gate, Pimlico, London SW1V 2QQ. Registered in England and Wales (Registered company number: 233462).
John Lewis plc is an appointed representative (Financial Conduct Authority number 416011) of Royal & Sun Alliance Insurance Ltd.
John Lewis Pet Insurance is underwritten by Royal & Sun Alliance Insurance Ltd (No: 93792). Registered in England and Wales at St. Mark's Court, Chart Way, Horsham, West Sussex, RH12 1XL. Authorised by the Prudential Regulation Authority and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and the Prudential Regulation Authority (Financial Services Register No: 202323).
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