Pet Insurance

Lifetime Cover

What is Lifetime Cover?

There are different types of pet insurance available. Some cap the total amount you can claim for each condition, others limit you to a year of treatment for a condition.

Pet insurance from John Lewis only offers lifetime covers. This means, if you’re insured with us, you could claim for a one-off mishap such as a cut paw or an illness such as diabetes which needs treatment every year, or both.

As long as you renew your policy each year and there is no break in cover, we won’t put a time limit on how long treatment can last and we’ll pay up to your chosen vet fees limit each year. This means if your pet develops a reoccurring or ongoing condition like diabetes or arthritis while insured with us, you can continue to claim for that condition up to the vet fee limit in each year.

We offer three levels of cover so you can choose the level of veterinary fees you’ll have to use for the treatment your pet needs.

Your price will increase at renewal, because as your pet gets older they’re more likely to get ill, and also when a claim has been paid. New developments in diagnosis and treatments mean vets can provide even better care but this also means that vet costs have risen.

If your pet is aged nine or over, your excess will increase.

Cover levels

  Essential Plus Premier
Vet fees - treatment limit per year** up to £3,000 up to £7,500 up to £12,000
Lifetime cover      
vetfone™ helpline - 24 hour advice from veterinary nurses      
Behavioural treatment* up to £250 up to £250 up to £500
Treatment food* up to £250 up to £250 up to £250
Complementary treatment - such as physiotherapy* up to £500 up to £1,000 up to £2,000
Third party liability (dogs only) up to £1m up to £2m up to £3m
Accidental damage - damage to other people's property up to £250 up to £500 up to £750
Lost or stolen pets up to £500 up to £1,000 up to £1,500

*Cover forms part of vet fees

**As long as your policy is renewed and your premiums are paid/up to date.

Top FAQs

What pets can I insure?

We provide cover for dogs and cats from eight weeks old, and there is no upper age limit, though benefits do change for pets over nine years old.*

We don't offer cover for the ‘types’ of dogs that should be registered under the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991 and the Dangerous Dogs (Northern Ireland) Order 1991 or any subsequent amendments (whether pedigree, cross-breed or mixed breed):

  • Pit Bull Terrier
  • Japanese Tosa
  • Dogo Argentino
  • Fila Braziliero


Additionally, we don't offer cover for:

  • Wolf or wolf hybrid
  • Fighting dogs
  • Guard or security dogs
  • Dogs used for racing
  • Dogs used in connection with any profession, occupation or business
  • Dogs used for breeding
  • Any breeds not on our breed list unless you have spoken to us and we have agreed to provide cover


*You will not be able to claim for vet fees as a result of an accident in the first 48 hours of cover, or for any changes in your pet's health or behaviour in the first 14 days of cover. Death from illness cover is not available for any pets aged 9 years and above. Excess will increase when your pet turns 9.

How do you calculate the cost of my Pet Insurance?

There are a range of factors that could affect your Pet Insurance premium and cover, including:

  • The age of your pet: older pets are more likely to need medical treatment and very young animals may not have a fully developed immune system
  • Your pet's breed
  • Where you live: vet prices may vary across the country
  • Claims on your policy


You can reduce your premium by:

  • Increasing your excess (excess options are £60, £80, £100, £140, £250, or £500)
  • Choosing the right cover level.

What is my excess?

When taking out a new policy or at renewal, you can choose to pay excess of £60, £80, £100, £140, £250 or £500. This amount is for each condition, for each period of insurance.

For pets aged 9 years or older, the excess is as above or 20% of the treatment costs, whichever is higher.

For Third Party Liability cover (dogs only), £250 excess applies to loss or damage to property.

Note: Increasing your excess may help to reduce your premium.

Will I pay more as my pet gets older?

Dogs and cats, like humans, are more prone to illness and ailments as they get older. Your price will increase at renewal, because of this likelihood and also when a claim has been paid. New developments in diagnosis and treatments have meant that vets can give them even better care, which is great news for your family pet but means an increase in vet costs.

If your pet is aged nine or over, you will be asked to pay extra excess when making a claim. Rest assured, as long as you renew your policy with us and there’s no break in cover, we reinstate your vet fees limits. So, if while insured with us, your pet starts to develop an ongoing illness, like diabetes or arthritis, or a reoccurring illness like an ear infection, you can continue to claim up to your chosen vet fee limit each year.

If you shop around and try to switch providers, you’ll probably find that they won’t cover pre-existing illnesses or injuries (known as pre-existing conditions) and cover for ongoing conditions will be lost.

See all FAQs

Our partner

John Lewis Finance and John Lewis Insurance are trading names of John Lewis plc. The John Lewis Registered office address is: 171 Victoria Street, London, SW1E 5NN. Registered in England and Wales No. 233462.

John Lewis plc is an appointed representative (Financial Conduct Authority number 416011) of Royal & Sun Alliance Insurance plc. John Lewis Pet Insurance is underwritten by Royal & Sun Alliance Insurance plc (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)

Copyright © John Lewis Partnership
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