10 Questions to Ask Before Switching Pet Insurance

A cheaper renewal quote can make switching pet insurance providers look like an obvious decision. With pet insurance, though, moving from one insurer to another isn't quite the same as switching broadband or car insurance.

Your pet's health history follows them.

An illness, injury or even previous symptoms covered by your existing insurer could become a pre-existing condition when you move to a new insurer. The Association of British Insurers (ABI) specifically warns that although moving policies may be cheaper, a new policy is unlikely to cover conditions your pet has had in the past or currently has.

This matters in a market where treatment costs can be substantial. ABI figures show that its members paid a record £1.23 billion in UK pet insurance claims during 2024, across 1.8 million notified claims.

Before you change pet insurance provider, ask these 10 questions.

Key takeaways

• Don't compare your pet insurance renewal on price alone. Compare what you will gain and lose.

• Check exactly how the new insurer defines pre-existing conditions before cancelling existing cover.

• A new policy may introduce a waiting period, creating a period when some treatment isn't covered.

• Compare the annual limit, excess, co-payment and treatment sub-limits, not just the monthly premium.

• If your pet already has an ongoing condition, remaining with your current insurer can sometimes be more valuable than obtaining a cheaper quote.

1. Will my pet's existing medical conditions still be covered?

This is the most important question to ask before you switch pet insurance.

Most insurers don't cover conditions that existed before the new policy began. The ABI's guidance on pet insurance explains that this can include illnesses or injuries your pet previously had or showed signs of having.

That means a condition covered under your existing Lifetime pet insurance could be excluded after switching.

Imagine your dog develops diabetes while insured. Your current Lifetime policy continues covering eligible treatment each year, subject to its terms. If you move insurer, diabetes may now form part of your dog's medical history and be excluded from the new policy.

MoneyHelper's independent pet insurance guidance similarly warns that changing insurer can mean losing cover for long-term conditions.

If you're considering Waggel, read our guide to pre-existing conditions first. We don't cover pre-existing conditions, so it's important to understand how previous illnesses, injuries and symptoms could affect a new policy.

2. What does the new insurer actually class as pre-existing?

Don't assume every insurer uses exactly the same definition.

Previous diagnoses are obvious, but previous symptoms, injuries and related conditions may also matter.

For example, some conditions are considered bilateral conditions because they can affect both sides of the body. A problem affecting one knee, hip, eye or ear before switching may influence whether a similar problem on the opposite side is covered later.

Ask the prospective insurer how it would interpret your pet's vet history before cancelling your current policy.

If there is anything you're unsure about, disclose it. The ABI advises pet owners to answer insurers' questions honestly and fully, because incomplete information could affect a future claim.

3. Will there be a new waiting period?

A waiting period is the period after a policy starts when certain claims cannot yet be made.

Switching insurers normally means starting a new insurance contract, so don't assume the protection from your previous policy simply carries across.

Pet insurance policies can include an exclusion period at the start of the policy. You should therefore check the exact wording and duration with the new provider.

Waggel has a 14-day warm-up period. Treatment occurring during those first 14 days isn't covered, and conditions arising during the warm-up period may subsequently be regarded as pre-existing.

You can check the current details in Waggel's Policy & Coverage FAQs.

That makes the timing of your switch important.

Read the new policy before cancelling the old one so you understand whether changing insurers could create a coverage gap.

4. Am I switching to the same type of pet insurance?

Comparing two quotes isn't particularly useful if the underlying policies work differently.

There are several types of pet insurance policy, including:

• Lifetime policy

• Maximum benefit cover

• Time-limited cover

• Accident-only insurance

The main types of UK pet insurance and how the level and duration of cover can vary.

Lifetime insurance normally refreshes the available eligible vet-fee allowance each year when the policy renews. Maximum benefit and time-limited policies can impose different monetary or time restrictions on individual conditions.

At Waggel, we only provide lifetime policies. If you're unsure how the options differ, read our guide to the different types of pet insurance.

Switching to save £5 or £10 a month becomes less attractive if you're also moving to materially less comprehensive insurance cover.

5. Is the annual vet fee limit actually enough?

Look beyond the headline pet insurance premium. A cheaper policy may simply provide less vet fee cover.

The annual limit determines how much eligible veterinary treatment can be claimed during a policy year. That becomes particularly important when treatment involves repeated consultations, diagnostic tests, medication, surgery or specialist care.

Veterinary costs are also under increasing scrutiny. The Competition and Markets Authority's investigation into the UK veterinary market has highlighted concerns around pricing, transparency and consumers' ability to compare veterinary services.

Waggel currently offers annual-cover choices ranging from £1,000 to £15,000.

Existing Waggel customers can change their annual limit within the first seven days of a new policy and during the 30 days before renewal.

You can read more in Waggel's Limits & Excess FAQs.

The right limit isn't simply the biggest figure available. Think about what you could comfortably pay yourself if treatment exceeded your insurance allowance.

6. How much excess and co-payment will I actually pay?

A low renewal price doesn't necessarily mean lower costs when you claim.

Check the excess and whether the policy also includes a co-payment or percentage excess.

A co-payment means paying a percentage of an eligible bill in addition to the normal excess. MoneyHelper recommends checking both fixed and percentage-based excesses, because percentage contributions can become significant when veterinary bills are high.

Waggel currently offers six excess choices from £0 to £500. Its excess is payable per condition, per policy year, and resets at renewal along with the annual limit.

Waggel also allows customers to opt into a 20% co-payment when taking out a policy or at renewal. Unlike policies where a co-payment may become compulsory when a pet reaches a certain age, our 20% option is voluntary regardless of age.

Before switching, work out what you would personally pay towards a £500, £2,000 and £5,000 eligible bill.

7. Are there sub-limits within the headline cover?

A £10,000 policy doesn't necessarily mean £10,000 is available for every kind of veterinary treatment.

Some policies contain sub-limits, which cap the amount available for particular treatments.

This is why it's important to read the full policy wording and not rely only on the headline vet-fee allowance. It is recommended to compare the level and scope of cover as well as price.

For example, we currently include the following sub-limits within our lifetime policies:

These sit within the selected annual limit.

*Waggel dental cover applies to eligible dental accidents and illnesses, subject to policy conditions and requirements around previous dental health.

Check Waggel's Limits & Excess FAQs and Policy & Coverage FAQs for the current terms.

Compare these smaller limits as carefully as you compare the main cover figure.

8. Will my pet's age change the cost or conditions?

Your pet's age can affect both premiums and policy conditions.

Pet insurance premiums can rise as pets get older because older animals are generally more likely to need veterinary treatment. Breed, location, previous claims and the wider cost of veterinary care can also influence pricing.

Some insurers also introduce increased excesses or mandatory contributions for older animals.

Waggel currently has no upper age limit and does not require a co-payment simply because a pet becomes older. Customers can choose a 20% co-payment voluntarily instead.

That doesn't mean premiums stay unchanged.

Renewal prices can increase as pets age and can also be affected by the number of conditions claimed for, the total claimed, veterinary-cost inflation and changes to its pricing model.

You can see more detail in our Renewals FAQs.

When comparing older pet insurance, look at the future structure of the policy rather than today's quote alone.

9. What cover or benefits am I giving up?

Switching isn't only about accident and illness cover.

Check whether your existing policy provides benefits that the replacement policy doesn't.

Depending on the insurer, these might include dental treatment, complementary therapies, behavioural treatment, overseas cover, purchase-price protection or third-party liability for dogs.

It is important to compare both cover and exclusions between pet insurance policies rather than making the decision on premium alone.

Waggel currently includes eligible vet bills for accidents, injuries and illnesses up to the chosen annual limit, plus applicable dental, complementary and behavioural treatment sub-limits. Dog policies also include up to £2 million in eligible third-party liability cover.

Check the Waggel Policy & Coverage FAQs for the current inclusions, exclusions and conditions.

The useful comparison isn't old premium vs new premium...it's old premium + old protection vs new premium + new protection.

10. When should I cancel my existing policy?

Don't cancel first and compare later.

Before starting the cancellation process, make sure you've read the new insurer's terms, received the quote you want and understood when the replacement policy begins.

It is important to get as much information as possible before switching insurers, particularly when an animal has developed medical conditions that may be excluded under a replacement policy.

If you're leaving Waggel, there is currently no cancellation fee or penalty, but conditions that were previously covered may be regarded as pre-existing if you later take out another Waggel policy.

Waggel policies are set to auto-renewal by default, although customers can switch this off. Renewal details and the new quote are sent before renewal.

You can check the current process in Waggel's Cancellation FAQs and Renewals FAQs.

There isn't one answer that applies to every pet or individual circumstance.

Switching can make sense if you've found a policy offering better value, better limits or benefits that suit your pet more closely.

The decision becomes more complicated when your pet has developed a chronic condition, received significant previous treatment or has a lengthy claims history.

In those situations, compare what you're losing as carefully as what you're gaining.

The ABI's pet insurance guidance makes an important point: consumers should consider the cover being provided rather than simply buying on price, particularly where previous conditions could affect a replacement policy.

If you're considering moving to Waggel, our switching pet insurance page explains how our lifetime cover works and what to look for before changing provider.

You can also read The Ins and Outs of Pet Insurance or use our Pet Insurance Dictionary if you want help understanding common policy terminology.

The most important question when switching pet insurance providers isn't simply, "Can I get a cheaper quote?"

It's: "If my pet needs treatment next year, will the new policy protect us as well as the one we have now?"

Check pre-existing conditions, waiting periods, policy type, annual limits, excesses, co-payments, sub-limits and age-related terms before cancelling anything.

Saving money is useful. Keeping the right financial protection in place when your pet needs veterinary care matters more.

Can I switch pet insurance providers if my pet has a medical condition?

Yes, but the new provider may exclude that condition from future cover. Conditions your existing insurer currently pays for can become pre-existing under the new policy. 

Is it better to switch pet insurance at renewal?

Renewal is often a convenient time to compare policies because you can review your new premium and cover before the next policy year begins. However, switching at renewal doesn't remove the problem of pre-existing conditions or waiting periods. The new insurer's policy terms still apply from its own start date.

Does switching pet insurance reset the waiting period?

A new insurer can apply its own waiting period when the replacement policy begins. Waggel currently applies a 14-day warm-up period to new policies. Always check when illness and accident cover begins before ending your existing policy.

Will a new pet insurer check my pet's medical records?

Insurers can use veterinary records when assessing whether a claim relates to an existing or previous condition. Waggel may request a pet's full medical history from their veterinary practice as part of the claims process. Accurate medical information helps the insurer assess claims against the terms of the policy.

Can I switch pet insurance after making a claim?

You can consider another provider after making a claim, but the condition involved in that claim may be considered pre-existing by the new insurer. This can be particularly important for recurring or long-term illnesses requiring further treatment.

If you disagree with an insurer's decision about a claim or pre-existing condition, the Financial Ombudsman Service provides guidance on pet insurance complaints and may be able to review eligible disputes after you've completed the insurer's complaints process.

Should I switch pet insurance just because my renewal price increased?

Not necessarily. First, compare your new premium, annual limit, excess, co-payment, exclusions and continuing cover for existing conditions. Premiums can change as pets age and because of claims experience, veterinary-cost inflation and other pricing factors.

The saving only makes sense if the replacement policy still gives you the protection you need.