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Information about pet insurance
- How much does pet insurance cost?
- How pet insurance premiums are calculated
- What are some common pet insurance exclusions?
- What to look for in a pet insurance policy
- Tips for choosing pet insurance
- Which pets are most expensive to insure?
Types of pet insurance
- Accident-only pet insurance
- Comprehensive pet insurance
Budget Direct pet insurance at a glance
- Get 80% back on eligible vet bills, less any applicable excess and subject to policy limits (terms, conditions and exclusions apply).
- Only pay an excess once for the same condition within a policy period
- Cover for orthopaedic conditions
About Budget Direct pet insurance
Budget Direct offers pet insurance to cover illnesses or accidental injuries. Their flexible cover options allow you to choose from three annual benefit limits and sub-limits and two excess options to adjust your policy to suit you and your pet.
Budget Direct pet insurance is underwritten by Auto & General Insurance Company.
What does Budget Direct pet insurance cover?
Budget Direct offers pet insurance policies for cats and dogs. These policies can cover the below for eligible conditions:
- Treatment costs for accidental injuries or illnesses
- Vet consultations
- Prescribed medications and diagnostic tests
- Hospitalisations and surgeries
- Cancer treatment
- Treatments for orthopaedic and cruciate ligament conditions.
Some common accidents and illnesses that Budget Direct pet insurance can cover include:
| For dogs | For cats |
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Make sure you always read the Product Disclosure Statement (PDS) of any policy before you purchase, so you can understand your benefits, limits and exclusions.
Why choose Budget Direct?
As a caring pet owner, your main priority is your pet’s health when purchasing pet insurance. That’s why Budget Direct offers three different levels of cover for illness or accidental injury for you to choose from. With their Comprehensive and Plus cover plans, you even have two levels of optional Routine Care cover to add to your policy.
Frequently asked questions
How can I pay for my Budget Direct pet insurance and is it cheaper to pay my premium annually?
You can pay your premiums by direct debit from your nominated bank account, or manually with a credit card or debit card. You can pay fortnightly, monthly or annually; paying an annual premium may be cheaper than fortnightly or monthly instalments.
How do I make a pet insurance claim with Budget Direct?
The easiest way to make a claim is via the dedicated online claims portal on the Budget Direct website, where you’ll be able to submit new claims at any time and view your pet’s claims history. Alternatively, you can submit a claim by email or post with your vet’s itemised invoice and all your relevant paperwork.
How much of my vet bills does Budget Direct cover?
Budget Direct pet insurance covers 80% of the cost of your eligible vet bills, less any applicable excess, up to the relevant remaining annual limit or sub-limit (terms, conditions and exclusions apply). You’ll pay the vet bill upfront and lodge a claim for reimbursem*nt of your eligible costs after your visit. Check your policy’s PDS for more details on your cover.
Does Budget Direct pet insurance allow me to choose the treating vet?
You can choose any registered veterinarian, vet clinic or mobile vet within Australia to treat your pet. Just remember to keep your invoices and receipts for the treatments to give to Budget Direct when you claim.
Does Budget Direct pet insurance cover pre-existing conditions?
Budget Direct pet insurance does not cover pre-existing conditions. A condition is pre-existing if your pet shows signs or symptoms or has received treatment for it at any time before your period of cover or during any applicable waiting period. This also includes any illness or injury, recurring or related conditions, bilateral conditions or complications resulting from a pre-existing condition.
Does Budget Direct pet insurance have waiting periods?
Budget Direct pet insurance has waiting periods that apply to your first period of cover. This includes a two-day waiting period for accidental injuries and snake attacks, and a 30-day waiting period for illnesses and tick paralysis. Cruciate ligament conditions have a six-month waiting period. No waiting period applies to the Routine Care optional extra. For more information regarding waiting periods, refer to the PDS.
Is there an age limit for pets covered by Budget Direct pet insurance?
If you’re taking out a Budget Direct pet insurance policy for the first time, your pet must be at least eight weeks of age and under nine years. Once your cover has started, you can continue to cover your pet past nine years of age as long as you renew the policy each year with no gap or break in cover.
Do I have to pay an excess with Budget Direct pet insurance?
If you make a claim, you only pay an excess once for each unrelated condition during any one period of cover. You don’t have to pay the excess for further treatment of a related condition during the same period of cover, and no excess applies to Routine Care claims.
The cost of your excess is the amount you selected when you took out your policy, and it will be deducted from your claim benefits. Check your PDS for further information on excesses and how claim payouts work.
How do I cancel my Budget Direct pet insurance?
You can cancel your policy by phone at any time, and a cancellation fee may apply (unless your pet has passed away). Budget Direct pet insurance has a 21-day cooling-off period, so if you cancel during this time without claiming, you may receive a refund of your premiums.
Compare pet insurance today
If you’re in the market for pet insurance, you don’t have to go far! You can use our free comparison tool to compare pet insurance policies all in one place, including Budget Direct pet insurance. Just enter a few details about your pet and see what insurers on our panel have to offer in terms of features, benefit limits and price.
