What is pet insurance?

Pet insurance is like health insurance for your pet. If your pet unexpectedly gets sick or injured, the insurer can help you pay for veterinarian expenses you might otherwise struggle to pay yourself.

These policies typically cover unforeseen illnesses and accidental injuries — not routine or preventative care. Pet insurance does not cover pre-existing conditions.

Most pet insurance products in Australia are only for dogs and cats.

How does pet insurance work?

Budget Direct Pet Insurance works like this:

  1. You buy a pet insurance policy and pay a monthly or yearly premium to maintain your pet’s cover.
  2. If your pet suffers a sickness or accidental injury, you take it to a veterinarian.
  3. The vet examines your pet, performs any necessary tests and treats the condition. 
  4. After treatment, you pay the vet’s invoice in full.
  5. Follow the claims process here.
  6. Upon acceptance of your claim, we’ll reimburse up to 80% of your eligible vet bill (benefit limits and an excess apply).

Which types of pets do you insure?

Budget Direct Pet Insurance covers only dogs and cats.

There are certain types of dogs and cats we do not insure, namely:

  • breeding animals
  • certain working dogs (e.g. dogs used for racing, organised fighting, law enforcement, guarding or pig hunting); we do insure assistance dogs, such as guide dogs
  • banned or restricted breeds of dog
  • declared dangerous dogs.

Are there any breeds of dog you do not insure?

Yes — there are certain dogs we do not insure.

They include breeds or cross-breeds that are banned or restricted by your state or territory government, including:

  • American Pit Bull Terrier
  • Pit Bull Terrier
  • Japanese Tosa
  • Dogo Argentino
  • Fila Brasiliero
  • Perro de Presa Canario (or Presa Canario).

Are there age limits for pets you insure?

To be eligible for Budget Direct Pet Insurance your dog or cat must be aged over eight weeks old and under nine years old when you first take out this insurance.

If you continue to renew your policy each year, your pet can remain covered past nine years of age.

What is an 'illness'?

An ‘illness’ is a disease, sickness or infection suffered by your pet that:

A pre-existing condition does not include one that has been fully cured. Fully cured means your pet has been free of any signs or symptoms, or has gone without treatment for a condition, or both, for at least 12 months as evidenced by the pet’s medical notes or veterinary history.

What is an ‘accidental injury’?

An ‘accidental injury’ is physical harm or damage to your pet caused by an accident.

An accident is a single, specific, unexpected, unintended, unpredictable, not deliberate, external event or action that occurs at a particular time and place.

It is not caused by any other event, pre-existing condition, underlying, anatomical, genetic, hereditary or developmental condition.

Does pet insurance cover regular checkups?

Like many pet insurers, Budget Direct covers only unforeseen illnesses and accidental injuries suffered by your pet.

We do not cover routine or preventative care, including:

  • regular checkups
  • vaccinations
  • nail trimming
  • teeth cleaning
  • desexing (i.e. spaying or castration)
  • parasite prevention (i.e. flea, worm and tick control).

(Some veterinary practice networks offer ‘wellness plans’ that can complement your pet’s insurance.)

Does pet insurance cover vaccinations?

Like many pet insurers, Budget Direct covers only unforeseen illnesses and accidental injuries suffered by your pet.

We do not cover routine or preventative care, including:

  • vaccinations
  • regular checkups
  • nail trimming
  • teeth cleaning
  • desexing (i.e. spaying or castration)
  • parasite prevention (i.e. flea, worm and tick control).

(Some veterinary practice networks offer ‘wellness plans’ that can complement your pet’s insurance.)

Does pet insurance cover medications?

Yes — Budget Direct Pet Insurance covers up to 80% of the cost of drugs or medication prescribed by a registered vet to treat your pet’s covered illness or accidental injury. (benefit limits and an excess apply)

Does pet insurance cover desexing?

Like most pet insurers, Budget Direct covers only unforeseen illnesses and accidental injuries suffered by your pet.

We do not cover routine or preventative care, including:

  • desexing (i.e. spaying or castration)
  • regular checkups
  • vaccinations
  • nail trimming
  • teeth cleaning
  • parasite prevention (i.e. flea, worm and tick control).

(Some veterinary practice networks offer ‘wellness plans’ that can complement your pet’s insurance.)

Does pet insurance cover x-rays and scans?

Yes — Budget Direct Pet Insurance covers up to 80% of the cost of diagnostic imaging (e.g. x-rays, CT, endoscopy, ultrasound, echo cardiogram and MRI scans) ordered by your vet to help diagnose and treat your pet’s covered illness or accidental injury. (benefit limits and an excess apply)

Does pet insurance cover surgery?

Budget Direct Pet Insurance covers up to 80% of the cost of surgery required to treat your pet’s covered illness or accidental injury. (benefit limits and an excess apply)

This cover does not include, for example:

  • routine or preventative surgery
  • elective or cosmetic surgery (e.g. tail docking, dew claw removal, stenotic nares correction, soft palate or skin fold resection)
  • dental surgery (unless the condition is due to an accidental injury)
  • surgery for a pre-existing or excluded condition.

For all the exclusions, please read the Product Disclosure Statement.

Does pet insurance cover pre-existing conditions?

Budget Direct Pet Insurance does not cover pre-existing conditions.

A pre-existing condition is any illness or injury that your pet showed any signs or symptoms of:

We do however cover pre-existing conditions that have been fully cured. Fully cured means your pet has been free of any signs or symptoms, or has gone without treatment for a condition, or both, for at least 12 months as evidenced by the pet’s medical notes or veterinary history.

What is not covered by pet insurance?

There are certain things Budget Direct Pet Insurance does not cover (called ‘exclusions’).

The following list shows some of these exclusions:

For the full list of exclusions, please read the Product Disclosure Statement.

Can I take my pet to any vet?

Yes — Budget Direct Pet Insurance customers can take their pet to any qualified and registered vet in Australia.

Is there a waiting period for pet insurance?

Yes – after buying Budget Direct Pet Insurance for the first time, policyholders must serve a waiting period before they’re allowed to make certain types of claims.

The waiting periods — also known as no-claim periods — are as follows:

  • Accidental injury: 2 days
  • Illness: 30 days
  • Tick paralysis: 30 days
  • Cruciate ligament conditions: 6 months.

Any condition that occurs during the applicable waiting period will be considered a pre-existing condition.

Policyholders do not have to serve any waiting periods after their pet’s policy renews.

If your pet is currently insured with another insurer - call us on 1800 931 664 to see if your pets waiting periods can be waived when they join Budget Direct.

How much of my vet bill will be covered?

Budget Direct Pet Insurance covers up to 80% of the cost of your eligible vet bills — up to the overall annual benefit limit or sub-limit shown on your Policy Schedule and less any applicable excess.

For example, if a car hits your dog and breaks its leg and you receive a surgery bill of $3,000, we’ll reimburse you as follows:

80% of the vet bill: $2,400

Minus the excess: $100

Total reimbursed to you: $2,300

Note that an annual benefit sub-limit of $4,000 applies to surgery for broken legs and other orthopaedic conditions.

What is a period of cover?

The period of time for which your pet is insured. This is shown on your Policy Schedule. Each period of insurance is 12-months, resetting each time your policy renews.

Are there any limits to how much I can claim?

Yes — you can claim up to a maximum of $12,000 per 12-month period of cover for all your eligible vet bills.

Annual benefit sub-limits apply to certain conditions, namely:

  • Orthopaedic conditions: $4,000
  • Cruciate ligament conditions: $2,600
  • Tick paralysis: $1,500
  • Snake attacks: $1,200.

These limits are shown on your Policy Schedule.

Each time you renew your annual policy, the overall limit and sub-limits will be reset. (They do not accumulate across policy periods.)

How do I make a pet insurance claim?

If I make a claim, will I have to pay an excess?

Yes — you will pay a $100 excess once for each unrelated condition during any one period of cover. For further treatments for a related condition during the same period of cover there is no excess.

For example, if your dog needs treatment for diabetes twice during the 12-month policy period, you’ll be required to pay the excess for the first claim for that condition, but not the second.

Similarly, if your dog develops a condition that’s related to one you’ve already made a claim for (e.g. diabetic retinopathy stemming from diabetes), you won’t have to pay another excess.

Each time you renew your annual policy, the excess will be reset (i.e. the next time you make a claim for a related illness or injury, you’ll be required to pay the excess).

How can I pay for my pet insurance?

You can pay for your Budget Direct Pet Insurance premium by direct debit from your bank account, credit card or debit card (Visa or Mastercard).

You can pay monthly or annually (the second option is the most economical).

Can I insure more than one pet?

Yes — with Budget Direct Pet Insurance, you can insure as many dogs and/or cats as you want.

You can insure up to four pets online; if you want to insure more, please call us on 1800 931 664.

What is an orthopaedic condition?

An ‘orthopaedic condition’ is any condition of the bones, muscles, cartilage, tendons, ligaments and joints.  

Common orthopaedic illnesses in dogs and/or cats include:

  • hip dysplasia
  • intervertebral disc disease
  • patella luxation
  • elbow dysplasia.

Claims for orthopaedic conditions are subject to a waiting period of two days (accidental injury) and 30 days (illness) and an annual  benefit sub-limit of $4,000.

(The exception are cruciate ligament conditions, which have a waiting period of six months and an annual sub-limit of $2,600.)

What is a bilateral condition?

A bilateral condition is one that can happen on both sides of your pet’s body, for example one that affects its eyes, ears, or legs.

If your pet is diagnosed with a bilateral condition that is covered by us, we will also cover the condition if it occurs on the other side of its body.

If your pet develops a bilateral condition that is not covered by us, we will not cover the condition on either side of its body.

For example, if your pet has a pre-existing bilateral condition, the corresponding body part on the other side of its body will also be deemed a pre-existing condition — it won’t be covered.

So, if your dog has a pre-existing cranial cruciate ligament (CCL) injury in its left knee, say, the CCL in its right knee will not be covered.

What can I do if I'm unhappy with a decision?

If you’re unhappy with any of our decisions or actions, you may make a complaint.
Budget Direct’s complaints process is as follows:

Step 1: Speak to us
We want to resolve any complaint or dispute for you as quickly as possible. The best place to start is to contact our customer service team.

Step 2: Our team will help you
We will acknowledge your complaint within 24 hours of receiving it or as soon as practicable. Our team will try to resolve your complaint immediately and will provide you with a unique reference number. If we are unable to resolve your complaint to your satisfaction within 5 business days, we will escalate it to our Customer Disputes Resolution Team for review.

Step 3: If we can't agree, you can seek an independent review
If you are dissatisfied with our final decision, you can complain to the Australian Financial Complaints Authority (AFCA). What to do before you complain to AFCA

Find out more about how to complain to Budget Direct.

Does pet insurance cover genetic conditions?

Yes, our pet insurance does cover genetic conditions, as long as your pet shows no signs or symptoms prior to taking out a policy or during any applicable waiting periods.

Does pet insurance cover vet consultations?

Budget Direct pet insurance can cover vet consultations as long as the condition being treated and claimed is one that is eligible for benefit. This may also apply to hospitalisation costs at a veterinary practice as well as any after-hours fees where they are considered necessary.

Does pet insurance cover snake bites?

Yes, our pet insurance does have a benefit that covers your pet if they get bitten or strangled by a snake.  A benefit sub-limit of $1200 does apply to this condition and we will not pay any more than this during any one period of cover, regardless of how many claims are made. Overall annual policy limits also apply.

Does pet insurance cover tooth extraction?

Our pet insurance does not cover dental procedures, preventative dental care or dental disease treatment not caused directly by an accidental injury. This includes cosmetic dentistry, cleaning, scale and polish, removal of deciduous teeth, and treatment of gingivitis, tartar or periodontitis.

Does pet insurance cover hip dysplasia?

Yes, Budget Direct Pet Insurance does cover orthopaedic conditions of the bones, muscles, cartilage, tendons and ligaments so long as your pet only started showing signs or symptoms of the condition after taking out your policy and after any waiting periods. An annual benefit sub-limit of $4000 applies to hip dysplasia and other conditions, and we will not pay any more than this during any one period of cover. Overall annual policy limits also apply and there is a 6 month waiting period.

Does pet insurance cover elbow dysplasia?

Yes, our pet insurance policies do cover orthopaedic conditions of the bones, muscles, cartilage, tendons and ligaments so long as your pet only started showing signs or symptoms of the condition after taking out your policy and after any waiting periods. An annual benefit sub-limit of $4000 applies to elbow dysplasia and other conditions, and we will not pay any more than this during any one period of cover. Overall annual policy limits also apply and there is a 6 month waiting period.

Does pet insurance cover ACL surgery?

Yes, our pet insurance does cover ACL surgery and treatment with some exclusions and limitations. However, we do not cover treatment for pre-existing ACL conditions, including those that occur during the waiting period.

We cover cruciate ligament conditions, including related conditions like torn ACLs. An annual benefit sub-limit of $2600 applies to cruciate ligament conditions, and we will not pay any more than this during any one period of cover. Overall annual policy limits also apply and there is a 6 month waiting period..

If we cover your pet for a cruciate ligament (including ACL) condition, we’ll also cover other conditions (that develop later) in that same knee. 

An ACL condition that occurs in both knees is considered a bilateral condition. So, if we cover a bilateral condition on one side of your pet’s body, we’ll cover the condition if it occurs on the other side. However, if your pet has a pre-existing bilateral condition, we will not cover the condition if it occurs on the other side. For example, if your pet’s left knee has a pre-existing cruciate ligament condition, we will not cover that condition in either knee.

Does pet insurance cover dog bites/attacks?

Budget Direct pet insurance will cover dog bites and/or attacks if a specific injury or illness occurs as a result but if your pet bites, attacks or does any damage to another animal or human, it will not be covered. However, if your pet bites another animal or human and they retaliate against your pet, pet insurance may cover the damage caused by the retaliation towards your pet.

Our pet insurance limits coverage for any condition caused by preventable activity if it results in your pet needing repeated veterinary treatment. After two separate but similar claims conditions caused by similar preventable activity, including fight wounds or bite wounds, you will not be covered for the rest of the period.

Does pet insurance cover stenotic nares?

Yes, our pet insurance will cover stenotic nares due to illness or injury, so long as it is not a pre-existing condition and arose after applicable waiting periods.

This includes treatment for elongated soft palates, everted laryngeal saccules, enlarged tonsils, collapsing trachea, stenotic nares and BOAS (Brachycephalic Obstructive Airway Syndrome) (the Pet must also be at least 1 year old for BOAS to be covered under the policy)

For pets of any age, we will not pay for brachycephalic procedures performed for preventative or cosmetic reasons.

Does pet insurance cover diabetes?

Our pet insurance can cover your pet if they suffer from diabetes and you’ve noticed a change in your once normal and healthy pet. 

Please keep in mind that diabetes will not be covered if it’s a pre-existing condition.

Does pet insurance cover cataract surgery?

Whether or not your pet insurance will cover cataract surgery depends on if the surgery is required or elective. While Budget Direct Pet Insurance covers up to 80% of the cost of surgery required to treat your pet’s covered illness or accidental injury (benefit limits and an excess apply), this cover does not include elective surgeries. 

Cataracts that occur in both eyes is known as a bilateral condition. So, if we cover a bilateral condition on one side of your pet’s body, we’ll cover the condition if it occurs on the other side. However, if your pet has a pre-existing bilateral condition, we will not cover the condition if it occurs on the other side. For example, if your pet’s left eye has pre-existing cataracts, we will not cover that condition in either eye.

Does pet insurance cover broken bones?

Our pet insurance will cover an injury, physical harm or damage to your pet, including broken bones, caused by an accident up to $4,000. For example, if a car hits your dog and it breaks its leg then this would be considered an accidental injury. It does not cover any claim for malicious or wilful injury to your pet caused by you, anyone acting on your behalf, or anyone living with you. Waiting periods and an overall annual policy limit also apply.

Does pet insurance cover IVDD?

Yes, our pet insurance does cover orthopaedic conditions of the bones, muscles, cartilage, tendons and ligaments, including IVDD so long as the condition was diagnosed after taking out your policy and after any waiting periods. An annual benefit sub-limit of $4000 applies to Intervertebral Disc Disease (IVDD) and other conditions and we will not pay any more than this during any one period of cover. Annual policy limits also apply, as well as a 6 month waiting period.

Does pet insurance cover luxating patella surgery?

Yes, our pet insurance covers orthopaedic conditions of the bones, muscles, cartilage, tendons and ligaments, including luxating patella surgery so long as the condition was diagnosed after taking out your policy and after any waiting periods. An annual benefit sub-limit of $4000 applies to luxating patella surgery and other conditions and we will not pay any more than this during any one period of cover. Annual policy limits also apply, as well as a 6 month waiting period.

Does pet insurance cover allergy testing?

Yes, Budget Direct Pet Insurance can cover allergy testing as long as the illness or injury is covered under the policy and these tests are required (not elective). For example, if your dog is sick and they need an allergy test to rule out allergies as the cause, this type of required test will be covered. However, our pet insurance will not cover any routine care, preventative care, elective testing, elective procedures or any conditions and complications that result from them.

Does pet insurance cover soft palate surgery?

Yes, our pet insurance may cover soft palate surgery so long as it is not a pre-existing condition and arose after applicable waiting periods. However, our pet insurance does not cover elective or cosmetic surgeries including tail docking, dew claw removal, stenotic nares correction, soft palate surgery or skin fold resection.

Does pet insurance cover cancer treatment?

Budget Direct Pet Insurance does cover cancer treatments so long as it is not a pre-existing condition and arose after applicable waiting periods. However, your pet is not covered for any undiagnosed masses or lumps that appear as a result of a pre-existing condition. This includes, but is not limited to, any cancers, tumours or malignant lumps and masses. If your pet has bone cancer, a $4,000 sub-limit applies. Overall annual limits and waiting periods also apply.

How long do pet insurance claims take?

Once you’ve lodged your pet insurance claim, leave it with us and within 5 business days, we’ll contact you if we need any more information. On acceptance of your claim, we’ll reimburse you up to 80% of your eligible vet expenses, less any excess, up to the relevant benefit limits.

Can assistance dogs get pet insurance?

Yes, assistance dogs (e.g guide dogs), can also get pet insurance with some Insurers. Budget Direct Pet Insurance covers assistance dogs.

Can you insure a puppy before 8 weeks?

To apply for Budget Direct Pet Insurance your puppy must be over 8 weeks old. This is similar to most pet insurers.

Do people get insurance for indoor cats?

People with indoor only cats do also buy pet insurance. While keeping your cat indoors is a great way to prevent potential risks from cars, other animals, catfights and contagious diseases, there are still many things that can happen to an indoor cat (i.e. cancer, diabetes, UTIs, etc.) just like any outdoor cat. Pet insurance is there to cover any unforeseen illnesses or accidental injuries.

Do I need insurance for a kitten?

Our pet insurance is available for kittens over 8 weeks old. Some people prefer to insure their kittens as early as possible when they’re less likely to have pre-existing conditions and therefore they’ll be less likely to have limitations around what’s covered in their pet insurance policy.

When should I get kitten insurance?

To apply for Budget Direct Pet Insurance your kitten must be over 8 weeks old. This is similar to most pet insurers.

Other products