Pet insurance is something you may have heard about, but what exactly is it, and why should you think about getting it for your pet? Pet insurance is coverage that you purchase for your pet. This can be a separate policy for each pet, or some providers will allow you to have a multi-pet policy. Despite our desire not to think about our pets becoming ill or wounded, the vast majority of them will require veterinarian care at some point in their lives. Pet insurance provides peace of mind and can be a lifesaver when you need it.

Pet insurance is similar to automobile insurance, except that you are three times more likely to make a claim on your pet insurance than on your car insurance! While the ideal case for your pet is that you never need to use your pet insurance, unfortunately, pets may get into all sorts of mischief, and older pets, in particular, are prone to a variety of health issues. A diabetes diagnosis in your cat or dog might cost you up to £10000 over the course of your pet’s life, and a difficult fracture treatment can easily cost several thousand pounds. If you have pet insurance, your policy will cover your vet fees up to a certain amount after subtracting an excess.

What is Churchill Pet Insurance

This is an insurance policy that is renewed annually and is paid for monthly via direct debit. The policy outlines the terms and conditions of your insurance and is valid for a year. This policy serves as proof of the agreement between us, U K Insurance Limited, and you, our policyholder. We will provide insurance for the pet or pets indicated on the policy schedule throughout each such period of insurance as long as you follow the terms of the policy and pay the premium each month (each period of insurance) under the conditions set forth in this policy.

Any term or expression with a certain meaning will have that meaning wherever it appears. You must take care to give us accurate information that is correct to the best of your ability. Please carefully review all policy details, since these outline the information you have provided us. If you believe there is an error or that changes are required, please notify us immediately. Failure to provide correct information or notify us of any changes may result in your policy being invalidated and claims being rejected or partially paid.

How to make a complaint

We recognise that things don’t always go as planned, and you may feel let down at times. If this occurs, please notify us. We’ll try our best to make things right as soon as possible or to clarify anything we could have done better. Our staff is authorised to assist you and will strive to resolve most concerns within three working days of receiving your complaint. If your complaint is not handled within three working days, we will contact you to inform you of who will be handling it and what the next steps are.

We will be in touch with you on a regular basis. Depending on how long it takes us to resolve your complaint, you will also receive the following written notification from us:

We’d like you to contact us about your issue by dialling 0800 032 6528 or 01903 636972. If you want to write to us, please address your letter to: Customer Relations Manager Churchill Court Westmoreland Road Bromley BR11DP.

Your right to cancel

If you change your mind after purchasing your insurance, please contact us at 0800 032 6528 or return all paperwork to Churchill Insurance, Customer Services, The Headrow, Leeds LS1 8HZ within 14 days of your policy starting or within 14 days of receiving them (whichever is later). We will refund any premiums paid in full if no claims are made on the coverage during that time. If you wish to cancel beyond the initial 14-day period, please see the General terms and conditions section.

The Financial Services & Compensation Scheme

The Financial Services Compensation Scheme covers general insurance claims. Full information of the available cover may be obtained at www.fscs.org.uk. U K Insurance Limited is a participant in this scheme.

Automatic Renewals

Each year, we will notify you of any changes to the premium or policy terms at least 21 days before the anniversary of the start date of your insurance and before accepting any payment. This is an insurance that is available on the same conditions for 12 consecutive months and must be taken out and paid for monthly. Unless otherwise instructed, your insurance will automatically renew each month, and we will continue to collect payments.

If you do not want your insurance to continue, you must notify us before the anniversary date. If we are unable to provide additional policy periods, we will notify you in writing at your last known address; examples of when this may occur are listed under Cancellation in the General conditions section.

Statement of needs

We haven’t given you personal advice as to whether this policy is suited for your unique needs, and we only wanted to let you know that if you acquire any protection from us, our advisers may receive a bonus.

Policy Definition

Dangerous Dogs Act (DDA): The Dangerous Dogs Act 1991, as amended by the Control of Dogs (Scotland) Act 2010, the Dogs (Northern Ireland) Order 1983, or any subsequent amendments to those acts.

Excess: The portion of the claim that you must pay for each individual condition. The excess is applied once to each condition and deducted from the claims settlement. Your surplus amount is displayed on your schedule.
Illness: Disease, disease, infection, or failure, as well as any alterations in your pet’s typical healthy state that are not the result of injury

Injury to one or more portions of your pet’s body as a result of a single unintentional cause.

Journey: A holiday or trip to a qualifying country included in the Pet Travel Scheme that starts and ends in the United Kingdom during a period of insurance.

Lump: Any growth, tumour, cyst or lumps that have the same diagnosis will be treated as one condition no matter how many times the condition comes back or how many areas of the body are affected. Where no diagnosis/ identification has been made we will treat each lump as the same condition and as such will be subject to the policy limits.

Insurance coverage period: A calendar month for which you paid the agreed-upon premium.
The dog(s) or cat(s) specified in the policy schedule.

Passport for your pet: The official UK Pet Travel Scheme documentation are issued by a vet who is authorised by the government to do so.

Pet Travel Plan (PETS): The UK Government scheme that allows you to take your pet to specified qualifying countries and re-enter the UK without having to quarantine your pet as long as you follow the requirements of the scheme.

Policy period: A 12-month period that begins on the date the insurance is purchased. Each 12-month policy period begins on the anniversary of the insurance’s start date.

Pre-existing condition: Any condition, injury, or illness that: 

Has occurred or has shown early signs or symptoms; or 

Has the same diagnosis or signs and/or symptoms as a condition your pet has already had; or 

Is caused by, relates to, or results from an injury, illness, or condition your pet had prior to the onset of this insurance; or

No matter where the injury, illness, or signs appear or occur in or on your pet’s body.

The following conditions apply to the whole of the policy

Your pet

1 At the start of the insurance, your pet must be no younger than eight weeks old and no older than the age specified on the policy schedule.

2 Your pet must be in excellent health on the day the insurance begins.

3 Your pet shall never be subject to the restrictions or orders imposed by a court under the Dangerous Dogs Act or the Dogs Act 1871.

You

4 You own the pet named on the schedule and reside with it in the United Kingdom at the address provided on the schedule.

5 You must always provide proper care for your pet and pay for any treatment advised by a veterinarian to prevent disease or harm.

6 You must pay for your pet’s oral health check once a year, and any treatment indicated by the vet to prevent disease and harm must be completed within three months of the advice. Any claims relating to or connected to this will not be covered if this is not done.

7 You must follow the terms of this policy or else all coverage will be void as of the policy’s commencement date.

8 If you want to adjust your level of vet fees coverage, please phone us at 0800 032 6528. Any modification in vet fees coverage is contingent on your pet’s medical history and the conditions of the agreement.

Your policy number 9 You agree that we may inspect any vet’s records pertaining to your pet, and that we may provide information about your pet insurance policy to any vet who has treated or is intending to treat your pet.

10 We have the right to: I take over and carry out the negotiation, defence, or settlement of any claim made in your name under this policy;

and ii) take legal action in your name to recover any money we have paid under this policy.

11 We reserve the right to revise the policy if legislation, taxation, or a judicial decision requires it. We will provide you with one month’s written notice of any such change, unless a shorter notice is required to comply with any of these obligations. If you do not want to continue your coverage after an adjustment, you may cancel this policy as described in Cancellation.

12 We will not pay more than the maximum limit or limits that applied during the period of insurance during which the event for which you intend to make a claim initially occurred, subject to cover remaining in effect.

13 If your vet and we disagree, an independent vet will be chosen to make the final judgement, which you and we must follow.

Frauds

14 You must always be truthful in your interactions with us. We shall not pay a claim that is fraudulent, fictitious, or overstated in any way. If you, any person insured under this policy, or anyone acting on your behalf willfully deceives us or makes a fraudulent, false, or inflated claim:

> your policy may be cancelled;

> we may reject your claim and any subsequent claims;

> we may keep any premium you have paid.

Kindly see below a PDF file of Churchill Pet Insurance