What's the Best Pet Insurance for Older Dogs in New Zealand?
For many senior dog owners, cost is also a determining factor. Know that the cost of your dog insurance will increase with age due to inflation, vet bills becoming more expensive and a higher likelihood of needing treatment. This means that if you buy a new plan for an 8 year old dog, you'll be buying it at this higher price-level.
Still though, if reducing cost is important for you then you might want to consider purchasing a less comprehensive plan. The costs factors that you can influence include the level of cover, your excess or co-payment and the company you chose.
This means accident-only plans and plans that exclude or limit certain conditions are cheaper than full coverage plans. Similarly plans with a high excess and co-payment (the fixed amount and percentage you pay at the vet) or a low policy limit (the maximum amount you can claim) are cheaper than plans that don't require you to also contribute. Of course, a less comprehensive plan can also be more expensive in the long run if it means you're partially or not at all covered when you need to take your dog to the vet.
And finally consider any specific treatments your dog should be covered for based on its breed and lifestyle. Do some research to determine the most common conditions for dogs like yours and choose a plan accordingly. Also know that your dog's medical history can impact the cover you receive with a limited number of pet insurance plans offering cover for hereditary and pre-existing conditions, always with the caveat that your dog must be symptom free for a certain period of time (often 18 months to 3 years).
Find out more below and see which pet insurance plans in NZ our experts recommend for older dogs.
New Zealand's Best Pet Insurance Plans for Older Dogs
- AA Pet Insurance Plan: Max 9 years old
- SPCA Big Stuff Cover: No max age
- PD Insurance Deluxe Plan: Max 9 years old
- PD Insurance Accident Plan: Max 12 years
- Southern Cross AcciPet Plan: No max age
- Petnsur Surgery/Surgery Plus: Max 12 years old
- SPCA The Works Cover: Max 9 years old
- Petnsur Silver/Gold/Premium: Max 12 years old
- Petnsur Titanium Plan: Max 12 years old
- Petnsur Rhodium Plan: Max 8 years old
Our experts rate AA Pet Insurance's only dog insurance plan as the best pet insurance plan for older dogs because it has a maximum age of 9 years, and because it covers the widest range of conditions including treatments for accidents, injuries, dental, pre-existing conditions (after 18 months of no symptoms), and hereditary conditions.
SPCA's Big Stuff Cover has slightly more expensive premiums and a slightly larger excess but is better in that it has no maximum age limit. It also includes cover for accidents, illnesses and pre-existing conditions. It also only has a condition limit on emergency boarding while AA's plans have limits on consultation fees, dental, emergency boarding, cruciate ligament injuries and intervertebral disc disease.
Otherwise, PD Insurance's Deluxe Plan, our top-rated NZ dog insurance plan, is also a great choice in that it covers, among other things, accidents, illness and dental and has no co-payments, just a variable excess. Even though you save money at the vet with this plan, the premiums are a bit more expensive and there is a maximum annual condition limit of $7,500.Note that if your dog is younger than 7 or 8 years old then we also compare the best dog insurance plans more generally in another article. Otherwise, the recommendations on that page will probably suit your needs better.
Comparison of the All Senior Dog Insurance Plans in NZ
- Third party liability
- Routine care
- Vaccinations
- Alternative treatments
- Breeding conditions
- Occupational treatments
- 14 days for illness
- 6 months for cruciate ligament injury
- 6 months for dental
- $300 for vet consultations
- $600 for dental illnesses
- $1,500 for emergency boarding
- $3,200 for cruciate ligament conditions
- $4,000 for intervertebral disc disease
- Covers many claim types
- Flexible excess/policy limit
- Maximum age for new policies is 9 years
- Routine care add-on
-
Several condition limits
-
No multi-pet discount
New policies can be taken out for puppies and kittens aged 8 weeks until your pet's 9th birthday and with flexible policy limits and excesses as well as a routine care add-on this plan is really designed for all types of pets/owners.
A smaller downside of the plan is that the maximum policy limit is only $15,000, which is not ideal if you're trying to cover yourself for one or more very sizable vet bills. A bigger downside is that AA also has a 20% co-payment which when combined with the excess you have to pay still means you'll be liable to pay a decent-sized portion of your pet's treatment costs. But the biggest downside is almost certainly the condition limits on this policy ranging from $300 for consultation fees and $600 for dental illnesses to $3,200 for cruciate ligament conditions and $4,000 for intervertebral disc disease.
Still, with wide ranging cover, a free VetChat membership for online consultations and even the ability to waive the pre-existing condition exclusion if your pet is 18 months symptom free, this is a plan many Kiwis chose. Especially considering the competitive pricing of their monthly premiums. For a higher policy limit consider Cove's Major Plan or SPCA's Big Stuff Cover otherwise PD Insurance's Deluxe Plan has decent condition limits and no co-payment.
- Third party liability
- Dental
- Routine care
- Vaccinations
- Alternative treatments
- Hereditary conditions
- Breeding conditions
- Occupational treatments
- 21 days for illness
- 6 months for cruciate ligament injury (waived with a vet's note)
- $1,500 for emergency boarding
- Very high policy limit ($25,000)
- Pre-existing conditions waived with vet's note
- No condition limits (except for emergency boarding)
- Policy holders support work of SPCA
-
$1,000 deductible AND 20% co-payment
-
Not suitable for smaller bills
The most notable is the removal of all condition limits (except the $1,500 limit for emergency boarding claims). The other big one is that as well as a 20% co-payment, this plan now includes a $1,000 excess per claim. That means that you have to pay for the first $1,000 of each vet bill yourself, essentially making this plan only suitable for mid-size and major vet bills. Your monthly premiums are also reduced to reflect this cost which also makes the plan somewhat more affordable (average $57.56 vs $95.00 for The Works Cover)
Still, with a $25,000 policy limit for all injury, illness, parasite, overseas treatments (in Australia and Norfolk Island) and even pre-existing conditions (when waived with a vet's note) this policy is suitable for owners who want to ensure a comprehensive and high level of cover should any bigger vet bills arise.
The Big Stuff Cover Plan doesn't get a higher rating from us because it excludes dental, third party liability and routine care among other things. And because of the deductible and co-payment this policy won't help that much with your smaller vet bills. A better option is Cove's Major Plan which covers the same conditions (except overseas treatments) but only has a 10% co-payment and $1,000 excess plus up to 20% in discounts when you take out multiple policies and pay annually.
- Routine care
- Vaccinations
- Alternative treatments
- Pre-existing conditions
- Breeding conditions
- Parasite treatments
- Occupational treatments
- Emergency boarding
- Overseas treatments
- 21 days for accidental ingestion
- 21 days for poisoning
- 21 days for illness
- 180 days for third party liability
- 180 days for cruciate ligament injury
- 180 days for patella luxation
- 180 days for dental illnesses
- $200 per visit for vet consultations
- $3,800 for hereditary conditions
- $7,500 for cruciate ligament
- $7,500 for patella luxation
- $7,500 for accidental ingestion
- $7,500 per claim limit
- $10,000 for third party liability
- Covers dental
- Covers illness, injury, liability
- High $20,000 policy limit
- Excess payable for every bill
-
Doesn't cover routine care
-
Long stand down periods
Another key factor was the high $20,000 policy limit although the $7,500 per claim limit was certainly the most off-putting thing about this policy. As were the condition limits for accidental ingestion, cruciate, patella and hereditary conditions - even if these are relatively high. PD insurance also boasts one free month of insurance as a sign up offer, faster than average 2 day claims processing and a competitive 5% multi pet discount.
The other thing to watch out for with this plan is the long stand down periods - you can't claim for accidental ingestion, poisoning and illness in the first 21 days, or third party liability, cruciate ligament, patella luxation and dental illnesses in the first 180 days. So effectively you pay for 3 weeks or 6 months without cover for these conditions (ignoring the sign up bonus).
And even though it is comprehensive, this plan also doesn't cover emergency boarding, overseas treatments or routine care and vaccinations. An alternative plan that covers these conditions is AA Pet Insurance's only pet insurance plan although this plan does have more restrictive conditions limits for certain claims.
Another similar plan is Southern Cross's Pet Care Plan which allows you to add dental cover. This plan has a lower policy limit of $15,000 and a co-payment of at least 10%, but has shorter stand down periods and has optional cover for routine care and vaccinations. It also has very few condition limits.
- Illness
- Dental
- Routine care
- Vaccinations
- Alternative treatments
- Pre-existing conditions
- Hereditary conditions
- Breeding conditions
- Parasite treatments
- Occupational treatments
- Emergency boarding
- Overseas treatments
- 21 days for poisoning
- 21 days for ingestion
- 180 days for third party liability
- 180 days for cruciate ligament injury
- 180 days for patella luxation
- $200 per visit for vet consultations
- $2,000 for accidental ingestion
- $10,000 for third party liability
- Covers third party liability
- Flexibility to chose excess amount
- Eligibility from 6 weeks to 12 years
- Fast 2-day claims processing
-
Long stand down periods
-
Excess on every claim
PD Insurance also boasts 2 day claims processing, which is a day or two faster than the industry standard. Like most other accident-only pet insurance plans in NZ, PD insurance's Accident Plan covers yearly claims up to $5,000. In terms of costs, there's a variable excess of $100, $150 or $200, which is decided by you when signing up (the bigger your excess the smaller your monthly premiums), and no co-payment. This makes it ideal for bigger vet bills as the most you'll ever pay is determined by your excess. Otherwise, this policy only covers accidental injury and third party liability, so no illness, dental or routine care.
Like other accident-only pet insurances, this plan covers vet bills arising from a single event causing unforeseen (not gradual) physical injury. This cover includes the costs for things like prescribed medication, radiology, pathology, operating theatre costs, hospitalisation and non-elective euthanasia.
One thing to note however is that the stand down periods for this plan are 21 days for ingestion and poisoning, 180 days for third party liability and 180 days for cruciate ligament and patella luxation. There is no stand down period on other accident-only plans like Southern Cross's AcciPet Plan for accidental ingestion and only 90 days for cruciate ligament injuries. So, if this seems like a long time to you then pick a different plan. Southern Cross's AcciPet Plan also has a more flexible excess option, although it also includes a co-pay.
- Illness
- Third party liability
- Dental
- Routine care
- Vaccinations
- Vet consultations
- Alternative treatments
- Pre-existing conditions
- Hereditary conditions
- Breeding conditions
- Parasite treatments
- Occupational treatments
- Emergency boarding
- Overseas treatments
- 90 days for cruciate ligament injury
- 90 days for patella luxation
- $2,500 for cruciate ligament
- No upper age limit
- Flexible excess and co-payment
- No claim limit (except cruciate ligament injuries)
- Up to 10% in discounts for eligible customers
-
Doesn't cover third party liability
-
Doesn't cover illness, dental or routine care
This policy has a flexible excess ($100 to $500) and co-payment (10% to 30%) and it covers up to $5,000 of vet bills per year. A $5,000 policy limit is standard for an accident-only pet insurance plan in New Zealand but this plan stands out as most other plans have a fixed excess and/or co-payment meaning you can't chose how much you want to pay in monthly premiums or when you have to make a claim. When you select the maximum excess and co-payment, this plan is also the cheapest pet insurance in New Zealand.
We've also picked Southern Cross's AcciPet Plan as one of the best accident only pet insurance options because puppies and kittens get a generous 6 weeks of free insurance when signing up and because it has an optional Consult Care Extra option giving you up to $1,000 with a 20% co-pay for regular, emergency and specialist vet consultation fees and alternative treatments.
Alternative plans to consider include Southern Cross Pet Insurance's PetCare Plan which is structured similarly but also covers illness, hereditary conditions, and has options for dental cover and routine care. Or PD Insurance's Accident Plan (our favourite accident-only pet insurance) which has a similar excess of $100 to $200, no co-payment but also covers third party liability (if your pet causes damage to property, or injury to other pets or people) and is cheaper when a similar co-payment/excess is selected.
- Non-surgical treatments for accidental injury
- Non-surgical treatments for illness
- Third party liability
- Dental
- Routine care
- Vaccinations
- Vet consultations
- Alternative treatments
- Pre-existing conditions
- Non-surgical treatments for hereditary conditions
- Breeding conditions
- Parasite treatments
- Occupational treatments
- Emergency boarding
- Overseas treatments
- 7 days for accidental injury
- 21 days for medical treatments
- $400 / $700 for scans & x-rays
- $700 / $1,100 for patella & cruciate
- $700 / $1,100 for cruciate
- $900 / $1,800 for cancer
- Low cost alternative plan
- Max age for new pets is 12 years old
- Symptom-free hereditary conditions are covered
- Relatively low 10% co-payment
-
Several condition limits
-
Only covers treatments surrounding surgeries
-
Noo extras or add-ons
As the label says, these two plans have a small annual limit of $1,500 or $3,000 for surgical treatments (only) relating to accidental injury, illnesses and even hereditary conditions (that were absent for the first 3 years of life). The obvious win here is that you have low limits and therefore low premiums, but the downside is that big vet bills won't be well covered and that there are a range of conditions that are outside what's covered under the umbrella of 'surgical treatments' - namely anything that doesn't require surgery.
One more major upside is that the maximum age for new pets is 12 years old or younger - much older than most other plans.
Downsides include several condition limits - $400 / $700 for scans & x-rays, $700 / $1,100 for patella & cruciate injuries and $900 / $1,800 for cancer. Also, the 10% co-payment on all claims. Still though, the Petnsur Surgery and Surgery Plus Plans are two of your best options for cheap pet insurance in New Zealand.
An alternatives is Petnsur's Rhodium Plan which covers more than just surgical treatments and but has higher premiums and annual limits, without condition limits. Or even PD Insurance's Accident Plan which obviously only covers accidents but also only has an excess of up to $200 without a co-payment.
- Third party liability
- Dental
- Routine care
- Vaccinations
- Alternative treatments
- Hereditary conditions
- Breeding conditions
- Occupational treatments
- 21 days for illness
- 6 months for cruciate ligament injury (waived with a vet's note)
- $500 for vet consultations
- $1,500 for emergency boarding
- $4,000 for cruciate ligament
- $4,000 for intervertebral disc disease
- Covers parasite treatments
- Covers emergency boarding & overseas treatment
- Waive cruciate ligament & pre-existing conditions with a vet's note
- Higher than average 10% multi-pet discount
-
No cover for dental or routine care
-
Large 20% co-payment
-
Several specific condition limits
Still, this policy is one of the few in New Zealand that covers parasite treatments, emergency boarding and overseas treatments (in Australia and Norfolk Island) so is definitely worth considering if you're after this type of cover. It is also one of the only pet insurance plans in New Zealand with the ability to waive pre-existing conditions with a vet's note.
And we definitely don't have a problem with the 10% multi pet discount which is more than most pet insurance companies in New Zealand offer.
Our issues mainly come from the relatively large and inflexible 20% co-payment on all claims. This means you can't choose to pay more or less upfront but less or more when it comes time to make a claim. Combined with their condition limits and lack of cover in other important areas like dental and routine care and this policy is hard to love.
Another option is AA's only pet insurance plan which has all the same level of cover as well as dental and hereditary conditions along with similar condition limits but more flexibility with picking your own policy limit/premiums.
- Third party liability
- Dental
- Routine care
- Pre-existing conditions
- Breeding conditions
- Parasite treatments
- Occupational treatments
- Overseas treatments
- 7 days for accidental injury
- 21 days for medical treatments
- $20 for vaccination
- $60 / $100 / $150 for emergency boarding
- $150 / $250 / $350 for alternative treatments
- $600 / $700 / $800 for patella
- $600 / $700 / $800 for cruciate
- $1,200 / $1,400 / $1,600 for cancer
- $1,500 / $2,000 / $3,000 for medical treatments
- $2,500 / $4,000 / $6,000 for surgical treatments
- For most pets up to 12 years old
- Many extras covered
- No long stand-down periods
-
High co-payment up to 30%
-
Lower than average policy limits
-
Small condition limits for extras
Perhaps the most attractive thing about these plans is their level of cover. Compared to Petnsur's Rhodium Plan, the Silver, Gold and Platinum Plans cover vaccinations and emergency boarding as well as a number of extras from desexing & microchipping, to lost pet costs, funeral costs, replacement pet costs and even alternative therapies (Petnsur is the only pet insurance with this cover). However, the condition limits for these extras are also very small meaning that they don't actually help that much when it comes to claim time.
Also, depending on the plan you chose and therefore the premiums you'll pay, you'll have a co-payment of 30%, 25% or 20% and a policy limit of $4,000, $6,000 or $9,000 - that's a pretty high co-payment and low policy limit compared to other pet insurance plans with similar coverage in New Zealand.
It should be said that several major treatments like patella & cruciate surgeries as well as cancer also have condition limits as do medical and surgical treatments respectively making this plan somewhat limiting for the biggest potential vet bills. Consider Petnsur's Rhodium Plan for no condition limits or AA Pet Insurance's Accident + Illness Plan for similar cover but even more flexibility around premiums and costs.
- Dental
- Routine care
- Vaccinations
- Pre-existing conditions
- Breeding conditions
- Parasite treatments
- Occupational treatments
- Emergency boarding
- Overseas treatments
- 7 days for accidental injury
- 21 days for medical treatments
- $3,000 for hospital expenses
- $3,000 for prescription medication
- $3,000 for xrays & scans
- $3,000 for blood & pathology tests
- $5,000 for hereditary conditions
- $5,000 for vet consultations
- $5,000 for all other non-elective treatments
- $7,250 for theatre & surgical costs
- $13,000 for third party liability
- Shorter than average stand down periods
- Simple plan with wide cover
- New policies available up to 12 years
-
Sizeable 20% co-payment
-
Several restrictive condition limits
-
No regular discounts available
The biggest points of difference with the Titanium Plan are that you get third party liability and routine care cover but lose cover for vaccinations and emergency boarding. Otherwise the 20% co-payment stays, as does the 12 year maximum age for new policies and the very reasonable stand down periods of 7 days for injuries and 21 days for illness.
Your policy limit with the Titanium Plan also doubles to $18,000 from the Platinum Plan although you do lose extra cover for smaller things like lost pet, funeral costs, desexing, microchipping, and alternative therapies.
Another downside is the condition limits. Of the total $18,000, you'll only get $3,000 for hospital expenses, tests and scans, $5,000 for most non-elective treatments, vet visits, and hereditary conditions, and $7,250 for theatre & surgical costs. All in all that's a bit disappointing for a plan that's supposed to be designed for your largest vet bills. PD's Deluxe Plan might not cover routine care but it has more generous condition limits so is definitely worth considering instead especially because the premiums are half as expensive.
- Third party liability
- Dental
- Routine care
- Vaccinations
- Pre-existing conditions
- Breeding conditions
- Parasite treatments
- Occupational treatments
- Emergency boarding
- Overseas treatments
- 7 days for accidental injury
- 21 days for medical treatments
- None
- $300 co-payment only
- No condition limits
- Injury, illness and hereditary cover
- Short stand down periods
-
Relatively low policy limit
-
Not for pets over 8 years old
Better yet, there are no condition limits with this plan, so the full $6,000 can go towards one or many different claims throughout a given policy year. The other major highlights of this plan are that hereditary conditions will be covered so long as they aren't present in the pet's first 3 years of life and that there are relatively short stand down periods for this plan - 7 days for accidental injury and 21 days for medical treatments.
And it's worth mentioning the very competitive sign up offer too - six weeks of no obligation free insurance with cover for up to $2,000 is worth nabbing even if you decide that you don't need pet insurance.
If we have to criticize the Rhodium Plan a bit we could say that the policy limit is pretty low and that it doesn't offer much extra cover e.g. third party liability or emergency boarding, but to be fair it's not really built for this with a lower level of cover than the policies like Cove's Major Plan or SPCA's Big Stuff Cover.
*The average monthly cost of dog insurance for policies listed on this page is based on quotes obtained for a female Labrador Retriever named Quoty. She's desexed and we've picked the maximum policy limit, excess and co-payment where we had the option (a moderately expensive option) because she's a good girl. We haven't selected any add-ons. Quotes were last updated in April 2024.
What's the Best Pet Insurance for 10 Year Old Dogs?
If your dog has reached their tenth birthday then there are only nine dog insurance plans in New Zealand that they are eligible for, the PD Insurance Accident Plan, Petcover Safety-net Plan (Economy), Petnsur Surgery / Surgery Plus Plans, Petnsur Silver / Gold / Platinum Plans, Petnsur Titanium Plan, Southern Cross Pet Insurance AcciPet Plan, SPCA Pet Insurance Everyday Cover, SPCA Pet Insurance Big Stuff Cover, and the Tower Pet Insurance Accident Only Plan.
How Much Does Older Dog Insurance Cost?
Accident-only older dog insurance plans on the other-hand are much cheaper ranging from just over $10 to $30 per month. They are also widely available for older dogs, with more lenient age restrictions.
Different dog breeds have different health and life expectancies which impacts the cost to insure them during old age. Similarly, the more cover you want for your older dog, the more likely it is that the insurance company will have a big bill, so your monthly premiums will be higher.
There are several ways to reduce the cost of your senior dog insurance including:
- Sign Up Bonuses - Many pet insurers offer discounted premiums and free months for new policy holders, but most of the time these offers are only for puppies. Consider PD Insurance where all dogs get their first month free.
- Other discounts - Multi policy discounts, multi pet discounts, membership discounts and even discounts when you pay annually are widely available and can make a noticeable dent in your monthly costs.
- Comparing prices before you buy - It takes about two minutes to get a quote for your dog online so pick a couple of policies you like and get a few quotes. As you'll see in the table below, some insurances are much more expensive than others.
- Selecting a larger excess/co-payment - After you've narrowed down your options, estimate what you'd be able to pay at the vet and then pick the maximum excess and co-payment you can. A 10% increase in co-payment and $200 increase in excess can lead to up to a 50% reduction in your premiums.
- Reducing cover - Does your older dog need third party liability cover? How about vaccinations? And emergency boarding? Try to be selective with the cover options you chose base your decisions off of your dogs medical history and breed's expected health outcomes.
How Does Age Affect the Cost of Dog Insurance?
As you can see in the table below, for every 2 years your dog ages, your insurance premiums will increase by about 10 to 20%.
Plan | Cost (6 years) | Cost (8 years) | Cost (10 years) | Cost (12 years) | Cost (14 years) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
AA Pet Insurance Accidental Injuries + Illness | $72.08 | $89.90 | N/A | N/A | N/A |
Cove Pet Insurance Accident Only Plan | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
Cove Pet Insurance Major Plan | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
Cove Pet Insurance Major + Minor Plan | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
PD Insurance Accident Plan | $27.51 | $32.14 | $32.14 | N/A | N/A |
PD Insurance Classic Plan | $90.54 | $105.77 | N/A | N/A | N/A |
PD Insurance Deluxe Plan | $112.61 | $128.49 | N/A | N/A | N/A |
Petcover Safety-net Plan (Economy) | $90.88 | $98.60 | $127.30 | N/A | N/A |
Petcover Safety-net Plan (Catastrophe 1 / Catastrophe 2) | $76.17 / $91.00 | $86.33 / $103.21 | N/A | N/A | N/A |
Petcover Mid-range Plan (Core / Vital / Key) | $56.77 / $64.27 / $89.72 | $64.26 / $72.79 / $101.76 | N/A | N/A | N/A |
Petcover Superior Plans (Entry / Mid-Point / Superior) | $120.31 / $135.03 / $161.51 | $130.61 / $146.61 / $175.42 | N/A | N/A | N/A |
Petnsur Surgery / Surgery Plus Plans | $26.30 / $41.20 | $28.69 / $44.95 | $31.09 / $48.69 | N/A | N/A |
Petnsur Rhodium Plan | $90.01 | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
Petnsur Silver / Gold / Platinum Plans | $61.31 / $87.17 / $111.11 | $72.45 / $105.33 / $121.21 | $78.02 / $112.60 / $131.31 | N/A | N/A |
Petnsur Titanium Plan | $477.04 | $636.05 | $636.05 | $636.05 | N/A |
Southern Cross Pet Insurance AcciPet Plan | $13.85 | $13.85 | $13.85 | $13.85 | $13.85 |
Southern Cross Pet Insurance PetCare Plan | $71.54 | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
SPCA Pet Insurance Everyday Cover | $91.23 | $98.04 | $104.29 | $130.08 | $185.31 |
SPCA Pet Insurance The Works Cover | $108.25 | $126.85 | N/A | N/A | N/A |
SPCA Pet Insurance Big Stuff Cover | $62.96 | $72.56 | $80.29 | $104.68 | $157.26 |
Tower Pet Insurance Accident Only Plan | $25.61 | $26.59 | $27.91 | $27.91 | $27.91 |
Tower Pet Insurance Essential Plan | $61.49 | $63.81 | N/A | N/A | N/A |
Tower Pet Insurance Comprehensive Plan | $73.19 | $75.96 | N/A | N/A | N/A |
The Cheapest Pet Insurance Plans for Older Dogs in New Zealand
Be aware that having a higher excess and co-payment does bring the cost of this plan down, it's $39.60 per month if you if you elect to have a $100 excess and 10% co-payment instead.
Other cheap accident-only senior dog insurance plans plans include Tower's Accident-Only Plan ($25.61 to $27.91 per month with a 20% co-payment) and PD Insurance's Accident Plan ($27.51 to $32.14 per month with a $200 excess).
Still though, the AcciPet Plan doesn't get more expensive as your dog gets older. See prices and comparisons of the New Zealand's cheapest pet insurance plans here.
How Much Do Older Dogs Cost?
This includes the costs of an "increased frequency of wellness checks," but also if, "a late stage disease is discovered, it gets incredibly costly, very fast. This is why a proactive preventative approach is best: regular wellness checks, good quality food and appropriate portions, healthy treats, routine daily exercise, and overall being aware that changes are coming and to look for them.”
![Here are some common treatment costs that older dog insurance can you to cover](https://comparesies-website.transforms.svdcdn.com/production/assets/img/average-treatment-costs-for-a-dog-NZ.png?w=1200&h=600&auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=clip&dm=1715589951&s=fec4fc6755ce3ffaf124a91890b3f4d5)
Common illnesses/accidents | Average treatment cost | Highest treatment cost |
---|---|---|
Dental disease | $503 | $1,053 |
Skin infection and allergies | $229 | $2,446 |
Toxic ingestion | $439 | $2,303 |
Insect bites/stings | $223 | $952 |
Eye infection | $209 | $2,751 |
Ear infection | $230 | $1,316 |
Gastrointestinal | $369 | $4,398 |
Lumps/cysts/tumours | $486 | $1,617 |
Urinary tract infection | $425 | $2,122 |
Cruciate ligament | $3,400 | $4,587 |
Given these costs, it's unsurprising that older dogs cost more than younger dogs - which is why insurance premiums for older dogs can by increase by 10% to 30% depending on your dog insurance plan.
Ultimately, the increased cost of owning an older dog, and the fact some insurance plans do not allow you take out new policies for older dogs, are why we recommend taking out a full-coverage dog insurance plan before your dog reaches old age. Any conditions that they develop in their old age will be covered by your existing policy, potentially reducing your future costs by tens of thousands.
What Conditions Should Senior Dog Insurance Cover?
- Hearing and vision loss
- Dementia
- Cancer
- Heart problems
- Gastrointestinal issues
- Kidney issues
- Liver issues
- Arthritis and other joint issues
Given the prevalence of joint problems in senior dogs, paying attention to condition limits for things like cruciate ligament injury, patella luxation, hip dysplasia and intervertebral disc disease is also wise. Each plan has different limits but generally AA Pet Insurance, PD Pet Insurance, Southern Cross Pet Insurance and SPCA Pet Insurance have the most generous condition limits for these conditions (when they have condition limits at all).
The other important thing to pay attention to when you're taking it out a new pet insurance policy for your older dog is which insurance providers will cover pre-existing conditions.
Pet Insurance Plans for Older Dogs That Cover Pre Existing Conditions
Plan | Maximum Age | Excess / Co-payment | Annual Cover Limit |
---|---|---|---|
AA Pet Insurance Accidental Injuries + Illness Plan | 9 years old | $0, $100, $250 or $500 excess / 20% co-payment | $5,000, $10,000 or $15,000 |
SPCA Pet Insurance Everyday Cover Plan | None | 30% co-payment | $11,000, $2,000 per condition |
SPCA Pet Insurance The Works Cover Plan | 9 years old | 20% co-payment | $20,000 |
SPCA Pet Insurance Big Stuff Cover Plan | None | $1,000 excess / 20% co-payment | $25,000 |
These plans don't automatically cover pre-existing conditions (you need to purchase pet insurance before a condition arises to automatically get cover). Rather, you'll need to prove with a vet's not that your pet is no longer affected by a past condition. Generally there is also a time-period (eg. 18 months) where your dog must not have been treated for the condition in qustion.
Summary: Is Older Dog Insurance Worth Buying?
Insurance will probably only ever feel 'worth it' if you are unlucky enough to have to make a claim but given the increased likelihood of needing the vet as your dog ages, for many it saves them thousands.
Still, paying the high premiums of an older dog insurance policy might not be the right decision for every senior dog owner and this is a decision that you and your family will have to make. Seeking the professional advice of your vet may also help you to weigh the potential benefits and downsides of buying dog insurance or not.
![Team member Mason profile picture](https://comparesies-website.transforms.svdcdn.com/production/assets/img/users/mason-kelliher-2/Mason_2024-01-26-172840_vwfb.png?w=200&h=200&q=60&auto=format&fit=clip&dm=1719998191&s=738265e127cb5300dc89629187c48207)
Mason was born and raised in New Zealand before moving to US and then Sweden. Despite looking so youthful, he worked as a senior website manager for 5 years before founding Comparesies. Mason's expertise in insurance is the most valuable asset for our users. Today he is the primary author/editor on Comparesies.
![Team member Louis profile picture](https://comparesies-website.transforms.svdcdn.com/production/assets/img/users/louis-jouhet/Louis_2024-01-26-172852_jezc.png?w=200&h=200&q=60&auto=format&fit=clip&dm=1710405284&s=16df10be4af75171ebedff99e2df4334)
Louis has worked in the comparison industry for 5 years in Sweden after founding another company in France. His industry experience, and strong communication skills have been invaluable in building the bridge between our community and our content. Louis is our ideas man and is responsible for sourcing user and specialist opinions.
![Team member Thibault profile picture](https://comparesies-website.transforms.svdcdn.com/production/assets/img/users/thibault-helle/thibault.png?w=200&h=200&q=60&auto=format&fit=clip&dm=1711192356&s=1539ae92f2837f204892fefb123cf2f8)
Thibault has an engineering background from both France and Sweden. Comparesies is his second company after successfully founding a tech scaleup. His experience is vast within insurances and customer satisfaction. Thibault is responsible for maintaining the website and sharing his knowledge through page editing.