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Cats & dogs only. Some customers cited price hikesWhether you have a cat or a dog, pet insurance could potentially save you thousands of pounds in vet bills. With Sainsbury’s Bank you can choose between three different levels of protection, with its two most comprehensive policies 5-star rated by Defaqto.
In this guide we give a quick breakdown of all the different pet insurance policies Sainsbury’s Bank offers and provide a list of pros and cons, so you can quickly decide whether Sainsbury’s has the policy you need.
You might well have guessed that Sainsbury’s Bank is an offshoot of the supermarket chain. Since launching back in 1997, it has provided financial services such as credit cards and mortgages, as well as a range of insurance policies.
When it comes to pet insurance, it aims to provide flexible cover for cats and dogs. It says it pays 90% of claims within 7 working days.
Sainsbury’s Bank has three levels of cover, ranging from Standard to Premier Plus. You can get cover if you have a cat or a dog, though it offers separate policies for the two species.
The policies have many of the same features though, with the only real difference being that dogs will be covered for third-party liability, while cats won’t. This shouldn’t be an issue though, unless your cat is incredibly naughty and likely to tear up your neighbour’s furniture.
It’s also worth pointing out your furry friend is only eligible if they’re aged between eight weeks and nine years old.
Standard cover is Sainsbury’s Bank’s most basic level of pet insurance. It will cover your cat or dog for a specific injury, illness or condition for 12 months from when they first receive treatment. Or until the maximum vet fee limit (as outlined in your policy) is reached.
Features of this policy include:
With Premier cover you’ll get all of the same features and benefits as with a Standard policy, though there is no time limit on this policy.
So if your pet has a recurring condition, which means it’s still getting treatment over a year after it first started showing symptoms, you’ll be covered. You’ll also be covered for higher amounts when it comes to vet bills and other claims.
Features of this policy include:
This is Sainsbury’s Bank’s most comprehensive pet insurance policy. It offers the largest financial protection for vet fees and personal liability claims. It has no time limit. So if your pet has a prolonged illness or problem it will be covered.
Features of this policy include:
With any of Sainsbury’s Bank’s pet insurance deals you’ll get protected against many of the same risks, although you’ll get greater financial protection with Premier Plus than with a Standard policy.
Check out the below table to see all the features and benefits for Standard, Premier and Premier Plus in more detail.
| Benefits | Standard | Premier | Premier Plus |
|---|---|---|---|
| Injury veterinary fees | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Illness veterinary fees | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Third party liability (dogs only) | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Complementary treatment and physiotherapy | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Treatment for behavioural illness | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Death from accident | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Death from illness | Optional | Optional | Optional |
| Death from injury | Optional | Optional | Optional |
| Compensation for lost or stolen pet | Optional | Optional | Optional |
| Emergency cattery/kennel costs | Optional | Optional | Optional |
| Finding lost pet costs | Optional | Optional | Optional |
| Holiday cancellation and curtailment | Optional | Optional | Optional |
As with all pet insurers, Sainsbury’s Bank has a list of general exclusions. These include:
An excess is the amount of money you have to pay towards any claim on your pet insurance. If there weren’t excess costs people would claim all the time, so insurers require customers to foot part of the bill too.
How much you have to pay in excess fees will depend on your pet’s individual policy and the claim you’re making. To see exactly how much you’ll have to fork out, see your excess costs in your certificate of insurance.
First things first, you’ll need to obtain a claims form. Head to the Sainsbury’s Bank pet insurance website and download one there, or call its customer helpline on 0330 100 7914 and it will send you a form.
You can upload the claims form on the website too, or send it to: Sainsbury’s Pet Insurance, Claims Department, Great West House (GW2, Great West Road, Brentford, Middlesex TW8 9DX.
Once Sainsbury’s has received your filled-out form, it will assess your claim and if successful, send you a cheque. It might subtract an excess fee from the total: you can see how much this will be in your certificate of insurance.
There are a number of factors that can affect the cost of your Sainsbury’s Bank pet insurance premium, including:
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