- Customer Reviews and Ratings
- Asda Pet Insurance Price Comparison
- Asda Pet Insurance Notable Features
Choosing the right cat or dog insurance policy for you will depend upon the individual needs of you and your pet. Use the information in this guide to help you understand which features are important to you in order to make the best buying decision. We also advise reading through the policy wording before you buy.
Asda Pet Insurance Review
Asda offers decent value pet insurance for relatively low prices; their best cover is with their Lifetime policies, available with £2,000, £4,000 or £10,000 of vet cover.
We like that their accident and illness policies include holiday cancellation and boarding cover, death cover and euthanasia cover, but they don't include dental illness or cremation/burial.
Claims must be submitted within 60 days, which is shorter than it used to be (180 days) and shorter than competitors who offer a full year.
There's a 10% copay once your pet turns 5 (but may vary by breed) that you pay in addition to the fixed excess. This can be a pro and a con. The con is that you'll have to contribute more towards vet fees for older pets; the pro is that your premiums might be lower as a result of the copay. The fixed excess is £100 - £250, as chosen by you (although some breeds have a higher minimum excess e.g. £200).
Asda previously said in their policy wording that premiums would rise with age and with claims history:
"Like humans, our pets are more likely to be affected by illness as they get older. This means that every year, your insurance premium will increase even if you have not made a claim. This increase may be more significant if you have claimed."
It's not surprising that their premiums rise with pet age—this is common throughout the industry. But not all companies raise prices if you claim. The most recent policy wording (December 2023) does not include this language any more, so perhaps Asda has changed their policy, but it is not clear from their documentation. It is normal for pet insurance to get more expensive each year, whether or not you claim, simply because of your pets age. Why? Older pets usually have more health issues.
Pet owners are required to keep their dogs and cats in a good general state of health—pets must be up to date with required vaccinations and receive an annual dental check with a vet.
Customer Reviews
| Asda Customer Reviews and Ratings | |
|---|---|
| Trustpilot customer reviews | 4.6 out of 5 |
Asda Money is rated 4.6 out of 5 stars on Trustpilot by over 5,000 people—a massive improvement in the past year. These reviews mostly reflect credit cards, but there are a few related to pet insurance. It's a bit of a mixed bag for pet insurance, with more negative reviews than positive reviews lately. But given the small-ish number of pet insurance-related related reviews, it looks like most reviews are for complaints rather than a wide representation of the product and service.
The most common complaints recently are related to long waits to have claims assessed and paid out. Here is a sample. Price rises have also been a common theme in the past.
"Pet Insurance - take money won't pay out. Taken 6 weeks to 'assess' a claim which was completed by our vet. First claim ever for a 7 year old spaniel. After complaining about length of time - got email saying that they need more info from the vet. If not received from them in 30 days - they will close the claim and we need to start again from the beginning. To add insult to injury just got the renewal and up by over 50%. Do not use. Will cancel for my 2nd dog - just take the premiums but won't pay out."
"Checking up on a claim for pet insurance which has now been in their inbox for 9 days to be told that it will take around another 25-30 days before its even dealt with! Thankful my renewal is due in 2 months & will definitely be going elsewhere."
"Pet insurance - Price hike. After 7 years insurance, ranging from £20/month to £40 per month, through change of address my monthly increased to £59. This was completely unacceptable. I found alternative cover for £19/month with others. ASDA Money Pet insurance thrives on customers NOT looking around."
"Asda Pet insurance rip-off renewal. Pet insurance renewal, increased by 19% from previous year, that also had an in contract raise already. Took out a plan with same cover with Admiral, over £200 cheaper, so go figure why I binned Asda. I would have given zero stars but that wouldn't work."
"I have been under ASDA pet insurance for two years for my cat (since he was born). I sent a claims for my cat who suddenly became lame on his hind leg. It's been over two months without any progress. And today, they asked for full history ( that cat was born two years ago , and no past medical history. Shocking service and can't wait to change to some other insurance provider. I would not recommend ASDA insurance to anyone."
"Amazing pet insurance. Pays claims promptly and the app that you get with help from vets has been so helpful to us."
"I made 2 pet insurance claims in August/September time. After they contacted my previous vet for medical history and had no reply, they closed my case. I had to chase this up myself, and they then told me after a few emails back an forth that they had enough information to finish my claims. This was months ago and I still haven't had this sorted. I have emailed several times which have been ignored. This company is more hassle than its worth."
There are not very many customer reviews of Asda pet insurance online, but we found a few at SmartMoneyPeople. If you have anything to say about Asda pet insurance please leave a comment at the bottom of this review. Here is what a few real customers think of Asda pet insurance:
"Asda Pet insurance for our dog worked out half the price a month compared to our previous insurer!""Claiming recently for a vets bill was very straightforward. The forms were emailed to me, and simple to do. Asda kept me updated every step of the way by text and email until the claim was processed. Very easy and very pleased."
". when the time came for claiming for operations, the vets could claim directly, without us having to pay and claim back via the insurance company like some. They were very caring in the time of need and paid out quickly and successfully for thousands of pounds worth of treatment. Highly recommend."
Asda Quote Comparison
Asda pet insurance seems to be on the cheaper side. For example, Lifetime dog insurance premiums for a one-year-old mixed breed dog start from around £150 a year which is less than the average cost of pet insurance in the UK. Asda quotes will vary depending on factors like where you live and the age and breed of your pet, however.
To see how prices vary by product (e.g., Time Limited vs Lifetime and by vet fee limit), we ran sample quotes for a one-year-old mixed breed dog. Your prices will vary.
Asda pet insurance quote comparisonAsda Notable Features
Here is a brief overview of the notable features of Asda dog and cat insurance. For a complete rundown of the details and exclusions, please refer to the policy documents. Conditions and terms apply to all benefits, as always.
Asda Pet Insurance Features
- Cover for Holiday Cut Short. Cover if you have to cancel or curtail your holiday because your pet needs emergency life-saving surgery (within 7 days of departure for cancellation cover); trips booked last minute, within 28 days of departure, are excluded.
- Cover When You're Unwell. Covers some boarding fees if you're unable to care for you dog because you're in hospital at least 4 days in a row.
- Travel. Policy is valid when you travel on holiday outside of the UK with your pet for 30 days for Accident only, Value, Vital, Standard cover or Classic or 365 days under Superior cover.
- Death of pet. Cover If your pet dies or is euthanised for humane reasons due to injury or illness (no cover once your dog is 9 years old or cat is 11 years old).
- Euthanasia. Up to £100 for putting your pet to sleep in the event that this was not caused by a pre-existing condition or a condition not covered by the insurance.
- Medicine. Will pay maximum of 100% mark up on manufacturer's or wholesaler's price for veterinary medicines
Types of Asda Dog and Cat Insurance Policies
Asda offers two types of pet insurance—Time Limited and Lifetime, with vet cover ranging from £2,000 up to £10,000. For more information on pet insurance cover in general, please see our article on What Does Pet Insurance Cover in the UK.
All of Asda's accident and illness pet insurance plans include some level of reimbursement for boarding fees (see policy docs for all details, but roughly this reimburses for some boarding costs in case you are hospitalized for an emergency or your home becomes uninhabitable due to flood, fire, etc.), holiday cancellation, death from accident, euthanasia, cremation, third party liability and access to Asda's bereavement helpline.
Asda has gotten rid of their Accident Only plan and now sells Time Limited and Lifetime pet insurance. Here's a quick overview of the plans on offer:
Asda Time Pet Insurance
Asda's Time Limited products cover up to 12 months of treatment costs, up to a limit of either £1,500 ('Value') or £3,500 ('Standard') per accident or illness. For example, for a given accident or illness you can claim for many treatments related to that incident for up to 12 months or until you reach the maximum cover amount—whichever comes sooner. Once you claimed for 12 months or £1,500/£3,500 of treatments, you can no longer claim for that particular incident.
The 12-month clock starts from the date the condition initially occurred.
Asda Lifetime Pet Insurance
Asda offers three Lifetime pet insurance levels, with annual vet cover of up to £2,000, £4,000 or £10,000. These limits reset each year when you renew your policy.
Lifetime policies are considered to be the best type of pet insurance and are usually the most expensive—as well as providing the highest levels of cover, reimbursement of conditions is not subject to a time limit or a per-condition limit (just the annual limit, which resets each year). Lifetime cover can provide financial assistance for ongoing chronic or recurring health issues for your dog or cat so is most beneficial if your budget allows.
FAQs
Does Asda pet insurance have multipet discounts? Yes, pet owners can save up to 10% when insuring two or more pets with Asda. How to claim on Asda pet insurance?To submit a pet insurance claim with Asda, either use a claim form that should have been sent to you or call 0333 999 0933. Claims are supposed to be completed and submitted within 60 days of the pet receiving the treatment or as soon as possible thereafter.
How do I cancel Asda pet insurance?You'll need to call to cancel your Asda pet insurance. The phone number depends on which policy you have. Click here to see a list of numbers.
Does Asda pet insurance cover dental? All Asda pet insurance covers dental accidental injury but not dental illness claims. What's the Asda pet insurance excess?The Asda pet insurance excess ranges from £100 to £250 depending on the pet and policyholder's preference. Plus, the excess increases for older pets through the addition of a 10% copay (this may vary by breed, e.g. for pets aged 5 and over).
Does Asda pet insurance cover out of hours costs?If take your pet for out-of-hours treatment, Asda will only cover costs if waiting for normal surgery hours would "seriously endanger your pet’s health. The vet that treated your pet must also confirm this in writing. "
Who underwrites Asda pet insurance?Asda pet insurance policies are administered by Insurance Factory Limited for the underwriters, which do not seem to be disclosed in the policy booklet but was previously said to be West Bay Insurance plc.
Does Asda pet insurance automatically renew?If you pay by Direct Debit, your policy should auto renew and Asda will continue to take payments. If you do not want to renew your policy, you must tell them before your renewal date. They don't offer automatic renewal with all payment methods (e.g. credit or debit card).
How does Asda Pet Insurance Compare to Competitors?
To better understand the value of Asda Pet Insurance you need to look at it in the context of other available options. We compared this insurer to other similar insurers so you can see which may be more suitable for you.
Asda Pet Insurance vs PetPlan
PetPlan Pet Insurance is the largest insurer of dogs and cats in the UK. Due to this, many vets are accustomed to submitting claims on behalf of pet owners, which can save you a lot of hassle—plus you get a full 12 months to submit claims for reimbursement. PetPlan policies include dental illness and injury but don't cover euthanasia. However, older pets (i.e., dogs aged 5 or 8 depending on breed, cats aged 10) are not eligible for new Lifetime policies and can only sign up for a Time Limited policy. Additionally, owners of older pets must contribute more towards vet bills, through the addition of a 20% copay.
Quick Takeaway: Asda may be a better option if you're looking for a lower premium. However those looking for a pet specialist, dental illness and/or a longer claims submission window might prefer PetPlan.
Asda Pet Insurance vs Agria Pet Insurance
Agria Pet Insurance offers plans with very good value from a specialist pet insurer. Agria is able to charge lower premiums by 1) offering some features as add-ons, so you only pay for them if you want and 2) having the pet owner pay a 10% copay in addition to the fixed excess (of £95 or £160 for dogs, £85 or £160 for cats). We like that Agria is a specialist pet insurer with a long history. Agria plans offer some desirable features, such as dental, euthanasia, 6+ months to claim and cremation/burial, plus congenital conditions are covered. The cost for a young, healthy crossbreed dog is around £350 per year for a plan with £6,500 of vet cover and a £95 fixed excess + 10% copay; a British shorthair with an £85 excess + 10% copay would cost around £325 for the same level of cover.
Bottom Line: If you want dental illness cover and a longer time to claim, Agria can be a good option—but as standard you'll have to pay a larger share of any vet bills that arise.
Asda Pet Insurance vs Animal Friends Pet Insurance
Animal Friends Pet Insurance is a specialist pet insurer, whose plans stand out for lower-than-average premiums (partially achieved through per condition limits, even on Lifetime plans) and they publicly state on their website that they don't penalize for claims by increasing premiums upon renewal. Those with older pets can insure their dogs and cats with Animal Friends, as there is no upper age limit for new policies, even Lifetime cover—but there is a 20% copay (in addition to the £99 fixed excess) for dogs aged 8+ and cats aged 10+. Animal Friends doesn't have dental cover or a vet line to call with queries, however, plus claims need to be submitted within 90 days. Our price check showed a range of £130 to £390 for Lifetime cover for a healthy, young crossbreed dog, significantly lower than average.
Bottom Line: If you're very price conscious, you'll can probably find a lower premium with an Animal Friends plan—but be aware of their annual per condition limits on Lifetime plans.
Other Useful Information
Erin Yurday is the Founder and Editor of NimbleFins. Prior to NimbleFins, she worked as an investment professional and as the finance expert in Stanford University's Graduate School of Business case writing team. Read more on LinkedIn.
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By Erin Yurday, Founder updated on June 27, 2024The guidance on this site is based on our own analysis and is meant to help you identify options and narrow down your choices. We do not advise or tell you which product to buy; undertake your own due diligence before entering into any agreement. Read our full disclosure here.
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