Agria Pet Insurance Review

You must be over 18 and live in the UK

You must own the pet and it must live with you.

Your pet must be older than eight weeks.

Agria have two policies Lifetime and Lifetime Plus.

The Lifetime policy covers a maximum benefit of £6,500

The Lifetime Plus policy covers a maximum benefit of £12,500

Both policies provide lifelong vet’s fees cover for illnesses and injuries. Provided your policy is renewed each year, your maximum benefit will be refreshed, providing cover for ongoing conditions.

Note the limits are a total for all claims and not per condition.

Significant areas that Agria Pet Insurance will not cover are:

1. Routine Examinations or tests.
2. Preventative Veterinary treatment.
3. Castration or spaying.
4. Post Mortem examinations.
5. Vaccinations.
6. Grooming and routine removal of dew claws.
7. Routine emptying of anal glands.
8. Routine blood and urine tests.
9. More than two episodes of false pregnancy.
10. Products to control or kill fleas, worms, or skin mites.
11. Collars, surgical T-shirts and boots unless used to directly cover a wound.
12. Harnesses or slings to aid mobility.
13. The treatment of behavioural disorders not recommended by or carried out under the direction of a vet.
14. Behavioural disorders preventable by puppy training and socialisation.
15. Organ Transplants and the cost of any prosthesis (other than hips, elbows, patella groove replacements or eye lens implant).
16. Experimental veterinary treatment including stem cell therapy.
17. The cost of housing, cages and bedding.
18. Dogs for guarding security or racing.
19. The following Breeds of Dog: African Boerboel, Alapaha Blue Blood Bulldog, American Bull Terrier, American Bulldog, American Bully, American Pitbull Terrier, Bully Kutta, Cane Corso, Caucasian Shepherd, Czechoslovakian Wolfdog, Dogo Argentino, Fila Brasileiro, Japanese Tosa, Perro De Presa Canario (Canary Dog), Saarloos Wolfdog, Thai Ridgeback, any wolf hybrid and any cross with the preceding breeds.
    The following Breeds of Cat: Lykoi, Munchkin, any first or second filial (F1 or F2) generation cat (except for the F1 Safari Cat), any breed of wild cat and any cross with the preceding breeds.
20. Any dog which should be registered under the Dangerous Dogs Act.
21. Any claim that has been caused by your pet not being on a short lead while near livestock of any kind, including horses, whether kept for leisure or working purposes.

You must keep you dog vaccinated against distemper, hepatitis, leptospirosis and parvovirus.
Cats must be vaccinated against feline infectious enteritis, feline herpes virus, feline calicivirus and if at risk, feline leukaemia virus

Homeopathic nosodes are not acceptable as vaccines.

You agree to maintain your pet’s health, prevent the loss or theft of or injury or illness to your pet.
This includes following any instructions from a vet to reduce your pet’s weight.

Both Agria Pet Insurance policies cover the following complementary treatments up to a maximum of £1500 per year:

• Physiotherapy, including Laser Pulsed Magnetic Field and Shock Wave Therapy.
• Osteopathy, chiropractic treatment and Acupuncture.
• Up to 20 sessions of hydrotherapy for each separate illness or injury.
• Herbal Medicine.
• Pheromone products used for up to six months as part of a structured programme to permanently change your pet’s behaviour.
• The cost of Platelet Rich Plasma therapies up to £750.
• Any consultation fee to administer any of the above.

All treatments must have been recommended by a vet and carried out by a qualified practitioner.

Policies do not cover Matrix Energy Field Therapy, Reiki massage, Faith healing or Homeopathic medicine.

Both Agria Pet policies cover the full costs of MRI/CT Scans and Cruciate Ligament claims up to the vets fees limits.

Both policies cover the cost to put your pet to sleep, including the cost of cremation or burial and a house visit by your vet if required. Costs are covered up to £150.

You can insure more than one pet under the same policy, including a combination of dogs, cats and rabbits.

Agria offer a 5% multi-pet discount.

Neither policy will cover any of your pets pre-existing injuries or illness that first showed clinical signs before your policy started.

Both Agria policies allow you the option to extend cover when you take your pet abroad.

You are covered for up to 120 days in each period of insurance and covers Holiday Cancellation, Quarantine costs, Emergency Expenses whilst abroad, Emergency Vets Fees and loss of your pet's passport. Third Party Liability is also extended to cover you whilst abroad.

The policy is a 12 month contract with no guarantee that renewal terms will be offered.

Both policies cover 50% up to a maximum of £250 (for each separate illness or injury) of the cost of prescription pet food used to treat a specific illness or injury.

Dental work arising from tooth or gum disease is covered, provided your pet had a dental heath check in the last 12 months and any treatment carried out within three months of the recommendation.

The policy will not cover cosmetic dentistry, de-scaling, polishing, cleaning, other than when performed solely as treatment for an illness of the teeth or gums.

Crowns and Root canal treatments are not covered if it is purely for cosmetic reasons, the work is on teeth other than canine teeth, there are no clear advantages over tooth removal, your pet is a known stone chewer, or has badly damaged teeth, and or severe periodontal disease and the canine teeth are very loose.

The standard Agria policy does not cover treatments related to pregnancy.
However you do have the option to cover breeding risks, for which an additional premium will be required.

The Breeding Risks Section includes:

Fertility Examinations

1. For female pets. A fertility examination if your pet does not become pregnant after two matings.
2. For male pets. A fertility examination if your pet does not impregnate proven fertile females after two matings.

Pregnancy and Giving Birth

Covers the cost of veterinary treatment, including up to 50% of the cost of a clinical diet (up to a maximum of £250), as a result of complications from pregnancy, giving birth and weak or fading puppies or kittens.

Death from Pregnancy or Giving Birth

Compensation up to the amount you paid, or the pets market value if you do not have a purchase receipt, if your pet dies as a result of complications of pregnancy or giving birth.

Veterinary Fees for Puppies and Kittens

The cost of veterinary treatment in the event of an injury or illness to your puppies or kittens, from the time they were born up to 14 weeks for puppies and 20 weeks for kittens, or when the new owner collects them whichever comes first.

The breeding section does not cover the following:

• Your pet if they had already had two or more caesarean sections, or the cost of caesarean sections in respect of bulldogs, french bulldogs, Boston Terriers or Pekingese.
• Any costs if a fertility disorder, complications of pregnancy or giving birth or weak or fading kittens/puppies showed signs within 12 weeks of the start of the policy.
• Any costs if your pet was pregnant within the first 12 weeks of the policy.
• Any costs if your pet is less than one year old or over the age of seven years.
• Any costs if your female pet has had four pregnancies.
• Any costs if your puppies or kittens were conceived or born within 12 weeks of the start of the policy.
• If your pet has successfully impregnated on three occasions, or is aged 7 or more and not had a successful mating before.

The website doesn't provide much information on renewing your policy. The policy states that if they hold valid payment details and offer renewal terms, the policy will automatically renew. If you do not want to renew the policy you must contact them.

You may cancel your policy at any time. If you cancel within the first 14 days (known as the cooling off period) and haven't made a claim you will be entitled to a full refund of premium.

If you cancel outside the 14 day period and have not made a claim, you will be entitled to a pro-rata refund, less an administration charge of £25.00.

Agria Insurance state that they pay 97% of claims made. You are now able to complete all your claim details online, attach any relevant clinical history, receipts and state whether you want the vet to be paid direct.

There is no waiting period in respect of injury to your pet. There is no cover for the first 10 days of your policy in respect of illnesses.

In respect of dog claims you are required to pay the first £105 of any claim.

In respect of cat claims you are required to pay the first £85 of any claim.

You are required to make a contribution of 10% of any claim, in addition to the policy excess. The requirement is the same for both cats and dogs.

The site is modernistic in its layout. Cover is explained together with a breakdown of benefits. Access to the policy wording is available without the need to obtain a quote first.

The frequently asked questions is available and covers a few topics. No online chat or contact via email. Agria do operate a call back system, alternatively you can phone them. The Call centre is open monday - friday but closed at weekend. Our mystery shopper phone call was answered promptly and satisfactorily.

The quotation system is easy to use. You get the basic quote and then the option to add on extras before receiving details of the final cost.

Agria Insurance are not listed on any comparison sites. Visit their website direct to obtain quotes.

In addition to a claims and policy helpline, you have free access to a 24/7 Pet Health helpline and Pet Bereavement Support service.

The front of the policy wording contains a page full of useful helpline numbers and websites, but no summary of cover.

A standard layout with index at the beginning followed by a list of key features, benefits and significant exclusions for each section of cover.

Whilst this is useful, it is important to read the full features, benefits and exclusions for each section of cover.

The policy wording text had a reading score of 59.6 (out of 100), classed as average to read.

The text had an average reading age of 11 - 13 years. This means that a person with a reading age of 11-13 years should be able to understand the policy.

Agria Pet Insurance have received 2631 reviews on Trust Pilot with an excellent average rating of 4.7 out of 5.

Most customers are very satisfied with the service they receive from this company.

Agria Pet Insurance make the following administration charges:

Change of Name and Address - £25
Reissuing Policy Documentation - £25
Addition of Breeding Risks Cover - £25
Addition of Overseas Travel Cover - £25
Missed Instalments -£25
Cancellation of Policy outside of Cooling Off Period - £25

Agria are currently offering a £50 Healthcare voucher with every dog and cat policy.

Enter 'HS19' as a promotional code at the checkout.

Agria's award winning pet insurance is recommended by many breeders, animal rescue centres and vets.

Tailor made cover appealing to a wide range of customers, who require lifetime care for their Cat, Dog or Rabbit.

Recommended for customers planning to breed with their pets.

Remember that you will be required to pay an additional 10% of any claim on top of the standard excess.

How competitive is Agria's pet insurance?

According to our latest premium research both Agria's Lifetime and Lifetime plus policy were keenly priced especially taking into account the high levels of cover they provide.