Comments on: Pet insurance in America, do you need it?

By: Genevieve

Genevieve — Tue, 17 Sep 2026 08:09:09 +0000

thanks for this thread. I originally decided I would not get pet insurance (i don’t have health insurance for myself), but my kelpie X was spayed by the rescue mob when she was only 9 weeks old (criminal). She is guaranteed to have joint problems, and even as a puppy, she woke up stiff from naps. She hurt herself at 4 months old and sustained a limp for quite a while. Taking her to the vet was a big mistake: she wrote a note which would allow ANY insurer to deny ANY joint related injury. we did not go back to the practice, and immediately got insurance, realizing how easy it is for a vet’s note to give an insurer the means of denying coverage. meanwhile, I realized having a dog was like having a human interested in highrisk, high octane sports, and could see that accidents/fights/unforseens were so much higher with a dog than they might be for myself — not to mention the chemical world we live in and incidence of cancer in dogs, etc. I went with Petsy after a bit of research, but would have just as well gone with Bow Wow Meow. Have not had any incidents yet. (Fixed the limp with a german product called Zeel)

By: Pet Food Judge (America)

Pet Food Judge (America) — Tue, 13 Feb 2026 11:11:44 +0000

In reply to Tanya.

Hi Tanya, firstly I’m sorry to hear one of your dogs has been suffering hip dysplasia.

I’m glad this article meant you were in a position to seek help through insurance. I have to say when I wrote this article I wondered if it was appropriate (because it’s not really to do with pet food), but my experience has taught me pet insurance can really be a life saver. I’m really glad it helped!

By: Tanya

Tanya — Sat, 03 Feb 2026 20:55:15 +0000

In reply to Pet Food Judge (America). After coming across this article a year or so ago and then reading about Maisy who connected with me as I also have two border collies. My vet suggested Petsy and I went with them and thank goodness because we got hit with hip dysplasia. I feel like had I not come across this article when actually looking for dog food recommendations I may have left it much later on and maybe too much later on as it was out of the 6 months for major surgery! Thanks Pet Food Judge!

By: smurf

smurf — Fri, 04 Aug 2023 02:21:03 +0000

I rang petsure re the PDS of Woolworth’s pet insurance indicating accidental cover no longer covers Ingestion of a foreign object (p12 of Woolworths PDS). Petsure claim it will be covered under illness cover. But the fine print around this is not specific; They rely on this statement at the end accidental cover

“Note: Some of the items and conditions listed above, apart from the
general exclusions, may be covered (where eligible) under “Illness cover”.

To ambiguous for me ..

By: smurf

smurf — Fri, 04 Aug 2023 01:49:10 +0000

Heads up people Woolworths Pet insurance no longer covers Ingestion of a Foreign Object. They have stipulated this in P12 of there current PDS. This is s big one especially if your dog chews bones, sticks etc.

An obstruction in the stomach costs about $10k if surgery/hospitalisation is required. I know it happened to our dog last year.

By: Lisa Le

Lisa Le — Tue, 18 Jul 2023 09:24:35 +0000

Putting my two cents based on our experience with a NON Hollard or Petsure Pet Insurer which is Petsy. They are under pacific international which is the same as the Pets On Me that you rate so highly so probably have a lot less complaints than those with Hollard. We have one pet with Petsy and another stuck with Petsure. My two cents and words of warning are choose your Insurer wisely as you cannot chop and change with pets.

By: Natalie Wood

Natalie Wood — Mon, 17 Jul 2023 23:38:57 +0000

In reply to Pet Food Judge (America). Good to see that this is an honest site! Keep up the great reviews and blogs

By: Pet Food Judge (America)

Pet Food Judge (America) — Wed, 12 Jul 2023 09:15:44 +0000

In reply to Sarah Klim.

Hi Sarah, sorry – the list was written in 2022, so I’ve now updated the article in respect to the ASIC update. I believe PetsOnMe is the only provider which isn’t Hollard :/

By: Pet Food Judge (America)

Pet Food Judge (America) — Wed, 12 Jul 2023 09:07:45 +0000

In reply to Natalie Wood.

Hi Natalie, thank you for bringing this to my attention – please note the ASIC media release was less than 2 weeks ago, whereas this guide is from May 2022! I can only do my best, and can’t foresee the future.

If you have any other information relating to anything like this, please add it, and I will always try and offer the best information I can.

By: Natalie Wood

Natalie Wood — Sat, 08 Jul 2023 00:57:48 +0000

Shame on your website for not doing your research on any of these providers

Asic stopped them from selling for all the gotchas and clauses

https://asic.gov.au/about-asic/news-centre/find-a-media-release/2023-releases/23-174mr-asic-issues-38-ddo-stop-orders-for-pet-insurance-products/