Dog insurance — what to know before you choose
Most people looking into dog insurance want to know two things: what it actually covers, and whether it is worth the money for their particular dog. Here is a straight account — written while we do not yet sell insurance ourselves.
What dog insurance usually covers
A standard health policy generally covers veterinary treatment for illness and injury — consultations, surgery, medication and often diagnostic imaging such as X-rays and scans. Most insurers apply an excess and an annual payout ceiling. Some also offer a liability element covering damage the dog causes to others. Always read the product documents from the individual insurer: cover varies more than the marketing tends to suggest.
What it usually does not cover
Preventive care — vaccinations, flea and tick treatment, worming and routine health checks — normally sits outside a health policy, because it is classed as prevention rather than treatment of illness. The same often applies to dental scaling without a medical reason. If you are counting on the policy to cover routine upkeep, you will generally be disappointed.
Age and breed affect the premium
Premiums usually rise with age, and breeds with known predispositions — hip dysplasia in larger breeds, for instance — may carry a higher price or an exclusion for that specific condition. It is worth asking directly whether the conditions typical of your breed are covered or excluded before you sign anything.
How to compare properly
Look at the excess, the annual ceiling, the waiting period, and whether the premium is fixed or rises with age and claims history. A low monthly figure with a low ceiling and a high excess can end up costing more in a real claim than a higher monthly figure with better cover. Ask for the full policy terms, not just the price summary.
Documentation makes a claim easier to settle
Whichever insurer you choose, a claim moves faster if you can document your dog's health history: when it was last seen by a vet, which vaccinations it has had, and whether a condition is new or already known. This is where a free health calendar such as Trofast makes a difference regardless of who insures you — the history is in one place, ready to show.
Trofast and insurance
Trofast today is a free health calendar for dogs and cats, not an insurer. We are building Trofast Insurance as a later product, but you need neither hold nor consider a policy in order to use the calendar. If you already have dog insurance, you can still use Trofast alongside it to keep track of vaccinations, tick treatment and vet visits.
Further reading
Frequently asked questions
- Is dog insurance compulsory?
- Health insurance for a dog is not compulsory in the Nordic countries. Third-party liability cover is a separate matter and the rules differ by country, and sometimes by municipality or breed, so check what applies where you live.
- What does dog insurance cost?
- The premium depends on breed, age and level of cover, and insurers price them differently. We deliberately avoid quoting a figure here, because a number without context is misleading — compare concrete quotes instead.
- Does the policy cover chronic conditions?
- This varies a great deal between insurers, and there are often waiting periods or exclusions for conditions the animal already had when the policy was taken out. Read the terms, not just the price.
- Do I need Trofast Insurance to use Trofast?
- No. The Trofast health calendar is free and requires no insurance at all. Trofast Insurance is a product we are building for later, and it will be optional.