Pet insurance explained

Pet insurance terminology can be confusing, so we’ve made this helpful list to help you bust the jargon

Advertising costs

Costs to advertise in your local newspaper or other previously approved media to find your missing pet.

Amendment

Any change you or Admiral make to your policy.

Authorised insurer

An authorised insurer is an insurance company providing insurance in the UK and is supervised by the Financial Conduct Authority.

Behavioural illness

Behavioural illness is a change to your pet’s behaviour as a result of a medical issue that couldn’t have been avoided with training or medicine.

Behavioural modification

Training by a vet or certified behaviourist to change your pet’s behaviour

Cancellation

This is when you end your insurance policy before the policy end date.

Co-insurance

A percentage of the total cost of a pet insurance claim you need to pay, as well as the fixed excess. This comes into place when your pet is six years of age, or older.

Complementary medicine

Additional medicine recommended by your vet to help your pet’s recovery, such as hydrotherapy or acupuncture.

Cranial cruciate ligament

An important joint in a dog’s knees that helps stabilise their legs, these joints can be very prone to injury in certain breeds

Elective treatments

Routine treatments like worming, flea treatments and declawing that aren’t related to any medical condition or injury.

Euthanasia

The act of having a vet humanely end the life of your pet for medical or moral reasons.

Financial Conduct Authority (FCA)

The FCA is the UK's financial watchdog. It regulates financial services companies, including insurance companies.

Fixed excess

The amount you pay towards the cost of a claim – the amount varies depending on what the claim is. These costs are broken down in your policy schedule

Guarding

An animal trained for security work or to attack; these animals aren’t suitable for Admiral Pet Insurance

Homeopathic treatments

Non-vet recommended treatments and vaccinations; these aren’t covered in Admiral policies.

Insurance Premium Tax (IPT)

IPT is simply a government tax which is included in the price of your insurance. Find out more about IPT.

Lifetime policy

Cover that includes a fixed amount of money to cover your vet bills. These policies are ‘lifetime’ because they can be renewed every year, with the fixed amount resetting each year.  

Market value

The value of your pet based on their age, breed, pedigree and breeding status.

Period of insurance

The length of time you’re insured is known as the period of insurance.

Policy schedule

This document identifies the policyholder and sets out details of the cover provided, as well as the fixed excesses you may pay during the policy.

Policy term

A policy term is the length of time your insurance is valid.

Pre-existing conditions

Any condition your pet had before the insurance started – such as a birth defect. Injuries or accidents that come from these conditions aren’t covered.

Premium

The cost of your cover

Quote

 The price given for insuring your pet when you contact an insurer, including any specific terms and conditions.

Reward costs

Cover for a suitable reward to be offered to help find your pet when it has gone missing.

Settlement

This is the amount your insurer pays out for a claim.

Territorial limits

Our territorial limits are everywhere in the UK, with 30 days of cover away from home in the UK or Republic of Ireland. The 30 days reset every term.

Third Party Legal Liability

Covers you for legal damages sought by a third party over any dispute or injury because of your dog.

Make sense? Now that you've got a better understanding of the language, why not find out more about what we can do for you with our Admiral Pet Insurance?