Typically, most pet insurance policies won’t cover pre-existing conditions. These are conditions your pet had before the policy started – such as diabetes.

This doesn’t mean you won’t be able to insure your pet, it just means your pet won’t be covered for claims relating to that condition.

We don’t compare policies that cover pre-existing conditions, but you might be able to find a specialist policy.

You may also be able to find a policy that covers historical pre-existing conditions. They’re conditions your pet has had in the past but hasn’t had symptoms or treatment for in a specified period of time – for example, in the past two years.

However, these types of specialist policies are rare and might not cover all conditions.

Insurance premiums often go up as your pet gets older. That’s because they’re more likely to suffer from health conditions, and for insurance providers they’re more of a risk. Your policy excess might go up too.

If you want to insure an older cat or older dog, make sure you shop around and remember that cheap pet insurance may not always provide the best cover. Look for the policy that gives you the level of cover your older pet needs.

For most types of pet insurance, you’ll have to pay an excess with each claim. Excess is the amount you pay towards a claim. Pet insurance policies can have:

• A set excess – £90 per claim, for example
• A contribution excess – this is a percentage of the claim
• A combination of the two – so, for example, £90 plus 10% of the claim.

Most providers will specify if the excess is likely to change as your pet gets older.

While your address shouldn’t affect the cost of your pet insurance drastically, vet bills do vary across different regions. This means you might find those costs passed on in your premiums.

If you live in London, for example, you’ll likely find vet bills are more expensive than somewhere outside of the capital.

Pet insurance could include cover for boarding your pet in a kennel or cattery if you need to go into hospital and are unable to look after them. There may be a minimum number of days you need to be in hospital for in order to claim.

Check the terms and conditions of your policy to be sure this is covered.

No, there’s usually a waiting period before your pet cover begins. This is to stop people using their new pet insurance policy to cover conditions they already knew their pet had.

Cover usually starts around 14 days after the policy start date. Check the terms and conditions of the specific policy to be sure.

If you can afford to, it’s usually cheaper to pay upfront in one annual payment. If you pay monthly, it’s likely you’ll be charged interest.

You can often get animal insurance for dogs, cats, rabbits and horses. But here at Compare the Market, we only compare prices for pet insurance that covers dogs and cats, including puppies and kittens.

If you have another type of pet, you might need to look for a specialist pet insurance provider. In some cases, it’s possible to get cover for guinea pigs, ferrets, chinchillas, tortoises, snakes, lizards, parrots and other exotic animals.

Some insurance providers offer multi-pet insurance, so if you insure more than one pet with them, you might get a discount. This type of policy could also be easier to manage in terms of paperwork.

Currently, you can’t compare multi-pet insurance with us. But most of the providers you can compare through us have the option of adding a pet to your policy.

To do this, run a comparison search on our site for one pet and find the policy you want. Then click through to that policy provider’s site and see if it gives you the option to add another pet to the policy.

If your dog or cat is microchipped, contact the microchipping company to see if they’ve been handed in anywhere. Failing that, get in touch with your local animal rescue centre, ask your neighbours and put the word out on social media.

Pet insurance could help if your pet goes missing – some policies offer help with advertising and reward money if your pet goes astray.

Accident-only insurance will only cover your pet if they have a life-threating accident. However maximum benefit, time-limited or lifetime pet insurance should cover life-threatening injuries or illness – but there will be cover limits and exclusions.

You can, but instead of a pet passport, you’ll need to get an animal health certificate (AHC) to travel to Europe or Northern Ireland with your pet.

If you want to take your pet to a non-EU country, you’ll need to get an Export Health Certificate – you can get this through your vet – and check on individual regulations for the country you’re travelling to.

If you’re travelling to a non-EU country from Scotland, Wales or England, you’ll also need to fill out the Export Application Form (known as EXA).

For more information on taking your pet abroad, see GOV.UK.

Find out more about pet insurance with overseas cover.

Follow any instructions in your policy documents about how to claim. Generally, you’ll have to call your provider’s claims line and it’s a good idea to have your policy number ready. With some policies, your vet might be able to claim on your behalf, so check with the vet.

If your pet is ill, you may be able to get an idea in advance of whether you’ll be covered for a particular treatment by speaking to your insurance provider’s claims team.

You’ll need to know what evidence you need to provide for your claim, such as invoices and receipts.

Submit your claim as soon as possible. You might have to pay the bill and claim back the money less your contribution to the claim – your excess.

If you can’t afford vet bills, there are a number of options These can include:

• Shopping around online to get prescribed medication more cheaply
• Credit-based payment plans from the vet
• Swapping to a different vet with lower fees
• Seeing if your pet is eligible for free or low-cost treatment through an animal charity.

Start by speaking honestly to your vet. Let them know what you can afford in case they can suggest alternative treatments.

Pet insurance doesn’t cover damage to your property. Likewise, most home insurance policies exclude pet damage. You may be able to add accidental damage to your home insurance policy – but even this might exclude pet damage caused in particular ways, such as chewing or scratching.

It may depend on what type of policy you have and whether this is the first time your dog has had the problem.

Cherry eye, which is a problem with the dog’s third eyelid, might be helped by medication but if the gland in the eyelid has swelled up it may require surgery.

Talk to your pet insurance provider to check if you’re covered as it can vary between types of insurance and policies.

This will depend on what kind of insurance you have. It will also depend on the severity of the condition, whether their brachycephalic obstructive airway syndrome (BOAS) is being treated as a pre-existing condition and whether any other treatment options are possible.

BOAS usually affects certain breeds and not every dog within the breed type will suffer from it. For some flat-faced dogs without severe breathing problems, the issue can be managed through weight-loss, keeping them cool in the heat, using a harness rather than pulling on a lead and giving them medication.

In some severe cases an operation might be considered. You’ll need to talk to your pet insurance provider to see if this will be covered under your policy.