PetSure extends cover for extreme weather events for insured policyholders 

PetSure broadens pet insurance cover, regardless of policy type, for existing Australian customers affected by bushfires or flooding 

With the expected impact of El Niño on this bushfire season, PetSure is extending cover to help existing policyholders and their insured pets impacted by extreme weather events. 

Earlier this month, the Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) declared the El Niño weather pattern, forecasting the upcoming months to be hot and dry, with an increased risk of fire danger especially across southeast Australia.  

Bushfires pose several health risks to pets due to decreased air quality, including respiratory conditions, burns and eye conditions. PetSure data shows the volume of claims for these conditions nationwide increased by nearly 8% in January 2020 during the most severe month of the Black Summer bushfires, compared to January 2019**. For NSW alone, claims for these conditions climbed over 17% during the same period. 

So, what’s the new initiative? 

In response to an extreme weather event, and for all existing PetSure pet insurance policies, PetSure will act in two ways (ex-gratia initiative): 

1. PetSure will provide cover for pet health complications for the insured pet, regardless of policy type or coverage level, arising as a result from an extreme weather event. 

2. For a limited time, PetSure will also extend cover, regardless of policy type, to reimburse the full incurred cost of Emergency Boarding to customers in relation to the insured pet, with no access to accommodation or that have been displaced or evacuated. Cover for emergency boarding will be provided up to the policy annual benefit limit but without application of the emergency boarding sub-limit.  Extended cover for emergency boarding will be available from 13 December 2023 – 13 June 2024.

PetSure will waive waiting periods for pet health complications occurring as a result of the weather event.  

Underlying pre-existing conditions that occurred or worsened directly as a result of the extreme weather event will be eligible for the ex-gratia initiative. However, claims for a pre-existing condition that do not directly relate to the extreme weather event will not be covered under the ex-gratia initiative.   

For example, if a pet had asthma as a pre-existing condition which was worsened by an extreme weather event, the customer could claim for this condition under this initiative regardless of their policy type. However, following the weather event, any claims for this condition would revert back to being treated as a pre-existing condition for the remainder of the policy term. 

All other policy terms & conditions will continue to apply, including but not limited to annual limits and sub-limits. 

How do I know if I’m eligible? 

To be eligible for an ex-gratia claim, customers must: 

• Be an existing Australian policyholder of a PetSure issued and/or administered policy 
• Have the event or expense be in relation to the insured pet under the policy 
• Be located within or near a bushfire or flood affected zone, as assessed by the PetSure claims team 
• Provide documents, such as a fully paid invoice (for non-GapOnly® claims), that indicates a pet health complication and/or emergency boarding expense in relation to the insured pet, were incurred as a direct result of an extreme weather event 

If you’re unsure if your policy is administered and/or issued by PetSure, visit our partner page: www.petsure.com.au/partners   

How do I submit a claim for this initiative? 

Just submit your invoice/s and policy number to [email protected]

How soon will my claim be approved? 

If all required information is provided, eligible claims will be processed within 3-5 business days. 

If you have further questions regarding this initiative, contact your pet insurance provider.

References: 

** PetSure claims data, total volume of logical claims (by treatment date). Volume of claims for January 2020 vs January 2019. Bushfire related conditions for the analysis were defined as: accident – burn, eye condition, eye condition – conjunctivitis, respiratory condition – bronchitis, respiratory condition – clinical signs and respiratory condition –reverse sneezing.