Exotic Pet Insurance
If you own a bird, reptile, turtle or small mammal in Australia, you can explore your exotic pet insurance options with Savvy today.
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Compare pet insurance
Looking into pet insurance for your beloved furry friend? Whether you have a playful pup or a curious cat, you can compare pet insurance options from a range of providers and find the perfect coverage that suits your pet's unique needs and your budget.
Fetch Care Plan |
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Pet insurance we think you’ll love. 24/7 vet support + dental, physio and behaviour cover added (see PDS) all in one app.More details |
Petsy Most Popular 80% Cover $150 Excess |
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Protect your furry friend with Petsy's pet insurance policy. Get a free quote.More details |
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Fetch Premium Plan |
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Pet insurance we think you’ll love. 24/7 vet support + dental, physio and behaviour cover added (see PDS) all in one app.More details |
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Multi-award winning pet insurance designed with the help of vets.More details |
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Petsy Value Cover 80% Cover $500 Excess |
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Protect your furry friend with Petsy's pet insurance policy. Get a free quote.More details |
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Petsy Top Cover |
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Protect your furry friend with Petsy's pet insurance policy. Get a free quote.More details |
Disclaimer: Savvy is not advising or recommending any particular product to you. We provide general information on products for the purposes of comparison, but your personal situation or goals are not considered here. Although we try to make our comparisons as thorough as possible, we do not have information on all products on the market on our site.
Savvy earns a commission each time a customer buys a pet insurance policy through our website. We don’t arrange for products to be purchased from these brands directly, as all purchases are conducted via the individual pet insurance companies.
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Owning an exotic pet can be a unique experience, but just like a cat or dog, exotic animals can face unexpected health issues that require veterinary care. Exotic pet insurance offers support for your exotic animal’s medical treatment, helping to alleviate the financial burden.
If you are looking for pet insurance in Australia, Savvy can help simplify the process with its free online comparison tool. Simply enter details about you and your pet to receive a range of quotes from our panel of trusted insurers. Get started on your free, no-obligation quote today.
What does exotic pet insurance in Australia cover?
Exotic pet insurance is a specialised form of coverage tailored to the unique health needs of non-traditional animal companions, such as birds, lizards and rabbits. Just like dogs and cats, exotic pets can also face health challenges. Having exotic pet insurance ensures you’re prepared for unexpected medical expenses and provides coverage for different aspects of your pet’s care. Cover may include:
- Veterinary fees: covers costs for treating injuries and illnesses, ensuring your pet gets the necessary medical attention.
- Alternative or complementary treatment: such as exams, consultations, tests and therapies like acupuncture, physiotherapy and herbal medicine, as recommended by your vet.
- Referral hospital or specialist vet: assists with costs when specialised treatment is needed from a referral or specialist veterinarian.
- Diagnostic examinations: covers expenses for advanced tests such as MRIs, CT scans or CAT scans.
- Dental care: for example, dental check-ups, cleaning and treatments.
- Advertising and reward expenses: covers advertising costs and rewards if your exotic pet is lost or stolen.
- Third-party liability: covers compensation, legal expenses and defence costs if your pet causes damage or injury.
Are there any limitations or exclusions on exotic pet insurance?
When considering exotic pet insurance, it’s crucial to be aware of any potential limitations in cover. Exotic pets have unique needs and circumstances that can impact their insurance coverage. Here are key considerations to keep in mind:
- Pre-existing conditions: pet insurance policies often do not cover health issues your pet had before the policy’s start date.
- Age limits: insurance for exotic pets may have age restrictions. For instance, insurance coverage for birds is generally available within a specific age range, typically between 12 weeks and 25 years.
- Waiting periods: the waiting period is a set amount of time that must pass before coverage becomes active for specific conditions or treatments, often 21 days for exotic pet insurance.
- Location-specific coverage: your location within Australia can impact your exotic pet’s insurability. Certain regions have restrictions on keeping specific animals as pets – for example, in Queensland you cannot keep rabbits as pets.
- Annual limits and benefit percentage: most insurance policies come with annual coverage caps and may only reimburse a percentage of eligible expenses for your pet’s medical care.
- Excess: this is the predetermined amount you need to pay per claim before insurance coverage kicks in.
- Limited availability: the unique nature of exotic pets means fewer insurance providers may offer coverage for exotic animals.
What types of exotic pets can I insure in Australia?
There are a number of animals you may be able to insure on an exotic pet insurance policy:
| May include | Age limits | |
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Birds |
Canaries, parrots, chickens, ducks, birds of prey such as eagles, owls and hawks |
12 weeks – 25 years |
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Reptiles |
Bearded dragons, chameleons, geckos, iguanas, snakes, monitor lizards, skinks |
8 weeks – 15 years |
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Turtles and tortoises |
Murray short-necked turtles, eastern snake-necked turtles, Hermanns tortoises, yellow footed tortoises |
12 weeks – 30 years |
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Small mammals |
Ferrets, guinea pigs, mice, rabbits, rats, meerkats, micropigs, goats |
8 weeks – 5 years |
Types of pet insurance you can choose from
This is the most basic type of pet insurance, covering costs for accidental injuries such as car accidents, poisoning, burns, fractures, snake and spider bites, but not illnesses and other conditions.
This type of insurance provides cover for accidental injuries as well as illnesses like cancer, gastrointestinal problems and eye, ear and skin conditions, but not routine care for your pet.
This offers the highest level of protection, covering accident and illness and potentially routine care such as vaccinations, dental care, worm and flea treatments and microchipping.
Why compare pet insurance with Savvy?
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Our comparison service is free to use, providing you with a range of pet insurance quotes at no cost.
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You'll be able to compare offers online side by side in a matter of minutes before you buy.
Choice of insurers
We’ve partnered with a range of pet insurers to give you more choice when selecting a policy.
Top tips for saving on your exotic pet insurance
Start coverage early
Getting insurance for your exotic pet when they’re young and healthy can result in lower premiums. This way, you're covered before any potential health issues crop up, giving you financial peace of mind.
Embrace preventative care
Staying on top of preventative measures can save you money in the long run. Regular vet visits, vaccinations and proper nutrition can help prevent costly health issues, reducing the need for extensive treatments.
Investigate excess and benefits
Take a close look at the excess – the money you pay before the insurance kicks in – and the benefit percentage. Choosing a higher excess or lower benefit percentage can lower your monthly costs. Just remember, you might have to pay more out of pocket if you need to make a claim.
Bundle policies
If you have other insurance policies, inquire about bundling them together. Many insurers offer discounts for combining different types of insurance or covering multiple pets under a single plan.