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Budget Direct Essential review

Comprehensive injury and illness cover for cats and dogs

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Description

Insurer
Budget Direct
Policy
Essential
Underwriter
Auto & General Insurance Company Limited
Policy type
Comprehensive injury and illness cover
Animals covered
Cats and dogs

Cover summary

Minimum age for new cover
8 weeks
Maximum age for new cover
8 years
Maximum benefit per year
$12000
Benefit paid per claim
80% vet bill covered

Excesses

Excess
Choose excess from $100 or $200

Covered events

Injury
  • Comprehensive cover
  • 2 day waiting period
Illness
  • Comprehensive cover
  • 30 day waiting period
Vet consults
Covered
Emergency treatment
Covered
Pre-existing conditions
Can be covered if condition is cured and pet is symptom-free for 12 months

Conditions

Allergic reaction
Covered
Brachycephalic Airway Obstruction Syndrome
  • Covered
  • No cover for pets under 1 year old
Behavioural conditions
Not covered
Cancer
Covered
Cruciate ligament conditions
  • Covered
  • Up to $2600
  • Cover includes osteoarthritis in a previously affected knee
  • 6 month waiting period
Ear conditions
Covered
Eye conditions
Covered
Dental and oral health conditions
  • Covered for injury
  • No cover for dental disease, removal of deciduous teeth, gingivitis, tartar or periodontitis
  • Does not cover preventative dental care, cosmetic dentistry, cleaning or scale and polish
Ingestion of a foreign object
  • Covered
  • Up to two incidents per year
Heart conditions
Covered
Orthopaedic conditions
  • Covered
  • Up to $4000
Patella luxation
Covered
Joint conditions
Covered
Intervertebral disc disease
  • Covered
  • 30 day waiting period
Hereditary conditions
Covered
Pregnancy and obstetrics
Not covered
Illness caused by parasites
  • Covered
  • Cover limited to tick paralysis
  • No cover for conditions caused by reasonably preventable parasites, internal parasites, worms, heartworm, external parasites, fleas or ticks
  • Up to $1000 for tick paralysis
  • 30 day waiting period
Skin conditions
Covered
Snakebite
  • Covered
  • Up to $1000
  • Covers snake bite and strangling by snake
  • 2 day waiting period
Vaccinatable Conditions
  • Covered
  • Insurer requires up to date vaccination for canine distemper, canine parvovirus, canine kennel cough, canine hepatitis, canine adenovirus, feline herpes virus, feline calicivirus, feline enteritis and feline parvovirus and infections vet has recommended vaccination for

Additional benefits

Routine care
Not covered
Alternative therapies
Not covered
Lost animal
Not covered
Necessary euthanasia
Covered
Telehealth vet service
Not covered
Legal liability
Not covered

Claims

Howtoclaim
  • Email claim form
  • Mail claim form
  • Web form (customer or vet can submit)
Quickeasyclaims
Directpayments

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Jodi Bird

Jodi Bird is the Managing Financial Content Editor at 糖心Vlog. Previously at 糖心Vlog, he worked as Travel project lead and as a Finance specialist. Jodi has extensive experience in financial services, having worked with major banks such as CBA, Westpac and Credit Suisse. He enjoys breaking down complex consumer decisions into easy to understand steps and holding companies to account for failing their customers. He is regularly called upon for expert commentary by major broadcasters such as the ABC, SBS, and Channels 7, 9, and 10. Jodi has a Bachelor of Commerce majoring in Economics from the University of Wollongong. He is RG146 compliance certified to provide general advice for General Insurance and is a Responsible Manager on 糖心Vlog's Australian Financial Services License.

Jodi Bird is the Managing Financial Content Editor at 糖心Vlog. Previously at 糖心Vlog, he worked as Travel project lead and as a Finance specialist. Jodi has extensive experience in financial services, having worked with major banks such as CBA, Westpac and Credit Suisse. He enjoys breaking down complex consumer decisions into easy to understand steps and holding companies to account for failing their customers. He is regularly called upon for expert commentary by major broadcasters such as the ABC, SBS, and Channels 7, 9, and 10. Jodi has a Bachelor of Commerce majoring in Economics from the University of Wollongong. He is RG146 compliance certified to provide general advice for General Insurance and is a Responsible Manager on 糖心Vlog's Australian Financial Services License.