Post Office

Post Office-branded pet insurance offered alongside its wider personal-lines range. Evidence is being verified.

Not yet researched11 of 11 comparison topics researchedReviewed 9 July 2026

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At a glance

Vet-fee limit: Current public pages show Lifetime up to £7,000 per policy year, Max Benefit up to £2,000 per condition and Time Limited up to £2,000 per condition for up to 12 months from first treatment date. Current rabbit documents reviewed are lifetime and certificate-led, but no separate current public rabbit multi-tier ladder was published in the reviewed materials
Excess and co-payment: Excess: Excess is payable per condition. Post Office help pages say Lifetime excess is payable per condition, per year; Max Benefit excess is payable per condition; and Time Limited excess is payable per condition. When a pet reaches the upper ages of its policy, the excess changes to a percentage of the claim or the set excess, whichever is more. · Co-payment: When the pet reaches the upper age of the policy, the excess changes to a percentage of the claim or the set excess, whichever is more. The support page says this happens at the renewal after cats turn 10, rabbits 5, most dogs 8 and some listed dog breeds 5. The exact percentage is not published in the official documents reviewed
Waiting periods: Accidental injury or poisoning is excluded for the first 3 days and illness is excluded for the first 14 days. The waiting periods are waived where the customer switched from another insurer and had continuous cover for at least 14 days before the Post Office policy start date
Pre-existing conditions: Post Office does not cover pre-existing conditions. Official support pages define them broadly to include past illnesses, injuries, symptoms and even discussions with a vet or other professionals about health or behaviour before cover started. The policy wording excludes any condition or symptom, or anything related to it, that you were aware of or that had been noted and/or checked by a vet before the policy started

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What you may pay

ExcessExcess is payable per condition. Post Office help pages say Lifetime excess is payable per condition, per year; Max Benefit excess is payable per condition; and Time Limited excess is payable per condition. When a pet reaches the upper ages of its policy, the excess changes to a percentage of the claim or the set excess, whichever is more.

Being checked

Details: Excess is payable per condition. Post Office help pages say Lifetime excess is payable per condition, per year; Max Benefit excess is payable per condition; and Time Limited excess is payable per condition. When a pet reaches the upper ages of its policy, the excess changes to a percentage of the claim or the set excess, whichever is more.

Fixed excess is shown on the quote/certificate and is payable per condition, with the basis changing depending on policy type

Official source: Help and support; cat insurance page; cat & dog policy booklet · reviewed 2026-07-09

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Co-paymentWhen the pet reaches the upper age of the policy, the excess changes to a percentage of the claim or the set excess, whichever is more. The support page says this happens at the renewal after cats turn 10, rabbits 5, most dogs 8 and some listed dog breeds 5. The exact percentage is not published in the official documents reviewed

Being checked

Details: When the pet reaches the upper age of the policy, the excess changes to a percentage of the claim or the set excess, whichever is more. The support page says this happens at the renewal after cats turn 10, rabbits 5, most dogs 8 and some listed dog breeds 5. The exact percentage is not published in the official documents reviewed

When your pet reaches the upper ages of the policy, the excess changes to a percentage of the claim or the set excess, whichever is more; the official documents reviewed do not publish the percentage figure itself

Official source: Help and support page; cat insurance page · reviewed 2026-07-09

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What the policy may limit

Vet Fee LimitsCurrent public pages show Lifetime up to £7,000 per policy year, Max Benefit up to £2,000 per condition and Time Limited up to £2,000 per condition for up to 12 months from first treatment date. Current rabbit documents reviewed are lifetime and certificate-led, but no separate current public rabbit multi-tier ladder was published in the reviewed materials

Being checked

Details: Current public pages show Lifetime up to £7,000 per policy year, Max Benefit up to £2,000 per condition and Time Limited up to £2,000 per condition for up to 12 months from first treatment date. Current rabbit documents reviewed are lifetime and certificate-led, but no separate current public rabbit multi-tier ladder was published in the reviewed materials

Lifetime cover resets annually; Max Benefit is a maximum per condition; Time Limited is per condition for 12 months from first treatment or until the maximum benefit is exhausted

Official source: Main pet insurance product page; cat & dog policy booklet; rabbit policy booklet · reviewed 2026-07-09

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Hidden LimitsPost Office has materially important inner limits. Current public cover tables show Lifetime up to £7,000 vet fees, £1,500 complementary treatment, £2 million third-party liability for dogs, £2,000 theft/straying, £3,000 holiday cancellation and £2,000 finding your pet. Current Max Benefit and Time Limited public tables each show £2,000 vet fees, £500 complementary treatment, £2 million dog liability, and £500 theft/holiday/finding each. The policy wording also adds internal restrictions such as overseas vet-fee extension for a maximum of 90 days per policy year and certificate-led benefit ceilings elsewhere

Being checked

Details: Post Office has materially important inner limits. Current public cover tables show Lifetime up to £7,000 vet fees, £1,500 complementary treatment, £2 million third-party liability for dogs, £2,000 theft/straying, £3,000 holiday cancellation and £2,000 finding your pet. Current Max Benefit and Time Limited public tables each show £2,000 vet fees, £500 complementary treatment, £2 million dog liability, and £500 theft/holiday/finding each. The policy wording also adds internal restrictions such as overseas vet-fee extension for a maximum of 90 days per policy year and certificate-led benefit ceilings elsewhere

Multiple sub-limits sit inside the headline cover and some benefits are certificate-led; the public website tables are necessary to understand the practical value of each policy type

Official source: Main pet insurance product page; cat & dog policy booklet; rabbit policy booklet · reviewed 2026-07-09

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Dental CoverDental illness and accidental-injury dental treatment are covered, but the rules differ by species. For cats and dogs, the policy wording/IPID require annual check-ups and that any veterinary advice be followed within 6 months. For rabbits, the rabbit wording reviewed requires annual check-ups and that advice be followed within 3 months

Being checked

Details: Dental illness and accidental-injury dental treatment are covered, but the rules differ by species. For cats and dogs, the policy wording/IPID require annual check-ups and that any veterinary advice be followed within 6 months. For rabbits, the rabbit wording reviewed requires annual check-ups and that advice be followed within 3 months

Dental illness treatment requires compliant dental-check history and timely follow-up on veterinary advice; accidental-injury dental treatment is also covered

Official source: Cat & dog policy booklet; Lifetime cats & dogs IPID; rabbit policy booklet · reviewed 2026-07-09

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Behavioural TreatmentNo standalone reimbursable behavioural-treatment benefit is included in the current Post Office cat/dog or rabbit policy booklets. 24/7 Petcall provides pet health, care and well-being advice, but is not a claims benefit.

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Details: No standalone reimbursable behavioural-treatment benefit is included in the current Post Office cat/dog or rabbit policy booklets. 24/7 Petcall provides pet health, care and well-being advice, but is not a claims benefit.

Not published in official documents reviewed

Official source: Help and support page; cat & dog policy booklet; rabbit policy booklet · reviewed 2026-07-09

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When and how cover applies

Waiting PeriodsAccidental injury or poisoning is excluded for the first 3 days and illness is excluded for the first 14 days. The waiting periods are waived where the customer switched from another insurer and had continuous cover for at least 14 days before the Post Office policy start date

Being checked

Details: Accidental injury or poisoning is excluded for the first 3 days and illness is excluded for the first 14 days. The waiting periods are waived where the customer switched from another insurer and had continuous cover for at least 14 days before the Post Office policy start date

You cannot claim for accidental injury or poisoning in the first 3 days or illnesses in the first 14 days; if there was uninterrupted prior cover up to the inception date and evidence can be provided, these waiting periods are waived

Official source: P3324v7 Policy Booklet Cat & Dog; Help and support page; cat insurance page · reviewed 2026-07-09

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Pre-existing ConditionsPost Office does not cover pre-existing conditions. Official support pages define them broadly to include past illnesses, injuries, symptoms and even discussions with a vet or other professionals about health or behaviour before cover started. The policy wording excludes any condition or symptom, or anything related to it, that you were aware of or that had been noted and/or checked by a vet before the policy started

Being checked

Details: Post Office does not cover pre-existing conditions. Official support pages define them broadly to include past illnesses, injuries, symptoms and even discussions with a vet or other professionals about health or behaviour before cover started. The policy wording excludes any condition or symptom, or anything related to it, that you were aware of or that had been noted and/or checked by a vet before the policy started

No cover for pre-existing conditions, including illnesses, injuries or symptoms already present, previously suffered, or otherwise known or discussed before the policy started

Official source: Help and support page; P3324v7 Policy Booklet Cat & Dog · reviewed 2026-07-09

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ClaimsClaims can be made through My Account Pet, through Vet Pawtal when the vet submits the claim, or by paper form if needed. The policy wording says vet-fee claims must be submitted with invoices within 12 months of treatment. Help pages say Vet Pawtal claims are assessed in around 5 days on average and that online claims include a claims tracker, with SMS, email or letter updates depending on the submission route.

Being checked

Details: Claims can be made through My Account Pet, through Vet Pawtal when the vet submits the claim, or by paper form if needed. The policy wording says vet-fee claims must be submitted with invoices within 12 months of treatment. Help pages say Vet Pawtal claims are assessed in around 5 days on average and that online claims include a claims tracker, with SMS, email or letter updates depending on the submission route.

Vet fee claims must be submitted with invoices within 12 months of treatment taking place; the easiest current route is My Account Pet or Vet Pawtal

Official source: Help and support page; cat & dog policy booklet; main pet insurance page; rabbit policy booklet · reviewed 2026-07-09

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RenewalsPremium and terms are fixed for 12 months and reviewed annually. The policy wording says renewal notice is sent at least three weeks before renewal, the cover continues if premiums are paid, the underwriter can change at renewal with at least 21 days’ notice, and Time Limited policies may be non-renewed with at least 90 days’ notice where no alternative cover is offered. Support pages also say pets can stay insured as they get older if cover is kept continuous and premiums continue to be paid

Being checked

Details: Premium and terms are fixed for 12 months and reviewed annually. The policy wording says renewal notice is sent at least three weeks before renewal, the cover continues if premiums are paid, the underwriter can change at renewal with at least 21 days’ notice, and Time Limited policies may be non-renewed with at least 90 days’ notice where no alternative cover is offered. Support pages also say pets can stay insured as they get older if cover is kept continuous and premiums continue to be paid

Premium and terms are reviewed annually; renewal notice is issued at least three weeks before renewal; cover continues as long as premium is paid; insurer change at renewal is possible with at least 21 days’ notice

Official source: Cat & dog policy booklet; rabbit policy booklet; help and support page · reviewed 2026-07-09

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Provider FeaturesLifetime / Max Benefit / Time Limited cover for cats and dogs; rabbit lifetime documents; up to £7,000 vet fees; complementary treatment; dental cover; £2 million dog third-party liability; theft/straying; finding your pet; holiday cancellation; hospitalisation/boarding benefit; EU overseas extension up to 90 days; My Account Pet; Vet Pawtal; Claims Tracker; 24/7 Petcall helpline with video capability; multi-pet discount; online medication claim-back support; and digital document storage

Being checked

Details: Lifetime / Max Benefit / Time Limited cover for cats and dogs; rabbit lifetime documents; up to £7,000 vet fees; complementary treatment; dental cover; £2 million dog third-party liability; theft/straying; finding your pet; holiday cancellation; hospitalisation/boarding benefit; EU overseas extension up to 90 days; My Account Pet; Vet Pawtal; Claims Tracker; 24/7 Petcall helpline with video capability; multi-pet discount; online medication claim-back support; and digital document storage

Not published in official documents reviewed

Official source: Not published in official documents reviewed · reviewed 2026-07-09

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Policy change history

Knowledge Platform updated2026-07-01
Framework updated to v1.4 — Evidence Layer expanded across every Knowledge Product.
Guide refreshed2026-06-15
Claims and Pre-existing Conditions explainers updated with clearer plain-English wording.

Official information

Underwriter / administrator: Pinnacle Insurance Ltd

Knowledge Platform v1.4 · checked 2026-07-09. Every answer records the official information it came from, and many link straight to the insurer's own page or document. Where an answer names a document but we have not yet linked it, we say so on the answer instead of implying a direct link.

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