General Insurance Article - SunLife calls for pet insurance to be mandatory

 Simon Stanney General Insurance Director at SunLife welcomes the new law, but would also like to see this extended by making pet insurance mandatory too:

 “Compulsory microchipping has many benefits, including making it easier to return lost or stolen pets with their owners and establishing liability and proving ownership, so I more than welcome the new microchipping laws. However, I think it would be beneficial to pets and their owners if pet insurance were to become mandatory too.

 “According to the ABI, there are around 9 million dogs in the UK, but only 2.4 million are covered by pet insurance , which means almost three quarters without it. An overnight stay at the vets for a dog costs around £675, while treatment for spinal surgery can be as much as £2,000, and for those who can’t afford it the animal is either left to suffer or put to sleep.

 “If pet insurance was a legal requirement, dog owners would have to think long and hard about the emotional and financial responsibilities of owning a pet, and, like with the £500 fine for not getting your dog microchipped, would face penalties if they didn’t comply.

 “As well as protecting dogs themselves, pet insurance also protects owners and the public by covering any damage caused by the dog and any medical bills, legal cost or compensation claims that ensue. Furthermore, if pet insurance was compulsory for dog owners, it would become an even more competitive sector and, like with car insurance, providers would have to work hard to keep their customers loyal.

 “There are arguments that if pet insurance was mandatory, overall dog ownership could go down, and this is probably true, but responsible dog ownership would go up, and that can only be a good thing.”