Time limited pet insurance policies allow you to make a claim for an eligible medical condition up to a specified amount, with each new condition covered up to the financial limit for 12 months. If the financial limit is reached within the 12-month period, the policy will no longer cover that condition; it becomes pre-existing and is excluded from future claims. So, after the 12-month period, or when the financial limit has been exceeded if earlier, no further pay-outs will be made, and you will need to pay for further treatment costs for that condition yourself.

This policy may be a good option for providing cover for accidents and short-term health issues. However, this type of cover may not be suitable for older pets or those with ongoing health conditions.

Typically considered a mid-budget option, maximum benefit pet insurance policies usually cover each new medical condition for multiple claims up to the financial limit, for as long as the insurance policy remains in force (as there is no time limit on your claim).

This means you could claim more than once for a certain condition, year after year. Once the financial limit is reached, however, the condition becomes pre-existing and is excluded from future claims, meaning you will need to pay for further treatment from this point.

If your claim spans over two policy years, you may have to pay the policy excess for each year.

For older pets, the policy excess may increase as well as the insurance premium as they are more likely to need medical attention.

This type of policy may be suitable should your pet require ongoing medication, such as steroids. However, if your pet goes on to develop a long-term condition that requires regular treatment, you may find you’re left to fork out for treatment yourself after the financial limit is reached. This is where a lifetime policy can be beneficial although it may be more expensive.

Typically seen as a premium option, lifetime insurance offers the most comprehensive cover for your pet and is usually the most expensive type of policy. As the name suggests, lifetime pet insurance should cover your pet for the duration of his or her lifetime, providing you renew year on year.

Under a lifetime policy, all new medical conditions are covered up to the financial limit. If the limit is reached during the insurance year, the cover stops for that condition until the policy is renewed. At renewal, the limit is fully reinstated, and the condition will continue to be covered in the policy the following year.

A more basic pet insurance policy may only cover your pet for a particular medical condition for a set period of time, usually 12 months. So, if you want cover in case your pet needs ongoing medical care should they develop a chronic illness, a lifetime pet insurance policy may be an option worth considering. As you may expect, this type of policy is normally the priciest, but you may find it worth the expense due to the additional level of cover provided should you need to submit a claim.

However, not all lifetime policies are the same, and some may not cover your pet for their whole life or may apply restrictions as your pet gets older. Some providers may ask that you pay a co-payment excess when your pet reaches a certain age, meaning you will have to pay a proportion of the vet bill yourself. This age limit differs by provider, and some providers may apply a co-payment excess for pets at any age.

It’s therefore important to check the policy wording carefully so you know what cover your chosen provider is offering.

It is likely that your pet insurance premiums will increase, sometimes significantly, as your pet(s) get older, and / or if you have made a claim.

The financial limit is the maximum amount your provider will pay towards vet fees during a 12-month policy period. Some providers define a financial limit for each individual condition, but others apply a limit to vet fees overall, for all conditions. Some providers will do both.

For instance, a provider may offer a £4,000 financial limit overall, with a £1,000 limit to each individual condition.

When you compare pet insurance quotes, the financial limit is indicated under the 'vet fees' header and the limit does vary between providers and products, with some policies offering as little as £1,000 worth of cover and others offering up to £18,000. Make sure you consider vet fees carefully to ensure your cover is suitable.

You may find yourself in hot water if your dog causes damage to someone else's property, or worse still, injures someone else. As Rover doesn't have a savings account, you as the owner could be considered responsible for costs to replace or repair a damaged item. If he hurts somebody, you could face a day in front of a judge for his actions.

Third party liability cover is sometimes included in your dog's insurance policy, and the extent of cover it offers can differ tremendously, so make sure the level of cover is adequate for your requirements. You won't find this type of cover if you're insuring your cat because, in the eyes of the law, Moggie is considered a free spirit, responsible for her own actions!

Accidental damage cover, however, is very much available to both dogs and cats but often with a number of stipulations and exclusions.

Sure, it's hard to think about, however, some providers offer a level of cover in the event that your pet should die from illness or an accident. Typically, a policy will cover the price you paid for your pet or their current market value, which may be particularly important if you paid a large sum of money for a highly sought-after breed or pedigree. Less commonly covered are the costs of cremation, although such cover is available. You'll usually need to delve into the policy wording or contact the provider to find out.

A much-loved pet going missing is not only distressing, but it can also be expensive to advertise your lost pet or offer a reward for its safe return. If your cat or dog goes AWOL, some pet insurance policies will cover the cost of advertising your lost pet and some policies may even cover the cost, or contribute towards, a reward for your pet’s return. Not all pet insurance policies will cover this, so check with your provider if this type of cover is important to you.

Some of the other benefits and features of a pet insurance policy can include the likes of holiday cover, where an provider may help towards the costs of travel or accommodation expenses should your pet fall ill while you're away. And if you find yourself needing emergency treatment or hospitalisation, kennel and cattery boarding fees can also be covered under certain policies.

It would be very rare to find two different pet insurance policies that cover exactly the same things to the same extent, so a big part of your initial pet insurance purchasing process will be to ensure you're prioritising what you want to be included and the amount of cover you require for vet fees.

Once you have an idea of policies that offer the level of cover you need, you could then focus more on price, or getting the best value for your budget.

Whichever policy type you end up buying, it is important to read the terms and conditions of the insurance provider and the policy wording carefully before purchasing. Some of the common things pet insurance does not cover are:

• Waiting period

  Your new policy may not cover your pet for a short number of days after the policy starts, for example 14 days. This is to prevent you from taking out a policy with the intention of claiming for a foreseen condition.

• Routine and preventative treatment

  Regular pet care such as routine check-ups, annual jabs, worming and flea treatment are not usually covered by your pet insurance policy; and this may also be the case for procedures such as spaying and neutering. It’s also important to be aware that if your pet becomes ill with a condition that could have been prevented by routine treatments such as a vaccination, your provider may not pay out.

• Breeding and pregnancy

  Most providers will not pay any vet fees if your pet suffers a condition related to breeding and your policy could be invalidated if you decide to use your pet for commercial breeding. Likewise, your provider is unlikely to pay out for any claim linked to pregnancy, even if you are not a commercial breeder. If you do wish to breed your pet, you are likely to need special cover for this.

• Pre-existing conditions

  Any pre-existing illnesses must be declared otherwise your policy may be void. For example, if your pet has suffered from an ear infection before you took out your policy, the provider is unlikely to offer cover for treatment required for future ear infections, regardless of whether or not you made a claim under an old policy.