UK Pet Insurance Costs Drop Despite Increasing Vet Fees and Inflation
The cost of pet insurance in the UK has taken a slight drop despite rising vet fees and inflation, according to new data from pricing consultancy Pearson Ham. This comes as some pet owners are struggling to afford their pet's healthcare due to increasing costs.
Data from Pearson Ham shows that average lifetime pet insurance premiums have fallen by 1.6% over the past year, with competitive pricing from leading brands driving down prices for younger pets. However, older dogs and cats have seen little change in premium levels.
The findings come as concerns about access to veterinary care continue to grow. A recent study found that one-third of UK pet owners do not have insurance, citing cost as a major factor. With 60% of households owning a pet, this is a significant issue.
Pet insurance typically covers vet fees for illness and injury, as well as other benefits such as loss and theft. Lifetime insurance policies offer comprehensive coverage but are the most expensive option.
The data from Pearson Ham suggests that the market remains highly competitive, with median quotes ranging from £247 for dogs to £180 for cats last month.
Other pet owners looking for the best policy may find it difficult due to the vast range of options available. Moneyfacts has announced its winners for 2026 Awards, including ManyPets as "pet insurance provider of the year". The awards assess products based on features and cover limits.
Tesco Insurance recently conducted research which found that nearly a third of pet owners do not have insurance. Cost was cited as a major reason by over two-fifths of respondents.
The cost of pet insurance in the UK has taken a slight drop despite rising vet fees and inflation, according to new data from pricing consultancy Pearson Ham. This comes as some pet owners are struggling to afford their pet's healthcare due to increasing costs.
Data from Pearson Ham shows that average lifetime pet insurance premiums have fallen by 1.6% over the past year, with competitive pricing from leading brands driving down prices for younger pets. However, older dogs and cats have seen little change in premium levels.
The findings come as concerns about access to veterinary care continue to grow. A recent study found that one-third of UK pet owners do not have insurance, citing cost as a major factor. With 60% of households owning a pet, this is a significant issue.
Pet insurance typically covers vet fees for illness and injury, as well as other benefits such as loss and theft. Lifetime insurance policies offer comprehensive coverage but are the most expensive option.
The data from Pearson Ham suggests that the market remains highly competitive, with median quotes ranging from £247 for dogs to £180 for cats last month.
Other pet owners looking for the best policy may find it difficult due to the vast range of options available. Moneyfacts has announced its winners for 2026 Awards, including ManyPets as "pet insurance provider of the year". The awards assess products based on features and cover limits.
Tesco Insurance recently conducted research which found that nearly a third of pet owners do not have insurance. Cost was cited as a major reason by over two-fifths of respondents.
I think this is kinda awesome, right? Pet insurance costs are actually dropping? That's gotta be good news for pet parents who are trying to balance their budgets with the rising vet fees and inflation! 
Competitive pricing from top brands must be having a positive impact on prices. It's like, we're seeing a little silver lining here. Even though some older pets aren't getting any reprieve on their premiums, younger ones are benefiting from it. And let's not forget that ManyPets won the "pet insurance provider of the year" award – that's gotta be a great feeling for them! 
It's like, the market is working in our favour, and pet owners have more options than ever before. I'm all about finding positives in unexpected places 
. I mean, who doesn't love a good deal on their Fido's health?
And what about all those people who don't have insurance? It's still crazy that one-third of UK pet owners can't afford to get their pets covered. That's just, like, not right, you know? 
. Times haven't changed much, just the prices, you know? So yeah, let's hope pet insurance costs keep going down and more people can get their furry friends covered 
anyway, cool to hear that pet insurance costs have dropped slightly tho... guess it's a small win for those with pets 
i wonder if the vet fees are gonna keep going up or if prices for ins will stay stable?
I'm surprised to hear that UK pet insurance costs are dropping, especially with vet fees and inflation on the rise. I think it's great that competitive pricing from leading brands is helping keep prices down for younger pets 
. It's good to see companies like ManyPets being recognized for their excellent policies 
. But what can be done to make insurance more accessible and affordable for all pet owners?
... meanwhile, vet fees are going up and inflation is still here... like, isn't that just peachy for our poor furry friends? 
not surprising considering how expensive everything else has become. anyway, if you're looking for the best policy, good luck with that - there are so many options out there... maybe just choose a brand that won't break the bank 
. And 1/3 of UK households own a pet? That's like, a lot of furry friends 
.
I'm surprised to hear that pet insurance costs are dropping in the UK, considering vet fees and inflation are rising. How can insurance companies keep their prices down when they're still passing on the increased costs to policyholders? 
... how are they supposed to afford vet fees when its already super expensive? 
and i saw that manypets won "pet insurance provider of the year" thingy last month 
. Still, it's worrying that 1/3 of pet owners don't have insurance and they're citing cost as a major factor... like what if their pets get sick or hurt? 
On the other hand, it's nice to see ManyPets winning "pet insurance provider of the year" - maybe that'll encourage more people to get insured 
. And yeah, with vet fees on the rise, I hope pet owners who can afford it are getting good value for their money... but what about those who can't? 
gotta feel for those pet owners struggling to pay their vet bills 
and inflation is stil killin it
It's awesome that competitive pricing is driving down costs for younger pets - that's a total game changer for pet owners on a budget. But at the same time, I'm also thinking about all the older dogs and cats out there who might not be getting the best deals... they deserve some love too! 
Maybe we can get some more affordable options popping up soon? 