Contributed by Tamara Labelle, ExoticDirect
Many insurance companies around the world offer pet insurance that includes exotics (parrots). Having pet insurance ensures that if your parrot becomes ill you can claim on the vet fee cover element of your policy to pay for the vet fees. The amount of vet fee coverage available varies between insurance providers, however, typically it’s anything from around £1,000 up to £5,000.
Usually coverage for theft or death is available and although we do not like to think about it, this can be important for those of us who keep more valuable birds. Check if your chosen provider offers this element, as it is not always available for smaller birds.
Parrot insurance is not for everyone, however, it does offer peace of mind against unexpected vet bills. It means that cost dependent choices do not need to be made when your parrot is ill. Plus, vet fees can be expensive, running into the thousands of pounds for conditions such as respiratory infections, psittacosis, aspergillosis, and benign or cancerous tumours.
Why are vet fees so high?
As the use of advanced diagnostic equipment has increased within the vet industry, the cost of vet treatment has also increased. Diagnostic equipment is expensive, and the costs need to be absorbed by the practice or by the companion animal owner themselves. Business running costs as well as wages and sales taxes also add to the practice costs. These inevitably are passed onto the client.
Owners can choose not to utilise the range of diagnostics available to treat their companion bird, and this is usually determined after a discussion with the vet about the necessity and benefits of treatment. However, choosing not to continue with treatment for financial reasons can be hard, especially if treatment is predicted to have a positive outcome.
To buy insurance – or not?
You may feel it would be cheaper to save money in a bank account, rather than pay for insurance you may not need. This may be the case, but if you are faced with an extremely high and unexpected bill, it can empty your savings account very quickly. It also means you will be relying on replenishing your savings quickly, to cover any future incidents.
You may feel that insurance companies ‘never pay out anyway’. This can be a common grumble, but it can be avoided by ensuring you fully understand what is covered when you buy your policy. Read your policy book, and if you do not understand something, call the insurance provider. They are there to help. After all, you are the parrot caregiver and their customer.
A quick look at an insurance provider’s website and reviews will tell you the percentage of claims paid in a year, and the opinions of their customers. These can offer you peace of mind that the insurance provider genuinely cares about you and your parrot companion.
Some owners are concerned that their parrot may be too old to be insured. Insurance providers can either apply no upper age limit to insurance coverage or cap it at a certain age. You will usually find this information in the policy wording. If you are not sure of your bird’s age you should be able to state an ‘approximate’ age during the application. Or alternatively, you can call the provider, who is usually happy to help.
If you own multiple birds, you may feel insurance coverage will be too expensive. Once you begin researching your quote you will be able to see whether you can add more than one parrot to a policy. This can mean the coverage is a lot cheaper.
Payment terms can also be an issue for companion parrot owners, however, most bird insurance providers offer a 0% (APR) Direct Debit scheme permitting you to spread out your payments, which can really help.
Whether you choose to purchase insurance or save money in a bank account, it is important that you do plan for a rainy day, because if your best ‘feathered friend’ becomes ill, you will be glad you did.
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ExoticDirect pet insurance provides up to £5,000 of vet fee, death, and theft coverage for large birds like African Greys, Macaws, Cockatoos, Amazons and more. They also provide £1,500 of vet fee coverage for smaller birds including budgerigars, cockatiels, canaries, and more.
ExoticDirect have been insuring exotic pets for over 23 years, and passionately believe in responsible pet ownership. They are also a proud supporter of the Kiwa Centre run by the World Parrot Trust, helping to pay for vet treatment and enrichment for the parrots in their care. In addition to macaws, the Kiwa Centre is rehabilitating 50 Grey Parrots that were seized in Hungary and Bulgaria as part of an illegal trafficking operation. You can read their story here.
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