What is Lifetime pet insurance?

Lifetime pet insurance is a type of policy that covers vet fees for lifelong conditions. This could include new illness or accidental injury, as long as you continue to renew your policy every 12 months. A Lifetime pet insurance policy may be more expensive than time-limited cover in the short term, but it’s a good way to prevent costly ongoing treatment costs. Treating your pet for long-term conditions, such as epilepsy or diabetes, can soon add up.

How does Lifetime pet insurance work?

A PDSA Lifetime Pet Insurance policy covers vet fees for new illnesses and accidental injuries for one-off and long-term conditions. Lifetime pet insurance is the most comprehensive cover you can get for your pet.

The policy covers up to the maximum amount you choose each year and the limit renews annually. You can cover your pet for the rest of their life, provided you renew your policy each year.

What does a PDSA Lifetime Pet Insurance cover?

A PDSA Lifetime Pet Insurance policy covers:

• MRI costs
• CT scan costs
• Complementary therapy
• Physiotherapy
• Overseas veterinary treatment
• Dental crowns, root canals and fillings

Your policy can be used at any vets so you can continue to use your own registered vet as usual. There are also a host of other benefits, aside from veterinary fees, such as:

• Cat and dogs insured from eight weeks old with no age limit on our policies
• Third party liability for dogs*
• 24/7 veterinary advice online or over the phone with PawSquad
• Holiday travel cover
• Your hospitalisation and boarding fees
• Claims can be paid directly to your vet providing that your vet agrees to be paid directly

Pet insurance does not cover pre-existing conditions that happened before you take out the policy. For example, if your pet had previously suffered from diabetes, then this condition wouldn’t be covered when you take out your new policy.

Most policies, not just Lifetime pet insurance, don’t cover preventive treatment such as:

• Vaccinations
• Worming
• Flea treatment
• Dog neutering and cat neutering

Learn more about our pet insurance policies.

How much is Lifetime pet insurance?

PDSA Pet Insurance is tailored to your pet's specific needs, including their age and breed. To find a Lifetime pet insurance plan that aligns best with your budget and needs, explore our policy options. For an exact price, you can get a personalised quote in just three minutes.

Lifetime pet insurance for dogs and cats

Lifetime dog insurance

Cover your dog for their life with Lifetime dog insurance. Find out more about PDSA Dog Insurance here.

Lifetime cat insurance

If you’re looking for cover that can protect your cat for ongoing conditions, PDSA Lifetime Pet Insurance may be your best option. Learn more about PDSA Cat Insurance here.

Is Lifetime pet insurance worth it?

Many choose to get Lifetime pet insurance cover for their pets, so they are covered financially should the worst happen as unexpected illnesses or accidents can happen at any time. If you’re looking for more information on pet insurance, find more about insuring your pet here.

Why do I need Lifetime pet insurance?

Our 2025 PAW Report found that 23% (5.1m pets) of pet owners would use savings as the main way to pay for an unexpected vet bill. A pet insurance policy, like Lifetime pet insurance, can protect you from expensive and unexpected vet bills.

Long-term illnesses or accidents can come out of nowhere at any time. Many people decide to take out Lifetime pet insurance to ensure that their pet is covered for their life. Get a personalised quote in just three minutes.

Frequently asked questions about lifetime pet insurance

*Third party liability cover is not available for Akitas, Japanese Akitas, Neapolitan Mastiffs, Cirneco Dell Etna, Dogue de Bordeaux, Korean Jindo, Mexican Hairless (Standard), Mexican Hairless (Intermediate), Mexican Hairless (Minature), Northern Inuit, Portuguese Podengo, Segugios Italiano, Shar Pei, Utonagan, and crossbreeds of these dogs.

PDSA Trading Limited is an introducer appointed representative of Pinnacle Insurance ltd which is authorised by the Prudential Regulatory Authority and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and the Prudential Regulation Authority (register number 110866). Registered Office: 4th Floor, Limelight, Elstree Way, Borehamwood, Hertfordshire, WD6 1JH. PDSA Pet Insurance is a trading style of and arranged, administered & underwritten by Pinnacle Insurance ltd. PDSA Trading Limited and Pinnacle Insurance ltd are not part of the same corporate group.