Waggel

Waggel, lifetime pet insurance in the UK

Waggel is a British insurer that sells lifetime pet insurance policies exclusively. Its approach focuses on simplicity and personalisation: a single policy type that renews annually and maintains cover for as long as the policy remains active. The maximum annual cover is £15,000, with the limit and excess adjustable by the policyholder according to their coverage needs and budget.

Medical and complementary cover

The policy covers vet fees arising from accidents, injuries and illnesses, including consultations, diagnostics, procedures and medication, up to the chosen annual limit. Dental cover is included for all pets, with up to £1,000 for treatments related to dental accidents and illnesses. Up to £1,000 is also available for complementary and behavioural treatments.

In the event of the pet's death, theft or disappearance, the insurer reimburses a portion of the purchase price, up to a maximum of £1,000. For dogs, the policy includes third-party liability cover of up to £2 million if the animal causes damage or injury to other people or their property.

Main exclusions

Cover does not apply to treatments carried out during the first 14 days of the policy, considered the warm-up period. Routine, elective or preventative treatments are excluded, such as neutering, grooming, flea/worming treatments or dental cleanings. Pre-existing conditions are also not covered, nor are advanced treatments such as stem cells, gene therapy, prosthetics or organ transplants, notifiable diseases, prescription blankets and food, or cremation or burial costs. Reimbursement of the purchase price due to death, theft or loss is also excluded in certain cases.

Personalised care and claims handling

Each policyholder is assigned a Customer Champion, a UK-qualified veterinary nurse who supports the customer throughout the claims process and answers questions about the claim. Handling is completely digital: claims can be submitted online and tracked in real time. The insurer works with an extensive vet network and pays invoices directly to any UK-registered veterinary practice.

Services included in the membership

Members get free 24/7 vet video calls through an app developed with Joii, which connects with qualified UK-based vets. Free video consultations with behaviour and nutrition specialists are also offered through Companion Animal Wellness.

The membership also includes benefits from independent brands in the sector: fresh dog food from Butternut Box, the Biscuit dog care app with its Biscuit Plus plan (worth £3.99 per month), free stays in Trusted Housesitters homes, monthly flea, tick and worm protection from Protect My Pet, and access to Pet Database, a free database of microchipped pets with a lost pet search service across the UK.

Policyholder reviews

The company shows a rating of 4.5 out of 5 based on 14,721 reviews. Testimonials highlight the speed of claims processing, clear communication and the service received, even in cases of dogs over ten years old or operations at specialist vets.