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What is an excess and co-payment? How does it work?

Co-payment (sometimes called "co-pay") is the percentage of a claim you're responsible for paying, on top of your excess. It's one of two contributions you might make towards the cost of a claim — the other being your excess.

How does co-payment work?

When you make a claim, we work it out in two steps:

  1. We deduct your excess first — a fixed amount, if applicable to your policy.

  2. We then apply your co-payment percentage to whatever's left.

Unlike excess, which you only pay once per medical condition per policy year, co-payment applies to every claim you make.

Worked example

Let's say your policy has a £149 excess and a 10% co-payment, and your vet bill comes to £800.

Step 1: Deduct the excess £800 − £149 = £651 remaining

Step 2: Apply the co-payment 10% of £651 = £65.10

Step 3: Add up what you pay £149 excess + £65.10 co-payment = £214.10 total

Step 4: We pay the rest £800 − £214.10 = £585.90 covered by us

Where do I find my excess and co-payment?

Your specific excess amount and co-payment percentage are shown on your policy schedule. You can choose an excess of £49, £99, £149, £199 or £249, and a co-payment of 0%, 10% or 25%, when you take out or renew your policy. These can also vary depending on your pet's age.

Does co-payment ever change?

If you've opted for a co-payment, it applies to every claim as normal. It can also increase if your pet is 9 or older — from your first policy or renewal after your pet's 9th birthday, a minimum co-payment of 25% (and minimum excess of £99) applies, unless your pet has been insured with us continuously for 3 years or more before that renewal.

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