Guide Dogs Australia Pet Insurance for Cats & Dogs.

Since 1957, we’ve been supporting Australians with low vision or blindness by providing dog related services. ‘Seeing Eye Dogs’ as they’re commonly refered to are still at the core of what we do, but we’ve expanded with a range of health care services to help people with low vision and blindness live more independent lives in a number of ways. From offering support to parents and carers of babies and children with sight impairment, to assisting adults who are gradually losing sight, we ensure our community is safe and accessible for people of all abilities, including people with low vision or blindness.

Guide Dogs Australia are everyday heroes that transform the lives of Australians with low vision or sight loss. Guide Dogs provide crucial mobility, freedom, and independence, allowing their owners to navigate life confidently and safely. But the organisation does so much more.

Autism Assistance Dogs, currently only available in South Australia are carefully trained to provide independence and peace of mind for children between 3 and eight years old with autism so they feel comfortable, safe and confident out in the community. These dogs can go anywhere and have the same legal access rights as Guide Dogs do. They’re clearly identified by their body coats, which provide awareness of the dog’s special circumstances and support public access and inclusion.

Therapy Dogs are different to ‘Guide Dogs’ and are not considered ‘Assistance Dogs’ but thanks to their unique skills, and the fact they’ve usually been through a large part of the formal Guide Dog training program, these pooches are fully qualified to offer comfort, loyalty, friendship, and love to people with all kinds of conditions and abilities.

Guide Dogs Australia Pet Insurance Comparison

By choosing Guide Dogs Pet Insurance, you contribute to the development of promising puppies into skilled guide dogs. With minimum government funding, your support is essential and makes a significant impact.

There are currently 3 levels of cover for cats and dogs.

• ‘Basic Care’ for pets 9 years and older, with a yearly claim up to $15,000
• ‘Comprehensive Care’ for pets 8 weeks to 9 years, also with a yearly claim limit up to $15,000
• ‘Premium Care’ also covering pets 8 weeks to 9 years, but with a yearly claim limit of up to $20,000

Here is a list of what’s covered in all the plans.

• Specified accidental injury
• Illness
• After-hours emergency visits
• Cruciate Ligament Conditions (6 month waiting period – may be waived on application)
• Consultations (including home visits)
• Annual tick paralysis benefit
• Lab and diagnostic tests
• Hospitalisation
• Radiology
• Medicine and drugs
• Overseas pet travel (New Zealand or Norfolk Island only)
• Emergency boarding
• Essential euthanasia
• Third Party Liability (for Registered Guide Dogs only)

‘Specified Accidental Injury‘ cover includes coverage for physical harm or injury arising from an accident that is a consequence of or results in one of the following specified events:

• a motor vehicle incident
• a burn or electrocution
• an allergic reaction to insect and arachnid bites
• a bone fracture
• a snake bite toxicity
• a traumatic ligament or tendon injury
• a bite wound or fight wound abscesses
• lacerations or abrasion of tissue, skin or mucous membrane due to external violence

‘Illness‘ means a sickness or disease, which is not included under Specified Accidental Injury cover. Examples of illnesses that may be covered under illness cover include:

• Cancer treatments
• Skin conditions
• Eye/ear conditions
• Ingestion of a foreign object
• Gastrointestinal problems
• Hereditary and congenital conditions
• Intervertebral disc disease (IVDD)
• Tick paralysis

However, pet insurance policies will generally not cover illnesses caused by certain diseases (see ‘What’s not covered in my Guide Dogs Pet Insurance?’) and Pre-existing Conditions (see ‘What is a Pre-existing Condition?’).
Illness is covered in all Guide Dogs Pet Insurance policies. Please note a 30-day waiting period applies starting from the commencement date of the first policy period.

There is also a ‘Routine Care Optional Extra’ that can be added to ‘Premium Care’ policies covering:

• Heartworm test or blood screen – $15 a year
• FeLV/FIV test or urinalysis – $15 a year

Plus, a $50 annual benefit for any one of these routine treatments:

• Desexing and microchipping
• Heartworm preventative medication
• Teeth cleaning
• Dental illness treatment
• Vaccinations or health checks
• Council registration fees
• Prescription diets
• Alternative therapies for pets
• Dew claw removal
• Cremation or burial
• Behavioural therapy
• Obedience training
• Flea, tick or worm control

As with all insurance products, there are certain situations in which you will not be covered. There are some general exclusions such as pre-existing conditions, dental procedures, fractured teeth, routine or preventative treatments (unless Routine Care cover is purchased, which provides a contribution up to the Routine Care limits), some elective treatments and procedures and breeding or obstetrics. Food and diets, grooming and pet accessories are also not covered. There may also be specific exclusions which may apply to specific levels of cover.

Compare pet insurance for more detailed inclusions along with exclusions.

Guide Dogs Australia Dog Insurance

Dogs love to play and explore, which can sometimes lead to unexpected mishaps. Despite all the love and attention, we provide, there are times when only top-notch healthcare will suffice.
Dog insurance can be taken out with the 3 above mentioned plans tailored to your needs.

You can buy online, and along with protecting your dog, you’ll help change the life of an Australian with sight loss or low vision. This is because you’ll be supporting us to help promising pups grow into hero Guide Dogs.

For detailed information on the policies, you can visit Guide Dogs Dog Insurance, you can also read and download:
Guide Dogs Pet Insurance Basic, Comprehensive and Premium Care Policy Booklet.

Guide Dogs Australia Cat Insurance

Cats are adventurous and may find themselves in unexpected situations, we understand that your cat deserves the best care during this time. With Guide Dogs Cat insurance, you can be confident that your cat will be protected if the unexpected occurs.

You can buy online, and along with protecting your dog, you’ll help change the life of an Australian with sight loss or low vision. This is because you’ll be supporting us to help promising pups grow into hero Guide Dogs.

For detailed information on the policies, you can visit Guide Dogs Cat Insurance, you can also read and download:
Guide Dogs Pet Insurance Basic, Comprehensive and Premium Care Policy Booklet.

Frequently Asked Questions

Here are some of the most common ‘FAQ’ not covered with the information included above.

Who is Guide Dogs Pet Insurance?
Guide Dogs Pet Insurance is promoted by Royal Guide Dogs Australia and distributed and promoted by Greenstone Financial Services Pty Ltd (GFS). It is underwritten by The Hollard Insurance Company Pty Ltd (Hollard) and administered by PetSure (Australia) Pty Ltd (PetSure).
Guide Dogs Pet Insurance’s underwriting partner, The Hollard Insurance Company, is a member of the international Hollard Insurance Group, with 6.5 million policyholders worldwide. PetSure is the leading Australian pet insurance underwriting manager and administrator.

How do you calculate the premium?
For ‘New policies’, your premium is calculated using a combination of factors about you and your pet. These factors can affect the premium amount up or down depending upon whether we believe it increases or decreases the risk to us, such as the cover you have chosen, the excess selected, the benefit percentage applicable to the cover you have chosen, the species, breed and age of your pet and other factors related to our cost of doing business.
For ‘Renewing policies’ factors that are taken into consideration for renewal premium calculation include your pet’s age and breed, as well as data relating to the health of pets that are of a similar age and breed. Each year we review premiums based on these factors to ensure we can accommodate the costs of possible treatment up to your annual benefit limit, in the event that your pet becomes injured or ill.

Visit the ‘Frequently Asked Questions‘ page of Guide Dogs Australia’s website for more commonly asked questions with answers.

Guide Dogs Australia Contact Details

Guide Dog Insurance
Phone: 13 63 00 Monday to Friday between 8am to 8pm AEST (excl. public holidays)
Email: guidedogsinsurance@petsure.com.au

Guide Dogs (Head Office)
Phone: 1800 484 333
Email: info@guidedogs.com.au

For local branches and services in the state you live in, you can visit the respective websites:

NSW/ACT: https://nsw.guidedogs.com.au/

VIC: https://vic.guidedogs.com.au/

QLD: https://qld.guidedogs.com.au/

SA/NT: https://sant.guidedogs.com.au/