Bow Wow Meow Pet Insurance Review
Bow Wow Meow is an Australian-owned business based in Bondi Junction, NSW, which started out providing personalised pet ID tags in 1995, to then expand into the world of pet insurance in 2008.
Since its launch, Bow Wow Meow has provided pet insurance to more than 130,000 pet owners – many of whom seem genuinely happy with the service they receive. With a current rating of 4.2 stars on Product Review, Bow Wow Meow has taken home Product Review awards for its pet insurance in 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021 and 2022.
Similarly, Canstar has awarded Bow Wow Meow pet insurance 4 to 5 stars for its plans across almost every category in their Pet Insurance Star Ratings.
What sets Bow Wow Meow apart from its competitors? As the company itself says, “We are not some big, faceless insurance company, we are a team of Aussie pet lovers”.
In saying that, Bow Wow Meow pet insurance is underwritten by Australia’s largest pet insurer, The Hollard Insurance Company, making it just as secure as any of its competitors. In addition, it is arranged and administered by PetSure, Australia’s leading Pet Insurance Underwriting Management Agency.
Here are some highlights:
- Bow Wow Meow pet insurance pays out more than $2 million in claims each month
- It has insured more than 130,000 Aussie pets
- 95% of claims are paid within 5 days
- It offers features such as an easy-to-use online portal and GapOnly on-the-spot claiming
- It prides itself on being run by ‘pet people’, with a focus on caring and attentive service
Bow Wow Meow Pet Cover
Providing cover for dogs and cats, Bow Wow Meow pet insurance offers a wide range of cover options, with no excess to pay across the board.
Dog & Cat Pet Insurance
Accident Only
- Covers specified accidental injuries
- Annual benefit limit of $10,000
- Claim 80% back on eligible vet bills
- Offered to pets 8 weeks and older
Accident & Illness Peace of Mind
- Covers specified accidental injuries and illness
- Annual benefit limit of $15,000
- Choice of 60%, 70% or 80% back on eligible vet bills
- Offered to pets 8 weeks to 9 years
Accident & Illness Ultimate Care
- Covers specified accidental injuries and illness, plus dental
- Annual benefit limit of $20,000
- Claim 80% back on eligible vet bills
- Dental cover up to $1,000 per policy period
- Alternative therapy cover up to $1,000 per policy period
- Offered to pets 8 weeks to 9 years
Indoor Cat Cover
- Covers stated conditions (including cancer, diabetes, heart disease, arthritis and more, plus limited accidental injuries, which include poisoning and ingestion of foreign object)
- Annual benefit limit of $5,000
- Claim 80% back on eligible vet bills
- Offered to cats 8 weeks to 9 years
What We Love
- Happy Customers: While some pet insurance products are regularly slated on consumer ratings sites such as Product Review, Bow Wow Meow pet insurance is currently holding an overall rating of 4.2 stars, based on 2,367 independent customer reviews. Its Accident Only and Peace of Mind plans each have a rating of 4.4 stars, while its Ultimate Care plan has a rating of 4.5 stars (as at 2/01/2022).
- Intro Offers: Like many pet insurance providers, Bow Wow Meow pet insurance provides intro offers to attract new pet owners to sign up. While these offers change over time, you could expect to get a percentage off your premiums in the first year, or one or two months of free cover for young pets.
- Multi-Pet Discount: Want to insure multiple pets? With Bow Wow Meow pet insurance, you can benefit from a 10% multi-pet discount, helping you save month-to-month.
- Reimbursement Rate: Depending on the plan you choose, Bow Wow Meow pet insurance can provide up to 80% back on eligible vet bills, with options to change your benefit percentage. While there are pet insurance products offering up to 100% back on vet bills, these can come with higher premiums. Be sure to compare your options to find out which works best for you.
- No Excess: Helping you save on upfront costs, Bow Wow Meow pet insurance doesn’t charge an excess on any of its plans. This not only makes visiting the vet easier on your wallet, it also means that you can claim for even the smallest eligible vet expenses.
- Easy Claims: Bow Wow Meow pet insurance prides itself on its easy claims process, which can be accessed via its new, improved pet portal. Using this portal, pet owners can make claims, track their progress and manage their policy. If there are any issues with a claim, the company’s claims team follows up with the vet rather than the pet owner, helping to make the claims process smoother and easier.
- GapOnly: With Bow Wow Meow pet insurance, you have the option to have your claim processed on the spot using GapOnly. This handy feature calculates your claim while you’re still at the vet, so you pay only the gap.
- Generous Limits: With tiered cover levels available, Bow Wow Meow pet insurance lets you choose how much cover you need, with generous annual limits up to $20,000 available. Generous inclusions are also on offer, for example, hip joint surgery cover of up to $7,600 per hip (exclusive to Bow Wow Meow).
- Lifetime Cover: As long as you continue to renew your policy and there are no breaks, lapses or changes in the level of cover after your pet reaches the age of nine, you can enjoy lifetime cover. Cover will be subject to the terms and conditions of each renewing policy.
- Routine Care Cover: If you opt for an Accident & Illness plan, you have the option to add on Routine Care Cover to your policy. This comes at an added cost, to offer limited benefits on items such as vaccinations and regular vet check-ups.
- Extras: As a Bow Wow Meow pet insurance policyholder, you can enjoy access to extras such as a free ID tag every year and a pet health card for your wallet.
- Overseas Pet Travel: If you are travelling with your pet within New Zealand or Norfolk Island, you can benefit from cover on vet expenses and treatment.
- Giving Back: Bow Wow Meow pet insurance is a Platinum Sponsor of the Australian Animal Poisons Helpline, a registered animal charity that provides a free poisons advice service to pet owners across Australia and New Zealand. It is also a Bronze Sponsor of WIRES Wildlife Rescue Australia, working to support the invaluable work they do rescuing and protecting our native animals.
What To Consider
- Sub-Limits: Alongside overall annual benefit limits, you should be aware of any sub-limits that may apply on your chosen level of cover. With Bow Wow Meow pet insurance, there are sub-limits in place for cruciate ligament treatment, starting at $2,600 for Accident Only and Peace of Mind plans, and $3,200 for the Ultimate Care plan. Similarly, there are sub-limits of $1,200, $2,000 and $3,000 for tick paralysis.
- Waiting Periods: Every pet insurance policy puts in place waiting periods. It’s up to you to check what waiting period exclusions may apply to you as you compare your options. With Bow Wow Meow pet insurance, there is no waiting period for accidental injuries or Routine Care, however, there is a 30-day waiting period for stated illnesses, and a 6-month waiting period for cruciate ligament conditions and dental (on the Ultimate Care plan).
- Pre-Existing Conditions: All pet insurance providers refuse to cover pre-existing conditions. Bow Wow Meow pet insurance is no different, however, it may offer cover for pre-existing conditions that have showed no symptoms over the previous 18 months.
- Exclusions: Exclusions are also worth checking as you compare pet insurance. Like many other policies, Bow Wow Meow pet insurance plans exclude cover for breeding and obstetrics, desexing, food and diet, behavioural problems, grooming, and elective treatments and procedures, such as tail docking, de-barking and dew claw removal.
