Cove Pet Insurance Reviewed — Accident Only, Major & Major + Minor Compared

Accident Only

This accident plan has a more narrow definition of 'accidental injury'.

Cover typeAccident only (Cove policy wording p.6–7)

Annual limit$5,000

Excess$500, per new unrelated condition

Co-payment10%

'Accidental injury' definitionA closed list only — motor vehicle incidents, burns/electrocution, specific insect-bite reactions, fractures, ligament/tendon injury, bite/fight wounds, lacerations. A fall or an injury outside this list has no coverage path. (Cove p.6–7, p.23)

Cruciate/patella/hip dysplasia/IVDDExcluded from Accidental Injury cover 'no matter how the condition arises' (Cove p.7)

UnderwriterAioi Nissay Dowa Insurance Co., Ltd — A+ (Superior), A.M. Best and S&P

Where it's strong

Only one named sub-limit (emergency boarding, $1,500). Everything else that is covered draws on the full $5,000 limit uncapped.
0-day wait on accidental injury.

Worth knowing

If an accidental injury that isn't on Cove’s named list (e.g. some fall-related injuries) it has no coverage at all.The co-payment is 10%.
No illness cover, so cruciate ligament, patella luxation and hip/elbow dysplasia likely have no cover.
No dental, consultation-fee or overseas travel cover, with no add-on path on this plan.

Major

Adds illness cover over Accident only cover.

Cover typeAccident and illness (Cove p.6–7)

Annual limit$25,000

Excess$1,000, per new unrelated condition

Co-payment10%

Cruciate/IVDDRouted to illness cover (since excluded from the narrow accident definition), subject to a 6-month wait (Cove p.7)

Patella luxation/hip dysplasiaRouted to ordinary illness cover with just the standard 21-day wait (Cove p.7)

Hereditary & congenital conditionsBoth explicitly not treated as pre-existing, and so coverable, if asymptomatic before the policy started (Cove p.11)

Where it's strong

A $25,000 annual limit.
Cruciate ligament, patella luxation and hip dysplasia are covered under illness pathway, but are excluded from Cove's narrow accident definition.
Clear, favourable hereditary and congenital conditions clauses.The co-payment is 20-%.

Worth knowing

If an accidental injury that isn't on Cove’s named list (e.g. some fall-related injuries) it has no coverage at all.No dental, consultation-fee or overseas travel cover, with no add-on path on this plan.
No dental, consultation-fee or overseas travel cover, with no add-on path on this plan.
Excess is a per condition excess rather than annually.

Major + Minor

Cove's top tier plan. It adds optional dental and everyday-care extras.

Cover typeAccident and illness, plus optional Dental Illness and Everyday Stuff extras (Cove p.6–7, p.9–10)

Annual limit$25,000

ExcessListed only as 'Variable excess' — no dollar figure confirmed in the policy document or on Cove's website (see note below)

Co-payment20%

Optional Dental Illness extra$500/yr, 100% reimbursement, own $100 excess, after 6 months' continuous cover (Cove p.9)

Optional Everyday Stuff extra$300/yr, no excess, covers desexing, vaccinations, microchipping and more (Cove p.9–10)

UnderwriterSame as Accident Only/Major — A+ (Superior), A.M. Best and S&P

Where it's strong

The only Cove plan where dental and routine / preventative care can be added.
Same high $25,000 annual limit as Major.
Best exclusions of the three Cove plans. Alternative medicine and overseas travel are excluded.

Worth knowing

The co-payment is 20%, double Accident Only / Major's 10%.
The plan excess is listed only as 'Variable excess' with no dollar figure disclosed anywhere FurWise could verify. This is worth confirming directly with Cove.
If an accidental injury that isn't on Cove’s named list (e.g. some fall-related injuries) it has no coverage at all.

Unverified. It’s worth checking directly. Cove's website lists this plan's excess simply as “Variable excess,” with no dollar figure or explanation in the policy document, which defers to the Certificate of Insurance. Confirm the actual figure directly with Cove.

Cove Pet Insurance, plan by plan

Accident Only

Major

Major + Minor

See how Cove Pet Insurance compares against every other NZ pet insurer