Napo Pet Insurance

Napo Pet Insurance: The Complete 2025 Guide for UK Pet Owners

Last updated: August 2025

Our pets are family. When they’re unwell, you want clear options, fast support, and an insurer that pays fairly. Napo Pet Insurance is a relatively new but fast-growing UK provider that markets lifetime cover, high vet fee limits, and helpful extras like 24/7 video vet access.

This guide explains what Napo covers, how its policies work, real-world pros and cons, cost expectations, how to claim, and tips to get the best value all written in plain language for busy pet owners.

Who is Napo and why it matters

Napo entered the UK pet insurance market promising a modern, transparent approach. Its key selling points are lifetime cover for ongoing conditions (if you keep renewing), generous annual vet fee limits, and remote vet consultations included as a standard benefit. For owners who worry about chronic conditions or high treatment costs, Napo Pet Insurance aims to simplify protection and make care decisions easier.

Types of cover Napo Pet Insurance offers

Napo Pet Insurance primarily sells lifetime policies for dogs and cats. Lifetime cover means a condition diagnosed while your policy is active can be treated year after year, subject to policy limits, rather than being dropped after a defined period.

Typical cover tiers you’ll see from Napo Pet Insurance include:

• Core / Essential — lower vet-fee limit and basic features.
• Standard / Plus — mid-range vet-fee limit plus more extras.
• Premium / Max — highest annual vet-fee limits (the top plans may reach the mid-four-figure or low-five-figure annual limits), comprehensive extras like dental and complementary therapies, and reduced excess choices.

Exact names and limits change over time, so always check the current plan details at purchase.

What Napo Pet Insurance typically covers

While policy wordings change, Napo’s lifetime plans generally include:

• Veterinary fees for illness and injury (diagnosis, tests, surgery, medication).
• Chronic condition management — ongoing treatment for conditions first reported on your policy.
• Dental treatment for disease and accidental injury.
• Hospitalisation and specialist treatment (subject to limits).
• Complementary therapies like physiotherapy or hydrotherapy when prescribed by a vet.
• Third-party liability for dogs (legal costs if your dog causes injury or property damage).
• Loss, theft or straying — advertising and reward costs to find your pet.
• Death benefit (contribution towards replacement/adoption fee if the pet dies from an insured cause).
• 24/7 vet video calls — initial triage and advice without leaving home.

What Napo Pet Insurance usually excludes (important to know)

No policy covers everything. Common exclusions are:

• Pre-existing conditions that began before your policy started (these are typically not covered).
• Preventive care like vaccinations, routine flea/tick/worm treatments, or microchipping.
• Breeding-related care, stud or pregnancy-related treatment.
• Cosmetic or elective procedures.
• Conditions not disclosed at inception — withholding medical history can void claims.
• Certain working or commercial use (some working dogs may be excluded).

Lifetime cover explained, why it’s useful

Many pet insurers offer time-limited cover (a condition is only covered for a set period or amount). Lifetime cover keeps eligible conditions covered year after year, with the annual limit resetting each policy year. For chronic conditions such as arthritis or diabetes, lifetime cover prevents you from suddenly finding treatment unaffordable after 12 months.

Vet video calls and wellbeing extras, real convenience

A standout Napo feature for many owners is included video vet consultations. These let you get triage and quick advice when something small looks worrying. The benefits:

• Avoid a possibly unnecessary clinic trip.
• Get peace of mind about whether immediate treatment is required.
• Access early advice on diet, behaviour, and recovery.

Napo also often bundles wellbeing resources — behaviourist help, diet guidance, and training tips — which can reduce stress and avoid costly problems later.

How much does Napo Pet Insurance typically cost?

Premiums vary widely depending on species, breed, age, location, chosen limit, and excess. As a rough guide (2025 averages):

• Young cat (mixed breed) on a mid-level limit: £15–£25/month.
• Medium dog (Labrador, age 3) mid-limit: £30–£45/month.
• Brachycephalic breeds (e.g. French Bulldogs) or older dogs: can be significantly higher, often £60+ monthly at higher limits.

If you insure early (puppy/kitten), you often get the cheapest long-term pricing and full protection against future conditions.

How claims work with Napo Pet Insurance

Napo aims for a straightforward claims process:

1. Visit the vet and get clinical notes and invoices.
2. Submit the claim via the website or app — attach invoices and notes.
3. Claims are reviewed and you’ll be notified of approval/denial. The insurer may pay the vet directly (if arranged) or reimburse you.

To avoid delays: keep itemised invoices, ask your vet for clinical notes, and respond quickly if the insurer asks for extra information.

Examples: how lifetime cover helps

• Arthritis: a dog develops arthritis at 6. Under lifetime cover, regular joint meds and physiotherapy are covered year-on-year.
• Allergies: a cat starts allergy treatment that requires ongoing medication — lifetime policy continues to fund ongoing costs (within yearly limits).
• Orthopaedic surgery: a costly operation is covered; ongoing follow-ups and rehab are also included.

Napo Pet Insurance vs competitors, how it stacks up

Compared to established names (Petplan, Agria, ManyPets), Napo’s strengths are:

• High standard vet limits relative to price.
• Lifetime focus and wellbeing extras included.
• Free vet video consultations as a standard perk.

Potential tradeoffs:

• Premiums increase with pet age (standard across market).
• Pre-existing conditions are still excluded — specialist insurers sometimes place more nuanced cover for certain histories.

Choosing the right vet-fee limit and excess

Pick a vet-fee limit that matches breed risk and local vet costs. Consider:

• High-risk breeds (genetically prone to expensive conditions) — choose higher limits.
• Local vet pricing — big city clinics charge more than smaller towns.
• Excess — a higher voluntary excess lowers the premium but increases your out-of-pocket cost when claiming.

Practical tips before you buy Napo Pet Insurance

• Buy early — don’t wait until a problem appears.
• Declare everything — always be honest about medical history.
• Read the definitions — “chronic”, “recurring” and “pre-existing” can be interpreted differently by insurers.
• Use the vet video service — many issues are cheaper to manage if spotted early.
• Compare the renewal terms — find out how renewals are calculated and whether age-banded increases are capped.

NEXT: One Call Insurance

Common mistakes pet owners make

• Assuming vaccination and preventive care are included.
• Not saving invoices/clinical notes for claims.
• Believing a policy covers all hereditary conditions without checking wording.
• Failing to update policy details (address, new medications, change of clinic).

Real-life claim examples (anonymised)

1. Emergency surgery for a Labrador — vet-sent invoices totaled several thousand pounds; insurer covered under a high-limit lifetime policy after prompt submission.
2. Chronic kidney disease in an older cat — ongoing monitoring and medication were covered each year after initial acceptance as a non-pre-existing condition.
3. Accidental fracture in a young dog — surgery and rehab covered promptly with a small excess contribution from owner.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Napo Pet Insurance

Q: Can I get a policy if my pet already has a condition?
A: Usually not for that condition. Some insurers will offer limited or specialist cover after medical screening; check with the provider.

Q: Will premiums rise if I claim?
A: Possibly. While your pet’s condition remains covered, insurers typically increase premiums with claims experience or as your pet ages.

Q: Is dental covered?
A: Napo commonly covers dental disease and accidents, but check limits and exclusions (routine dental checks are usually not covered).

Q: Does Napo Pet Insurance cover overseas travel with pets?
A: Some policies include travel cover consistent with the UK Pet Travel Scheme rules — always confirm documentation and any waiting periods.

Q: Do they offer multi-pet discounts?
A: Many insurers, including Napo, offer multi-pet discounts — check at quote stage.

The renewal conversation — what to expect

As pets age, premiums normally increase because the risk profile changes. At renewal:

• Expect a price rise with age or after a claim.
• You can switch providers — but note that pre-existing conditions will follow the pet; insurers will exclude conditions that previously manifested.
• Always check the annual limits and whether the insurer has changed any policy definitions.

Final thoughts — is Napo Pet Insurance right for your pet?

Napo is a strong choice for owners seeking lifetime cover, generous vet fee limits, and modern extras like 24/7 video vet access. It’s particularly good for young to middle-aged pets you want to insure early and keep covered for life. If your pet has multiple pre-existing conditions, talk to a specialist broker — you may need bespoke underwriting.

Ultimately, the best policy is the one that balances affordability, meaningful vet fee limits, and transparent wording so you know what’s covered when it matters most.

Where to get a quote

For the latest plans and live quotes, visit Napo’s official site: https://www.napo.pet — and always compare with at least one other insurer before buying.