Britons buy more pet insurance than health insurance

22 August 2008

New research shows Britons care more about pets than themselves

According to research conducted by Tesco Personal Finance, more Britons pay out for pet insurance than health insurance.

The study showed that there are almost twice as many pet insurance policies in the UK than health insurance policies.

The statistics from 2007 indicated that 23% of UK pets were insured but only 12.2% of the human population owned a private medical insurance policy.

Tesco Personal Finance said that pet insurance was so popular because the UK is a nation of pet lovers and veterinary surgeons agreed.

Ewan McNeil, former president of the Society of Practicing Veterinary Surgeons, said: “We are a nation of animal lovers, and many of us regard our pet as part of the family. I’m not surprised that pet insurance is becoming so popular – people will do everything they can to ensure the best for their pets.

“Veterinary healthcare has made great strides in the last few years offering highly sophisticated treatment for a huge range of animal ailments.

“Pet insurance helps owners choose the best treatment for their pets without worrying about costs,” he added.

Alan Burns, head of Tesco Pet Insurance, said: “I’m not surprised by this finding. We have known for a long time that us Brits are pet mad.”

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