There are two parts to these types of policies:

• A fixed sum to cover your pet for the treatment of each illness or injury, and 

• A set time period for which treatment of each illness or injury will be covered. Policies will typically cover the cost of treating your pet for a particular illness or injury for 12 months from the start of that illness or injury or first date of treatment (as long as the policy remains in force). The time-limit does not relate to the duration of the policy, but to the maximum amount of time an illness or injury is covered for.  

When the set period has ended, or the fixed sum of money for a particular illness or injury has been reached – whichever comes first – your pet will not be covered for that particular illness or injury for the rest of the policy duration.  

With many time-limited policies, the limits apply to all occurrences of an illness or injury. Insurers see these as recurring conditions related to the previous episode so will treat as one condition, for the duration of the policy. For example, if the same illness happens in the other leg, eye or ear and the 12 month period for the first episode of that particular illness has ended or the sum of money available has been used, your pet will not be covered for this further episode. However, any new or unrelated condition will be covered though.