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Pet Insurance Australia Pet Insurance review
Same underwriter as Bow Wow Meow but a slightly more bundled product, 2,246 ProductReview ratings, and a recently-released PDS (Oct 2025). The honest take.
The short version
Pet Insurance Australia (PIA) and Bow Wow Meow are siblings — both currently underwritten by PetSure (Australia), both transitioned from Hollard within 5 weeks of each other in mid-2023. So if you're cross-shopping the two, you're really comparing two products from the same insurer with different feature bundles and pricing.
PIA's Select and Protect product (current PDS dated 22 October 2025) bundles dental, preventative, alternative and integrative items together rather than splitting them into add-ons like BWM's Booster Care. The bundling is friendlier — fewer decisions at purchase, same underlying cover — but you pay for it whether you use it or not.
2,246 ProductReview ratings averaging 4.4 stars — second-highest review volume in our directory after RSPCA's historical 8,239. Customer feedback consistently mentions vet-direct claim processing and staff follow-ups.
Score breakdown
v1.1 of the Insu Score weights four components. Pet Insurance Australia scores well on the dimensions covered; affordability is pending until our premium estimator launches.
Slightly better than BWM (31) due to bundled dental/preventative/alternative/integrative cover rather than separate Booster Care add-ons. $25k annual limit (vs BWM's $20k), 80% reimbursement, 18-month pre-existing temporary condition review.
Quote sampled 28 April 2026: $78.23/month ($938.76/year base) for the exact benchmark scenario ($15,000 annual benefit, 80% reimbursement, $300 excess). Cheapest comparable sample in our directory. First-year promo of 2-3 months free brings year-1 cost down ~17-25%, but the score uses base premium since promos are non-recurring.
Same underwriter calculation as BWM: PetSure (APRA-authorised, AFCA-member, 195 complaints in FY24-25 across all brands). Transitioned from Hollard 8 May 2023 — 2 points off for the recency of the change.
4.4 stars across 2,246 ProductReview ratings — strong volume (second-highest in our directory), slightly lower average than BWM (4.5). Customer feedback emphasises vet-direct claim processing and proactive staff follow-ups.
PIA leads the directory at 76/100 — same underwriter as BWM (PetSure), marginally cheaper base premium, slightly broader bundled coverage. Highest complete score so far. How the score is calculated →
Coverage features audit (current PDS)
The 8 features feeding the Coverage Depth score, with the actual values from the current Pet Insurance Australia Product Disclosure Statement (dated 2025-10-22).
| Feature | Pet Insurance Australia value | Score |
|---|---|---|
| Annual benefit limit | Up to $25,000 (better than BWM's $20k) | 7 / 8 |
| Reimbursement % | 80% (single option — same as BWM, vs Knose's 3 and RSPCA's 4) | 5 / 8 |
| Excess flexibility | $200 default annual excess; tiered options per Certificate of Insurance. | 3 / 5 |
| Dental cover | Bundled with preventative, alternative and integrative items as Section 4 of the PDS — more integrated than BWM's standalone Booster Care add-on. | 4 / 5 |
| Behavioural cover | Behavioural conditions diagnosed by your vet are covered subject to PDS sub-limits and waiting periods. | 3 / 5 |
| Alternative therapy cover | Bundled in Section 4 with dental and integrative items. Specialised therapies covered subject to vet recommendation. | 3 / 5 |
| Routine care add-on | Routine Care non-insurance benefit available as opt-in. Vaccinations, microchipping, dental scaling etc. | 4 / 5 |
| Bilateral condition flexibility | Standard bilateral condition restriction per industry norm. | 1 / 5 |
| Pre-existing condition review | Temporary condition framework — pre-existing exclusion can be reviewed and lifted once symptom-free criteria are met. Same approach as BWM and RSPCA. | 3 / 4 |
Source: Pet Insurance Australia Select and Protect Combined Product Disclosure Statement and Policy Wording (PDS document Pet Insurance Australia Select and Protect 22 October 2025.pdf, dated 2025-10-22). Last read by Insu: 2026-04-27. Verify current values at www.petinsuranceaustralia.com.au/useful-documents/ before purchasing.
What we liked
- Bundled cover structure — dental, preventative, alternative, integrative items all in Section 4 (less to opt into vs BWM's add-ons)
- $25,000 annual limit (vs BWM's $20k) — same underwriter, modestly better headline number
- Strong review volume — 2,246 ProductReview ratings is the second-highest in our directory (only RSPCA's historical count exceeds it)
- Most recent PDS in our directory (22 October 2025) — actively maintained and current
- Pre-existing temporary condition review available — 18-month symptom-free path
What to think about
- Single reimbursement option (80%) — no flex to dial down premium with a 70% option, unlike Knose (3 options) or RSPCA (4)
- Underwriter changed in May 2023 — same caveat as BWM and other PetSure-direct brands
- Standard bilateral condition restriction (industry norm but worth flagging)
- Customer rating fractionally below BWM (4.4 vs 4.5) despite shared underwriter — likely product/service differentiation factors
- If you don't use dental/alternative items, you're paying for them in the bundled premium (vs BWM's per-add-on pricing)
Same underwriter as 6 other AU brands
Pet Insurance Australia is underwritten by PetSure (Australia) Pty Ltd. PetSure also issues policies for these brands:
Same underwriter doesn't mean identical product — pricing, benefit tiers, and add-ons vary by brand. But your claim is paid by the same company regardless of which logo is on the policy. More on the PetSure family → (coming soon)
Affordability — coming soon
The Insu premium estimator is being built using a combination of PDS-published rate tables and manual benchmark quote sampling. Once it launches, this section will show:
- Pet Insurance Australia's premium for the standard 3-year-old Labrador Sydney 2000 benchmark
- Where that premium sits in the percentile ranking across all 19 AU pet insurers
- Variations for older pets, regional postcodes, and cat scenarios
In the interim, the most accurate way to get a real Pet Insurance Australia quote is direct from their site (no obligation, no signup required for the quote itself).
Get a Pet Insurance Australia quote
Direct quote from the insurer, no signup needed to see pricing.
Visit Pet Insurance Australia ↗We may earn an affiliate commission if you purchase through this link. The Insu Score is calculated independently of affiliate status — see the methodology page.
PDS read: 2026-04-27 · ProductReview data captured: 2026-04-27 · Underwriter status verified: 2026-04-27 · Insu Score version: v1.1