A guide to coping with the death of your pet

2 minute read

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Bereavement support

If you don’t feel you're getting the support you need from your friends or family, or you're finding it hard to open up to them just now, we're here for you. LV= Pet customers can call our pet helpline on 0800 138 6533 and get counselling for pet illness and bereavement.

If you don’t have a pet policy with us, don’t worry, there's other help available: 

  • Support Line has useful info and links to pet bereavement services

The financial cost of losing a pet

If you don't have pet insurance, the cost of treating your pet can get expensive and become a burden, especially if they've developed a terminal illness, or been involved in an accident.

Most pet insurers, including LV=, may not cover pre-existing conditions, so the best time to look into insuring your cat or dog is before they suffer from any illness or accident. This way, you're more likely to be able to claim back the costs - or your insurer can pay your vet directly so you only need to pay your excess.

Our policyholders can claim up to £1,500 for the purchase price of their pet. This means you get back what you paid for your pet if they pass away because of an accident or illness. The cover for your pet’s purchase price if they die from an illness is removed at the renewal after a dog’s 9th or cat’s 11th birthday.

How do I claim on my LV= pet policy

Visit our claims page to download a pet claim form

  • Check the information on the form is correct and fill in the remaining sections
  • Sign and date the claim form
  • Ask your vet to complete and sign the declaration
  • Provide all necessary paperwork for the section you're claiming under (please see the claim form for guidance)
  • Send us your completed claim form and supporting documents to the address on the form