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Costs at claim time
How the excess and the age-related co-payment work, and why the co-payment matters far more than the excess for an older pet, taken from current policy documents.
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Last reviewed: 20 June 2026
At claim time you pay two possible deductions: a fixed excess, set per condition per policy year, and a percentage co-payment that many insurers add automatically once a pet reaches a set age. The co-payment is the larger long-term cost on a chronic condition. ManyPets and Petplan add a 20% co-payment from age 7, while Agria sets co-payment per policy schedule rather than automatically by age.
Key facts
- Excess: a fixed amount, usually per condition per policy year.
- Co-payment: a percentage of the remaining bill, on top of the excess.
- ManyPets adds 20% from the first renewal after age 7.
- Agria does not auto-trigger an age co-payment; it is set per schedule.
- On a long-term condition, the co-payment compounds every year.
Excess and co-payment are not the same
Two separate deductions can apply to a claim. The excess is a fixed sum, for example 150 pounds, that you pay before the insurer contributes, usually charged once per condition per policy year. The co-payment is different: it is a percentage of the bill that remains after the excess, and you pay it on every eligible claim once it applies. The two stack. On a 1,000 pound claim with a 150 pound excess and a 20% co-payment, you pay the 150 pound excess and then 20% of the remaining 850 pounds, so 320 pounds in total.
Why the co-payment matters more as a pet ages
Most insurers add a percentage co-payment automatically once a pet reaches a set age. The current ManyPets Complete Care document adds 20% from the first renewal after the pet turns 7. Petplan applies a similar age-based co-insurance. On a chronic condition that recurs every year, such as arthritis or diabetes, that percentage is charged again each year for the life of the condition, so it compounds in a way a one-off excess does not. This is the single most important figure to check before insuring an older pet.
Where providers differ
Not every insurer applies an automatic age co-payment. Agria sets co-payment per policy schedule at quote stage rather than triggering it automatically by age, which can suit owners of older pets. Direct Line applies its own per-condition structure on a maximum-benefit basis. The comparison table sets out the age co-payment trigger for each verified provider so the difference is visible at a glance.
Disclaimer
This page is editorial information, not financial advice. Kael Tripton Ltd is not authorised or regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and does not arrange, advise on or sell insurance. Cover terms and figures change. Always confirm current details in the provider policy documents before buying.
What is a co-payment in pet insurance?
A co-payment is a percentage of the claim that you pay after the excess. Many insurers add one automatically once a pet reaches a set age, commonly 20% from around age 7.
Does every insurer charge an age co-payment?
No. Some, such as Agria, set co-payment per policy schedule rather than triggering it automatically by age. Always check the policy document.
