PET INSURANCE

That this House recognises that Royal Sun Alliance (RSA) is one of the largest pet insurance providers in the UK, selling its products via its More Than brand and underwriting pet insurance sold by Tesco; notes with concern RSA's recent decision to introduce a preferred referral network within these policies, limiting the options for secondary care in case of serious pet illness and injuries to just 28 veterinary practices in the UK; further notes that this is the first time a pet insurance company has sought to prevent first opinion vets from recommending referral treatment based solely on their assessment of the most appropriate care option for an individual pet; notes that the new preferred referral network excludes many of the top veterinary specialists in the country; regrets that pet owners will now have to travel further to access secondary care; further regrets that pet owners who want to use referral practices not on the RSA approved list now face a £200 charge at the point of treatment; and calls on RSA, More Than and Tesco to reconsider this policy change for the benefit of their customers and covered pets.