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Pet Insurance - UK

Published by: Mintel International Group Ltd.

Published: Dec. 1, 2007 - 79 Pages


Table of Contents


Issues in the Market


Key Issues

Abbreviations



Market in Brief

Market value continues to grow steadily

Figure 1: Estimated value of the pet insurance market, by GWP, 2000-07

Allianz and RBS dominant pet insurance underwriters

Figure 2: Pet insurance market share, 2006

Pet health-related costs continue to grow

Figure 3: Average household expenditure on pets, 2005/06

Rapid growth in cat ownership expands the market for pet insurance

Figure 4: Dog and cat-owning households in the UK, 1994-2004

Growth in smaller households favours low-maintenance pets

Families with young children more likely to have pets…

…but most pet owners do not see the value of pet insurance



Internal Market Environment

Key Points

Rapid growth in cat ownership expands the market for pet insurance

Figure 5: Dog and cat-owning households in the UK, 1994-2004

30% of household pet expenditure health-related

Figure 6: Average household expenditure on pets, 2005/06

Premium and cost inflation could start to become an issue

Common pet lifespans and cover for pets

Figure 7: Average lifespan of common and exotic pets



External Market Environment

Key Points

Steady income growth projected

Figure 8: Total PDI, consumer expenditure and PDI per capita, at constant 2003 prices, 2003-12

Implication

Growth in one- and two-person households favours low-maintenance pets

Figure 9: UK household size, 2003-12

Family lifestage important to pet ownership

Figure 10: Trends in UK lifestage groups, 2003-12

Households with young children more likely to have pets

Figure 11: Trends in the UK child population, 2003-12



Competitive Context

Key Points

Alternatives to pet insurance

Alternatives available in the UK

Self-insurance

Credit

US innovations with potential in the UK

Pet Discount Programs

CareCredit

Alternatives for those on low incomes



Strengths and Weaknesses in the Market

Figure 12: Strengths and weaknesses in the UK pet insurance market, 2007

Strengths

Weaknesses



Market Size and Forecast

Key Points

Market value approaching £400 million in 2007…

Figure 13: Estimated value of the pet insurance market, by GWP, 2000-07

…but could be worth over £1 billion if more pets were insured

Figure 14: Ownership of pet insurance among dog and cat owners, November 2007

Dogs the most likely pet to be covered…

Figure 15: Proportion of pet insurance policies, by type of pet, November 2007

…but cats are the key to future growth in pet insurance market

Forecast

Market value to exceed £500 million by 2012

Figure 16: Forecast of the value of the pet insurance market, by GWP, 2007-12

Factors used in forecast



Market Share

Key Points

Allianz and RBS dominant pet insurance underwriters

Figure 17: Pet insurance market share, 2006

AXA and Aviva gaining market share

Figure 18: Illustration of top pet insurance underwriters’ market shares, 2005 and 2006

Figure 19: Pet insurance gross written premiums, 2005 and 2006



Company Profiles

Allianz Insurance plc

Royal Bank of Scotland Group

AXA Insurance

Royal & SunAlliance

Aviva (Norwich Union Insurance)



Brand Communication and Promotion

Key Points

Overall adspend on pet insurance has decreased since peak in 2004

Figure 20: Top ten advertisers of pet insurance, 2002/03-2006/07

Close to 75% of adspend used for direct mail and TV advertising

Figure 21: Advertising expenditure on pet insurance, by media type, 2006/07

Scope for growth in online activity



Channels to Market

Key Points

Connecting with pet owners to sell cover

Figure 22: Distribution channels for pet insurance, November 2007

Majority of pet owners buy cover from specialist providers

Figure 23: Channels used to buy pet insurance, November 2007

Completing the transaction - more sales likely to move online



The Consumer - Product Ownership

Key Points

45% own at least one pet

Figure 24: Pet ownership, November 2007

Family lifestage key target group for pet insurance products

Figure 25: Pet ownership, by gender, age, marital status, lifestage, age of own children in household and household size, November 2007

Level of affluence useful in targeting type of pet owner

Figure 26: Pet ownership, by socio-economic group, working status, gross annual household income, household tenure, ACORN group and TV region, November 2007

Only 22% of pet owners have cover for their pets

Figure 27: Ownership of pet insurance, November 2007

When it comes to pet insurance, it’s raining cats and dogs

Figure 28: Ownership of pet insurance, by pet ownership, November 2007

Implications and opportunities

Women most open to the idea of pet insurance in the future

Figure 29: Ownership of pet insurance, by gender, age, marital status and lifestage, November 2007

Implications and opportunities

More than a third of ABs already own pet insurance

Figure 30: Ownership of pet insurance, by socio-economic group, gross household income, working status and tenure, November 2007

Implications and opportunities

Premium pets?



The Consumer - Attitudes and behaviour

Key Points

Over 50% have not taken pets for emergency treatment over last two years

Figure 31: Number of unexpected or emergency pet visits in last two years, November 2007

More frequent vet visits increase the perceived value of pet insurance

Figure 32: Ownership of pet insurance, by number of emergency vet visits in last two years, November 2007

Implications and opportunities

Moral hazard?

Owners of more than one pet are visiting the vet more frequently

Figure 33: Number of unexpected or emergency pet visits over last two years, by pet ownership, November 2007

Implications and opportunities

Female pet owners more likely to take pets in for unexpected treatment

Figure 34: Number of unexpected or emergency pet visits over last two years, by gender, age, marital status, lifestage and age of children, November 2007

Implications and opportunities

Affluent and wealthy pet owners have visited the vet more frequently

Figure 35: Number of unexpected or emergency pet visits over last two years, by socio-economic group, working status, gross household annual income and tenure, November 2007

Implications and opportunities

Taking a look at TV region

Figure 36: Number of unexpected or emergency pet visits over last two years, by TV region, November 2007

Consumers demand low-cost life cover for their pets

Figure 37: Factors important to consumers when choosing pet insurance, November 2007

Pet ownership and choosing pet insurance

Figure 38: Factors important to consumers when choosing pet insurance, by pet ownership, November 2007

Implications and opportunities

People considering pet insurance looking for added perks

Figure 39: Factors important when choosing pet insurance, by pet insurance ownership, November 2007

Implications and opportunities

Vet recommendations may persuade those in the pre-/no family and family lifestages

Figure 40: Most important factors when choosing pet insurance, by gender, age, marital status, lifestage and age of children, November 2007

Implications and opportunities

Affluent and wealthy most likely to consider several factors

Figure 41: Most important factors when choosing pet insurance, by socio-economic group, working status, gross annual household income and tenure, November 2007

Implications and opportunities

Shoppers of more exclusive supermarkets consider more factors

Figure 42: Most important factors when choosing pet insurance, by TV region and supermarket usage, November 2007

Implications and opportunities

Media usage and attitudes towards pet insurance

Figure 43: Most important factors when choosing pet insurance, by daily newspaper readership, technology usage, Internet usage, commercial TV viewing and TV received, November 2007

Implications and opportunities

Older consumers most likely to consider third-party liability coverage

Figure 44: Next most important factors when choosing pet insurance, by gender, age, marital status, lifestage and age of children, November 2007

Implications and opportunities

More affluent more likely to consider third-party liability cover

Figure 45: Next most important factors when choosing pet insurance, by socio-economic group, working status, gross annual household income and tenure, November 2007

Implications and opportunities



Appendix - Detailed Demographics

Pet insurance ownership

Figure 51: Ownership of pet insurance, by gender, age, socio-economic group, marital status, lifestage, presence of children, Mintel’s Special Groups, working status, household income, tenure, region, ACORN category, media usage, supermarket usage, household size, car usage, detailed lifestage groups and age/socio-economic group, November 2007

Abstract

Pet insurance penetration levels among UK pet owners remain low but the potential market continues to expand as the number of pet owners continues to grow. In conjunction with the growth in pet ownership veterinary fees have risen sharply and continue to take a greater proportion of pet-related expenses. Despite these factors that should bode favourably for the uptake of pet insurance, a large majority of pet owners still fail to see the true value of providing cover for their beloved pets.

The greatest challenge for pet insurance providers therefore is to convince pet owners that taking out cover is worth their time and will actually save them money in the long term. According to the findings in this report pet insurance has not gained wide acceptance by the majority of pet owners because it is seen more as an added luxury with little immediate or tangible benefit. A significant factor behind this is that only a small proportion of pet owners are frequently incurring expensive vets’ fees that would make pet cover much more appealing.

In this report Mintel investigates the past and potential future development of the UK pet insurance market. This includes an examination of internal and external market dynamics as well as exclusive trade and consumer research. Mintel also takes a look at the underwriters operating in the pet insurance business and how many providers have been promoting their products. Finally, detailed market size data are presented with growth projections until 2012.



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