Picture the moment. Your pup or kitty has just been seen. The vet has been amazing. And now you're standing at the front desk, trying to hold it together, wondering what the bill is going to look like.
It's a lot to carry at once, the worry about your pet, the relief that they're being looked after, and the quiet dread of a number you weren't expecting. GapOnly® is built for exactly this moment.
Instead of paying the full vet bill and waiting days for a reimbursement to hit your account, GapOnly® lets you pay only the gap — the portion your insurance doesn't cover — on eligible claims right there and then. Your insurer settles the rest directly with the clinic while you're still standing there. No forms to fill out later. No bank transfer to wait on. No paperwork pile waiting on the kitchen bench.
You pay the gap, give your pet a cuddle, and go home.
GapOnly® is a pet insurance claiming platform developed by PetSure that processes your claim on the spot, right at the vet clinic. Rather than paying the full bill upfront and claiming back what you're owed later, you only pay the gap on eligible claims — the difference between what the vet charges and what your insurance covers.
It's available at nearly 1,800 vet clinics across Australia, which is over 80% of Aussie vet clinics. And it's not just popular with pet parents, over 90% of vets report a genuinely positive experience using it.
petinsurance.com.au is a GapOnly®-ready policy. That means every single petinsurance.com.au policyholder can use GapOnly® at any participating clinic, with no extra sign-up or hoops to jump through.
It really is as simple as it sounds. Here's what actually happens:
Step 1: Tell your vet you'd like to use GapOnly®
Once your pet's treatment is done, let the team at the front desk know you have a petinsurance.com.au policy and you'd like to use GapOnly® for the claim. Most participating clinics do this all the time, it's second nature for their team, so don't feel like you're asking for something complicated.
Step 2: The vet clinic submits the claim for you
The clinic submits your claim electronically through the GapOnly® platform. Your insurer assesses it in real time, we're talking in minutes, not days.
Step 3: You pay only your gap and you're done
Once the claim comes back, you'll see a clear payment breakdown at the desk. You pay your gap — your excess plus any uncovered portion — and your insurer pays the clinic directly for the rest.
That's genuinely it. No paperwork to chase. No waiting to be reimbursed. Your fur baby has been cared for, you've paid what's yours to pay, and you can both go home.
It's simpler than it sounds, the gap is just your portion of the bill.
Here's a real example to make it click:
Your vet bill is $1,000. You have a petinsurance.com.au policy with a 90% benefit percentage and a $200 excess.
With GapOnly®, you hand over $300 at the desk and walk out. Your insurer pays the clinic $700 directly so that you never have to find that money, transfer it, or wait for it to come back.
Without GapOnly®, you'd pay the full $1,000 upfront and wait for the $700 to land back in your account. Which could be days away and that's days of your money sitting somewhere it shouldn't need to be. The maths is identical either way. The difference is how it feels in the moment.
Yes, your excess is part of your gap, and you pay it at the clinic just like any other out-of-pocket cost. GapOnly® doesn't make your excess disappear, it just means you're not covering the entire bill while you wait for a reimbursement.
If you have a $0 excess, your gap is simply the uncovered percentage of your eligible claim, which is even less to think about at the desk.
Absolutely and honestly, this is where it matters most.
Emergency visits are the ones that catch you completely off guard. Your dog swallowed something they shouldn't have. Your cat came in limping and it's worse than it looked. These aren't planned visits with time to mentally prepare, financially or emotionally. Costs for emergencies can run into thousands of dollars depending on treatment. That kind of upfront payment is a lot to find in a moment of panic. With GapOnly®, you only need to cover your portion of the eligible claim on the day.
Yes, and it's a brilliant option when your pet is facing planned care: surgery, a specialist referral, or a procedure your vet has recommended, and you've had time to prepare for.
A GapOnly® pre-approval gives you a clear sense of what your gap is likely to be before treatment starts, so you can go in knowing what to expect financially. No nasty surprises at the desk.
Pre-approval isn't always possible for emergency or unexpected treatments, accidents can happen too fast for that but for planned care it's worth asking your vet clinic about.
It's an unsettling thought, but it's worth being honest about. If a claim can't be assessed through GapOnly® at the clinic, whether because of a coverage question or because more information is needed, the clinic will let you know and you'll pay the full bill on the day.
Here's the reassuring part: a declined GapOnly® submission doesn't automatically mean your treatment isn't covered. It may just mean the claim needs to go through a different process, like your insurer's online portal, where any eligible costs can still be assessed.
Your insurer's team can help you understand what happened and what your options are. You're not left on your own to figure it out.
GapOnly® processes claims for eligible vet costs under your policy. If a cost falls outside your policy's coverage, a pre-existing condition, a non-covered treatment, or costs above your annual limit, it won't be part of the eligible claim, regardless of how you claim.
In those cases, your gap for those specific costs would be the full amount. Your policy's Product Disclosure Statement spells out exactly what's eligible, so it's worth a read if you're ever unsure.
GapOnly® is accepted at over 80% of Australian vet clinics, nearly 1,800 clinics and growing. You can find your nearest one using the GapOnly® vet finder.
If your regular vet isn't on the list yet, it's genuinely worth mentioning it to them. The programme is expanding all the time, and vet clinics can sign up; many do so because their clients ask.
For most pet parents with a GapOnly®-ready policy, it's a straightforward yes. Financially, the difference is real. Instead of finding hundreds or even thousands of dollars in the moment and waiting days for it to come back, you cover your share on the day and nothing more.
But the part that doesn't always get said out loud is this: vet visits are emotional. Even a routine check that turns into something more serious can shake you. Sitting at the front desk worrying about your pet and stressing about a large upfront payment at the same time is genuinely hard. GapOnly® takes one of those things off your plate entirely.
What is GapOnly® and how does it work? GapOnly® is a pet insurance claiming service that processes your claim on the spot at participating vet clinics. Instead of paying the full vet bill upfront and waiting for reimbursement, you pay only the gap — the portion not covered by your eligible claim benefit — and your insurer pays the clinic directly for the rest.
Do I need to pay the full vet bill with GapOnly®? No. With GapOnly®, you pay only the gap between the vet's total bill and your eligible claim benefit. Your insurer pays the clinic directly for the covered portion.
How long does a GapOnly® claim take? GapOnly® claims are assessed in real time at the vet clinic — the process typically takes just a few minutes while you're at the desk.
Can I claim pet insurance immediately at the vet? Yes — that's exactly what GapOnly® is for. Your claim is submitted and assessed on the spot, so you pay your gap before you leave rather than claiming reimbursement later.
Is GapOnly® available for all pet insurance policies? GapOnly® is available with policies from GapOnly®-ready insurers. petinsurance.com.au policies are GapOnly®-ready, so all policyholders can use GapOnly® at participating vet clinics.
Do I still pay an excess with GapOnly®? Yes. Your excess is part of your gap and is paid at the clinic on the day. GapOnly® doesn't waive your excess — it means you don't need to pay the entire bill upfront before your claim is assessed.
What happens if my GapOnly® claim is declined? If a GapOnly® claim can't be assessed at the clinic, you pay the full bill and may be able to submit a standard claim through your insurer's portal. A declined GapOnly® submission doesn't necessarily mean the treatment isn't covered — some claims need additional information to be processed.
Which vets in Australia offer GapOnly®? GapOnly® is available at nearly 1,800 vet clinics across Australia. Find your nearest participating clinic using the GapOnly® vet finder.