Getting Pet Insurance in South Africa
Your pet might be small, but that doesn’t mean your vet bills will be. Chances are, you only think to investigate pet health insurance after paying your latest vet bill. But like any member of your family, your pet is precious to you and their health is your priority. A pet insurance policy can cover you best friend’s trip to the vet and spare you the unpleasantness of large, unexpected expenses. With the best pet medical cover to suit your family’s budget, you don’t have to choose between your beloved pet and your financial security.
What you should know before getting pet insurance
- Insurance premiums will be cheaper, the younger your pet is. However, it’s important to remember that pet insurance companies will not insure a pet that is younger than 8 weeks or older than 8 years.
- If you insure your puppy or kitten (older than 8 weeks, of course), this pet will remain on its insurance plan into its old age.
- Your must be a month into your insurance policy before you can make a claim.
- Your pet must have a microchip. Since this makes your pet easier to find, it makes it easier to insure.
- Your pet insurance provider will not pay out upfront and their support won’t necessarily cover the full bill. You are able to claim from your insurer once you’ve paid your vet.
What does pet insurance cover?
A pet insurance policy typically covers accidents, unexpected illnesses, and emergencies. There are three levels of cover to consider:
- Accident only
- Accident and illness cover
- Accident, illness, and routine care.
This last form of cover would contribute towards your pet’s vaccination, deworming, sterilisation, dental care, and other forms of regular care. However, cover for routine care and preventative care is often only offered by insurance providers as an add-on to an existing policy.
Pet medical insurance excludes things like food, grooming, training and behavioural issues, and pre-existing conditions (i.e. hereditary conditions). Insurance providers are likely to consider pre-existing/hereditary conditions in particular when calculating your insurance premiums, since purebred animals are more likely to suffer from breed-specific ailments.
Does pet insurance cover exotic animals?
An out-of-the-ordinary pet typically needs an extraordinary pet cover policy. However, general pet medical aid doesn’t usually cover exotic pets. More often than not, exotic pet insurance is sold as a completely separate policy to accommodate the unusual medical needs of your weirdly wonderful pet. This particular type of insurance accommodates birds, reptiles, rodents, and other such exotic pets. Some insurers also offer equine insurance cover (pet insurance for horses).
A monthly premium to a reliable pet insurance provider can go a long way in the long run – and these premiums decrease when you add more pets to your policy! Your premiums will depend on a number of factors, such as age, area, breed, etc. Shop around and compare quotes to make sure you are getting the best cover for the furrier members of your family.