Although Pet Insurance might not be something every family has, it definitely is something we all need to consider. Vet bills, as you might well know, can quickly add up, and this is exactly where insurance steps up to the plate.

Why we love One Plan

One Plan is so much more than just a pet medical insurance. You can also insure your household contents, your car, and your own medical scheme through them, all while ensuring your pet is covered. One Plan Pet Insurance cares so much about the safety and wellbeing of your pet, regardless of whether it’s a canine companion or a cuddly bunny.

Understanding pet insurance from One Plan

Pet insurance at One Plan works a lot like human medical insurance. It covers your dog (or cat) for a wide range of accidents and illnesses that might require treatment, both in and out of the hospital. Depending on the plan you choose, One Plan Pet Insurance covers accidents for up to R50,000.

Why you really need pet insurance

Look: most of us think that pet insurance is unnecessary since our pets are healthy in general. But you have medical aid, even though you’re also generally healthy, right? You’ve ensured that you’ll be covered in the event of illness or disease, so the same should apply to your pet. A standard vet consultation can easily cost double that of a standard visit for you at your GP’s rooms. One Plan Pet Insurance covers four general vet checkups to the value of R1,400, depending on the plan you choose.

What One Plan has on offer

There are four different options that you can choose when signing up for One Plan Pet Insurance. Here’s a quick breakdown of your options.

Pet Accident Cover

Cost: R55 per month

This plan provides accident cover of up to R8,000 per year and also provides cover for burial/cremation/euthanasia of up to R1,500 as part of your annual limit. There’s a 15% excess that has to be paid when claiming and although there is no age limit, your pet has to be at least 8 weeks old when signing up.

Pet Hospital Plan

Cost: R142 per month

Routine care and visits to the vet aren’t covered on this plan, but you do get accident cover of up to R32,000. The pan also provides illness cover up to R30,000 and kennel cover of up to R1,500 per event.

Pet Classic Plan

Cost: R278 per month

The Pet Classic Plan is a great all-rounder and provides vet visit cover up to R1,120 per visit, four times a year. You also get routine care cover of R690 per year and accident cover of up to R35,000 per year. Furthermore, you’re covered for kennelling fees up to R1,500 per event as well as illness cover of up to R31,000 per annum.

Per Super Plan

Cost: R390 per month

With R820 for routine care annually, 4 vet visits of up to R1,400 per visit, and accident cover of up to R50,000 per year, it’s not hard to see why this is called the Super Plan. On top of those benefits, you’ll also benefit from kennelling fees of up to R1,750 per event and up to R47,000 for illness cover.

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The short and sweet answer is this: Insure your pet as soon as you can afford it.

It’s great to have cover at any age, but taking out a policy during the puppy days actually equates to lower premiums. Keep in mind that some pet insurance companies won’t insure pets over a certain age, although they’ll still be covered if you took out the policy when your pet was younger. Injuries and accidents aren’t age-appropriate. They happen at any age and at any time. While young dogs are more likely to be injured, older dogs are prone to age-related chronic illnesses.

Vet directory

Why you should insure your pet as soon as possible

Although we all want to be savvy shoppers and save on everything, there really aren’t specific times when you’ll score a better deal with pet insurance. There are no Black Friday deals when it comes to pet insurance. But there are times when you should be particularly considering the idea of insuring your pet.

If you didn’t take out pet insurance when you first brought your furry friend home, the best time to opt in is before the summer and winter seasons hit. That’s when your pets are at risk of illness and accidents since they’re exposed to the elements.

Get the timing right to insure your pet

Nobody buys medical aid with the hopes of spending enough time in the hospital to make the premiums worth it. We also don’t secretly hope we are involved in car accidents just to match our car insurance premiums. We buy insurance so we don’t go broke when the pawpaw hits the fan.

The same goes for pet insurance. You spend a certain amount per month so that you can take care of any health problems your pet encounters. Not so that Fido has R4,000 worth of accidents and illnesses to deal with.

And in essence, that’s why taking out pet insurance when you first bring your pet home is always the best idea. You never know when the unexpected will happen. And you don’t want to be on the fence about taking action because of how it will impact your budget.

Why you should insure your pet before summertime

Summertime sees us relaxing and unwinding after a long, hard year. But it can be a hazardous time of the year for your pets. You see, pets (and dogs in particular) spend more time outdoors during the summer months. Between the heat, plants, and other animals out there, the opportunities for injury are way too much to ignore.

But you can also insure them before winter, because:

Although the summer months are harsh on pets, that doesn’t mean that the winter is all magical for them either. Winter presents its own challenges. Our pets spend more time indoors, where they are exposed to toxic indoor plants we use to decorate our homes.

Just like heat can be an issue for pets, so can extreme colds. Hairless or short-haired pets are particularly in danger of illness and hypothermia. There are also the human-caused side effects of the cold weather to consider.

No such thing as the wrong time to insure your pet

While there are times when you might be considering pet insurance more than other times of the year, there is never a wrong time to do it. You can take out pet insurance during any time of the year. There isn’t any need to put it off any longer than you have to.

Need more information?

Here at Petz.co.za, we’re a little gaga about all things pet-related. If you’re not quite sure on when to insure your pet or you need help with comparing your options, get in touch with us today. Our team of pet lovers is ready to help you in any way possible!

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Is dog insurance really worth it?

The average pet insurance claim is around R4,000. But this can easily run into the tens of thousands if your pet develops a chronic condition. Before you think it isn’t worth it, just consider how you’d deal with that unexpected bill!

Pedigree dogs are more susceptible to illness, congenital disease, hereditary conditions and are also more likely to be stolen. Larger breeds are far more likely to suffer from joint problems while breeds like the bulldog are prone to respiratory difficulties.

Can you really afford to foot those bills on your own? We think it’s a no-brainer!

What does dog insurance cover?

When you first take out a dig insurance policy, a certain waiting period will apply. After that, here’s what you can expect your dog insurance policy to cover:

• General vet costs
• Hereditary and congenital conditions
• Long-term and ongoing conditions
• Dental care
• Additional care like homoeopathy, acupuncture and physiotherapy
• Breeding risks or costs

Along with veterinary bills, your dog’s policy might cover him for:

Theft

If your policy covers loss or theft, it should pay your pet’s purchase price. The insurance company might also pay for advertising costs to help you find your lost pet. Some service providers even foot the bill for recovery.

Behavioural treatment

The best dog insurance policies include treatment for behavioural problems.

Death by illness or injury

This part of the policy covers your pet’s purchase price, but there is usually an age limit that applies to death by illness. Most policies cover death by euthanasia if your pet has to be put down.

Kennel fees

If you, as the pet owner, have to go into the hospital for more than four days, your dog’s insurance usually covers the kennel fees.

How to get the best deal on insurance for your dog

Although pet insurance is generally seen as an unnecessary expense, there are ways in which you can save here.

You can buy insurance when your pet is still young and healthy. Waiting until they are older or have health problems will make it harder to get the cover you need. You’ll also probably pay much more for it.

Perhaps you should consider a policy that pays out throughout your pet’s lifetime. Lifetime cover isn’t the cheapest options and premiums can go up, but it covers conditions that require treatment year after year.

In short

Dog insurance is absolutely necessary, unless of course you have no end to your riches and have a super health dog. Some policies star from as little as R350 per month, which isn’t ridiculous when you consider the benefits. In the end, there really isn’t a price you can put on your pet’s health and overall quality of life.

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Did you know that roughly 35% of pet insurance customers claim from their pet policies at least once a year for unexpected vet bills? The chances of having to make a claim against your pet insurance are almost twice as likely as claiming for home or car insurance.

Some people still ponder the idea of cat insurance, but for us, it really is a no-brainer.

Cat insurance is more than just health insurance

One of the main reasons why people take out cat insurance is to avoid costly veterinary bills. But cat insurance is so much more than just that. It can help you cover the costs of finding a lost pet and cattery bills if you can’t be around for your pet. It also covers emergency expenses abroad if your cat is stolen or falls ill and you need help with accommodation or transport.

Different types of cat insurance policies

The market currently has four types of cat insurance policies:

Accident Only

This covers you cat for accidents and injuries. Unless it is caused by accident or injury, illness is not covered under these policies.

Time-Limited

This option gives you a maximum amount to spend on vet fees for each condition, for a set time.

Maximum Benefit

Maximum benefit policies give you a fixed amount of money to use against claims for individual conditions.

Lifetime Cover

This type of cover allocated a set amount of money to spend on annual pet care. It covers your pet for the duration of their lifespan for conditions that develop after the policy starts.

What to consider before taking out cat insurance

Like all other insurance policies, pet insurance is kind of a gamble. You’re betting your cat will need it, and the service provider is hoping it won’t. Before buying pet insurance for your cat, there are a number of things to consider. Here are some key focus points to keep in mind:

Network providers

Does the insurance company use a network or specific provider list? This is especially important if you are determined to stay with your vet of choice. Inquire about what, if any, insurance your vet works with before buying it. Fortunately, most pet insurance plans allow you to use a veterinarian of your choice, but it is still important to read the fine print before signing up.

Exclusions

All pet insurance policies have exclusions. An exclusion that you’ll often see is the “pre-existing condition” clause. This can be loosely defined as injuries, medical conditions and any symptoms of concern that were present before the policy took effect. This is an issue if you cat isn’t in relatively good health. Some other exclusions might include spaying and neutering, hip-dysplasia, vaccinations, flea control, heartworm medication and dental care.

Deductibles and co-payments

Some insurance policies charge a flat deductible of R500 to R1000, depending on the age of your cat, for each procedure. Also, most policies require co-payments of 10% to 20% of the vet’s fee. Deductibles and co-payments can be very significant. Out-of-pocket fees like these lessen the number of total claims pad and the number of unnecessary procedures and diagnostic tests.

Incident, annual or lifetime cap

A lot of pet insurance companies provide a cap on the amount provided for each illness or procedure. Some service providers also make use of an annual cap. In this event, no further coverage is provided for that year. Then there is the case of the lifetime cap. Certain companies have lifetime caps of R120,000 since only one in three cats ever exceeds that amount in a lifetime.

Packages

Does the insurance provider offer tailored plans or do they stick with a “one size fits all” policy? There are a lot of companies that offer a variety of plans depending on the needs of your cat. Some providers even cater specifically to older cats. Most companies offer add-ons services for dental, extended cancer coverage and preventative care. By picking the plan that caters to your cat’s needs, you might be able to save on the monthly premium.

Benefits and savings

Some cat insurance companies are creative with their additional benefits. While one company might offer coverage for 3^rd party property damage, the other might cover you for holiday cancellation, boarding fees, and advertising missing pets. Compare your options and see where you’ll get discounts for signing up more than one pet. You can inquire with your employer to see if they offer pet insurance benefits as part of your employment benefits.

Need more help?

Our team of pet lovers here at Petz.co.za is more than willing and able to lend you a helping hand. Be sure to get in touch with us today to learn more about how we can help you find the ideal cat insurance for your feline family member.

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