More and more pet owners are making the choice to take out insurance for their pet. Find out why it is important to have insurance for your dog in the event of illness or accident.
How does pet he alth insurance work?
Subscribing to animal he alth insurance allows you to be reimbursed for part of the he alth costs during visits to the veterinarian for regular monitoring, but also in the event of illness or accident. It also pays for medication and additional examinations (a CT scan, an X-ray, analyses, etc.).
A mutual dog insurance allows you to be reimbursed for part of the costs incurred following an accident or illness. To get reimbursed, the steps are quite simple. Following the visit to the veterinarian, the latter will issue you a care sheet as well as his invoice. All you have to do is send these documents to your he alth insurance fund. You will be reimbursed partially or fully according to the conditions of your contract.
When is the best time to join a mutual?
If you want to take out insurance for your pet, do it as soon as possible. Indeed, most insurance companies impose age limits. Solly Azar, for example, offers insurance exclusively for dogs and cats between the ages of 3 months and 8 years.
For some contracts, it is no longer possible to subscribe when the animal has exceeded a defined age, which varies between 5 and 8 years of the animal.This does not mean that your dog can no longer be insured once this age has been reached, but that you must start the contract before its 5th (or 6th, 7th, 8th) birthday.
When you subscribe to a he alth insurance contract, a waiting period must be respected. It can range from 48 hours to six months. This means that during this time, the guarantees do not apply. This period also allows you to certify that your animal is in good he alth. It is for this reason that it is in your best interest to insure your dog when he is still young.
What care is reimbursed by pet insurance?
As with he alth contracts for humans, most animal mutuals offer you different levels of guarantee. All contracts cover vet visits, exams, emergency care and medications.
If your dog faces more serious he alth problems, part of the hospitalization or surgery costs can be reimbursed to you.With certain policies, you can benefit from coverage of so-called prevention costs, i.e. all costs related to vaccination, sterilization or treatment against parasites, hygiene products or dewormers.
In most cases, for these treatments, you will be en titled to an annual fee. The amount varies according to the insurance contracts. Some contracts may cover childcare costs or veterinary costs if you are abroad. Finally, you have the option of insuring your dog if he injures someone or is responsible for damage.
What treatments are not covered by dog insurance?
Not all he alth expenses are covered for your pet insurance. All illnesses and all accidents prior to the subscription of the contract or which occur during the waiting period and which have consequences on the he alth of your animal will not be reimbursed.
The costs incurred by illnesses that could have been avoided thanks to compulsory vaccination will not be covered. The same applies to accidents that occur during a sporting competition or a hunting activity and problems that appear during cosmetic surgery.
Good to know: hereditary or congenital diseases are not covered by insurance or mutual insurance for animals.
What are the rates for mutual insurance for dogs?
For your he alth insurance for your dog or cat, you will have the choice between different formulas, from the simplest to the most complete. They do not all offer the same services and are therefore at variable prices.
The deductibles applied are also different depending on the contract. If you have several animals, your insurance may allow you to benefit from a reduction in premiums.Before signing your contract, check the amount of the flat rate for prevention costs, the annual reimbursement ceiling, the reimbursement rate for all costs and the amount of contributions.
Depending on the formula you have chosen, the reimbursement rate will be between 50 and 100%. You will need to opt for insurance that allows your pet to stay in good he alth while taking into account the quality/price ratio. Keep in mind that the higher the guarantees, the more expensive the premiums. Whatever your budget, you will find insurance for your pet. In view of the prices of veterinary procedures, this will quickly pay for itself.
Subscribing to insurance for your dog gives you many advantages. The he alth costs that you will spend on your animal will be reimbursed to you, in part or in full. Opting for an insurance contract for your animal is therefore an excellent choice and more and more French people have taken the plunge.