How to Choose Pet Insurance

Cats and dogs are important members of the family. In addition to comfortable living conditions, we also hope to provide them with better health protection. As pets grow older, health problems gradually appear, and expensive medical expenses can cost thousands. If you buy pet insurance, you can not only treat your pet properly, but also reduce the economic burden on the owner. The terms and details of insurance products are complicated and cumbersome. What insurance products are suitable for Mao Baobao? What are the precautions for insurance? Gogo Herbs explains how to choose pet insurance for you.

Types of Pet Insurance

The major types of pet insurance in Hong Kong are divided into four categories: medical insurance, third party liability insurance, pet lost advertisement insurance and pet accidental injury insurance. There are also personalized services such as pet training fee protection, pet emergency transportation insurance, pet consignment insurance and Pet funeral insurance, etc. Most pet insurances only accept cats and dogs.

pet medical insurance

General medical expenses include outpatient visits, surgeries, hospitalizations, medications, drug injections, and health checks (such as electrocardiograms, blood tests, X-rays or other imaging tests, MRIs, computer scans, ultrasounds), chemotherapy, and radiation therapy. Insurance products may only cover specific types of medical expenses, and you must pay attention to the details when applying for insurance.

Third party liability insurance

When a pet causes injury, death or financial damage to a third person or other animals, the insurance company is responsible for the other party's medical expenses or other losses. Dogs have more opportunities to go out than cats, and more dog owners choose this insurance for their dogs. Most insurance companies refuse to insure dangerous dog breeds, and there is a limit on the amount of compensation. The compensation plan of the third party liability insurance product is divided into full compensation or requiring the owner to bear a certain percentage of compensation.

pet accident insurance

The insurance company bears the medical and surgical expenses caused by accidental injuries and accidental swallowing of foreign objects by pets.

Pet Insurance Notice

First-time policy age limit

General insurance products accept dogs from 12 weeks to 8 years old for the first time, and cats from 12 weeks to 11 years old. The upper limit of insurance renewal age is generally 13 years old. It is not a lifetime guarantee, nor does it guarantee successful renewal.

Insured pets are not accepted

The insurance company does not accept insured pets, including aggressive dogs, animals with specific functions, and pets with a history of adverse physical conditions. Some insurance companies also do not accept Meeks or mixed breed cats for insurance.

Aggressive dogs include, but are not limited to: Antarctic sled dogs, Puudel dogs, Argentinian dogos, Brazilian ferrets, Japanese Zota dogs, pit bull dogs, Tibetan mastiffs, and bulldell dogs. Specified functional animals refer to animals used for performance, breeding and work. Adverse medical records refer to pets that are visibly ill in appearance or have a history of adverse health.

The cost of insurance depends on the breed of pet

When applying for insurance, the owner needs to inform the insurance company of the specific breed of the pet. The insurance company refuses to apply for some breeds of dogs with high risk of genetic diseases. The insurance fees for different breeds of dogs are also different, and some breeds of dogs require an additional policy surcharge of 10%.

Insurance cost budget

With reference to the annual premiums of seven mainstream pet insurance products on the market in 2023, taking Shiba Inu as an example, the annual premium range for a one-year-old Shiba Inu is HKD$ 2553-6000, the median is HKD$3835, and the annual premium for an eight-year-old Shiba Inu is

HKD$ 4780-6595, median HKD$ 5957. Taking short-haired cats as an example, the annual premium range for one-year-old short-haired cats is HKD$1213-6000, with a median of HKD$3823, and the annual premium for eight-year-old short-haired cats is HKD$2830-6595, with a median of HKD$5932. Multiple pets can enjoy Premium discount.

Pet identification required for insurance

Most insurance companies only cover microchipped cats and dogs. Some insurance companies also accept vaccination record cards or other medical reports as valid documents for identifying pets. Pet owners need to be aware that after the waiting period expires, pets need to provide relevant documents to identify their pets before receiving treatment. If the documents cannot be provided in time, the expenses incurred for the treatment may not be covered.

Premium payment method

The premium payment method is divided into incremental premium and horizontal premium. The incremental premium pays a lower premium in the first year, and then increases year by year. The cost of horizontal premiums will remain the same throughout the policy years.

Pet Insurance Claims Notice

Types of Diseases Denied by Medical Insurance

Some pet medical insurance does not pay for some common diseases, such as oral diseases, cataracts, glaucoma, retinal degeneration, neutering, childbirth, teeth cleaning, degenerative joint inflammation, cryptorchidism, nostril (wing) expansion treatment, and congenital defects and Treatment of congenital diseases, such as congenital heart disease, congenital organ cartilage insufficiency, brachycephalic syndrome, etc. Diseases that have already been suffered before the insurance is not covered.

Medical insurance limits the cost of medical items and the upper limit of the number of claims

Some pet medical insurance products only cover outpatient and drug expenses, excluding outpatient examination expenses. When the pet clinic seeks medical treatment, the owner still needs to bear the examination fee. Some insurances have restrictions on the single reimbursement of specific medical items, such as each outpatient fee, each prescription drug fee, examination and laboratory expenses, hospitalization expenses, and cancer chemotherapy expenses. Insurance products are more flexible, and preventive inspections generally cannot apply for claims. Pet medical insurance has regulations on the upper limit of the number of outpatient, hospitalization and surgery claims per year. The higher the upper limit of claims, the more secure the pet is, and the premium will be higher.

Pets who have been sick cannot be covered by insurance

If the pet has been sick or injured before applying for the insurance, it cannot apply for a claim.

No coverage during the waiting period after the policy takes effect

After the insurance takes effect, it will enter a 30-day waiting period, and no coverage will be provided during the waiting period. If the insurance company requires a pet-related clinical examination report, the owner should provide the results to the insurance company when making the first claim, otherwise the policy may be invalidated.

co-insurance

Co-insurance refers to the percentage of the compensation amount that the insurance product specifies that the policyholder needs to bear when a claim event occurs. This percentage increases as the pet ages, as does poor health.

When purchasing insurance for fur babies, the owner should consider the genetic factors of the fur kid's parents, the fur kid's health status, age and annual insurance payment cost. Insurance is more secure for acute and sudden diseases, while children suffering from chronic diseases may face failure to renew their insurance. Scientific daily health care can improve the dog's disease resistance, such as a balanced and nutritious diet, regular physical examination, and timely medical treatment when the pet is unwell. Appropriate staple food is crucial to the health of pets. Since pets of different ages have different nutritional needs and physical characteristics, it is best to choose a staple food that is specific to the characteristics of the age group. Sears™ Pet Food develops an exclusive formula based on the nutritional needs of large dogs over 6 years old. The nutrients are easy to absorb and help maintain the energy and activity of senior dogs. Contains naturally-sourced glucosamine and chondroitin to support joint health in senior dogs, and a scientifically balanced mix of minerals to support heart and kidney health. In addition, omega-6 and vitamin E are added to resist oxidation and moisturize hair. For more staple foods suitable for cats and dogs of different breeds, body types and ages, please visit the homepage of the website. Welcome to contact us via WhatsApp +852 5483 0695 for inquiries and orders.