Having a dog is a real budget. The first item of expenditure is obviously food followed very closely by veterinary expenses: from 225 $ to 500 $ per year on average, according to studies, for a dog. This sum can greatly exceed the average in the event of an accident or illness requiring major surgical operations. Veterinary costs can explode to exceed 3000 dollars in the event of imaging examinations, laboratory analyzes, or in the event of surgery.
Even in the absence of any health problem, they can represent a significant sum during the first year of an animal’s life. Count around 75 dollars for the identification costs (chip or tattoo) to which must be added the expenses related to the vaccine consultations for around 80 $ then the costs of any sterilization costs between 250 and 450 dollars for a female and between 150 and 230 dollars for a male.
And, it’s a fact: vet fees are getting more and more expensive. Veterinarians are increasingly better equipped and trained to provide increasingly high-quality care to our animals. It is therefore natural that they pass on the increase in their operating costs to the bill… to the chagrin of pet owners who are finding it increasingly difficult to cope with them.
And for good reason: there is no social security for our pets. And, sometimes, due to the cost of health care fees, we hesitate to take our dog for consultation with the vet. Hesitations can sometimes have serious repercussions on the health of the animal because certain diseases have a chance of recovery when they are taken care of early.
The solution is certainly to take out dog insurance. Operating on the same principle as mutual health insurance for humans, it makes it possible to obtain the reimbursement of all or part of the veterinary expenses spent for your dog in the event of an accident and/or in the event of illness in return for the payment of ” a monthly or annual contribution.
Depending on the insurer chosen and the formula chosen, you may obtain full or partial reimbursement of costs:
- veterinary consultation,
- necessary for the establishment of a diagnosis such as biological examinations (urine analyzes, blood analyzes, etc.) or imaging examinations (ultrasound, scanner, MRI, radiography, etc.),
- related to a surgical intervention (operation itself, resuscitation and hospitalization costs, anesthesia costs, etc.),
- pharmacy (drugs),
- related to disease prevention: vaccines, purchase of deworming and antiparasitic products, castration or sterilization costs,
- euthanasia and burial,
- functional rehabilitation (physiotherapy, physiotherapy, etc.).
Your dog mutual will allow you to considerably reduce the amount of your canine health budget since a large part of your veterinary expenses will be covered by your animal insurer. In addition, if you opt for the prevention package, your dog mutual will compensate you for prevention costs: vaccines, dewormers, anti-flea collar, etc.
How does dog insurance work?
Insurance for your dog could be compared with your complementary health insurance. Indeed, offered by a multitude of companies, dog insurance allows the reimbursement of all or part of the veterinary expenses spent on your dog in the event of an accident and/or in the event of illness in return for the payment of a monthly or annual contribution.
Depending on the insurer chosen and the Plan is chosen, you may obtain full or partial reimbursement of costs:
- veterinary consultation,
- necessary for the establishment of a diagnosis such as biological examinations (urine analyzes, blood analyzes, etc.) or imaging examinations (ultrasound, scanner, MRI, radiography, etc.),
- related to surgical intervention (operation itself, resuscitation and hospitalization costs, anesthesia costs, etc.),
- pharmacy (drugs),
- related to disease prevention: vaccines, purchase of deworming and antiparasitic products, castration or sterilization costs,
- euthanasia and burial,
- functional rehabilitation (physiotherapy, physiotherapy, etc.).
Your dog Insurance will allow you to considerably reduce the amount of your canine health budget since a large part of your veterinary expenses will be covered by your animal insurer. In addition, if you opt for the prevention package, your dog Insurance will compensate you for prevention costs: vaccines, dewormers, anti-flea collar, etc.
Dog insurance: how it works
The operation of dog insurance is very simple. Once you have found the Insurance company offering you the most suitable Plan for your dog’s needs and the waiting period has passed, you will be able to be reimbursed for your expenses related to consultations with the veterinarian and the care provided to your dog. animal.
To do this, it is necessary to ask your veterinarian to complete the care sheet. The sheet is provided to you by the insurer you have chosen. If you no longer have any, blank copies can be mailed to you at your request or can be downloaded online. Following this, you must send this document by mail, attaching the invoice issued by your veterinarian.
For dog insurance, it is, in most cases, necessary to advance the costs. Rest assured: generally, companies will reimburse you as soon as possible once your file has been processed. It is therefore strongly recommended to send the documents as soon as possible. The refund is made directly to your bank account. It is recommended that you read the general and specific conditions of the insurance contract before signing it.
They will inform you in particular about the waiting period specific to the contract taken out. This is the period following the date of signature of the contract during which you will not be able to be reimbursed for veterinary expenses caused by an illness or injury to your dog. Determined by the insurer, this period can be 2 or 3 months.
As you can see, the operation of dog insurance is very simple, especially since the subscription is done quickly, by phone, or online.
There are a multitude of Plans at different prices. In most cases, the premium for dog insurance is paid monthly. The first prices are around 4 $ monthly, but depending on the Insurance company and the options to which you subscribe, this price can reach up to 100 $ per month. Some insurers offer to pay the amount of the contribution annually in order to save a few extra dollars.
Why insure your dog: our opinion?
Quite simply to save on veterinary costs which, in the event of illness or accident, can quickly amount to several hundred dollars. If, for example, your dog breaks his paw, you will have to pay for the consultation, the x-rays, the care, which generally includes anesthesia and medication, the check-up to make sure that he is again in great shape as well as rehabilitation sessions.
It is, therefore, preferable to pay monthly installments so that your dog has a mutual and is covered rather than taking out a large sum of money all at once, which, anyway, will not be yours. not reimbursed. In addition, the daily care, which is to be done every year, and, sometimes several times a year, such as deworming, visits to check that everything is fine, vaccines and flea, can be taken care of. by dog insurance. This is beneficial because casually you are spending money on your vet, even when your four-legged friend is healthy.
Then, if your dog does get injured or get sick, you don’t have to worry about financially and how much it’s going to cost or if you’ll have trouble paying the bill. So you can focus only on the health and good recovery of your four-legged friend.
What does dog insurance cover?
The mutual insurance of a dog can cover a large number of injuries and illnesses, but be careful, depending on the Plan chosen, the reimbursement rate may vary.
For the cheapest contracts, you are generally reimbursed up to 50% but, you can perfectly well find insurance which will take the care generated by visits to the veterinarian at 100%.
It should also be noted that, even if dog insurance covers a large number of treatments, they are generally capped at the year. The amount of the annual limit also depends on the Plans and generally goes hand in hand with the amount of the contribution.
For example, if the annual reimbursement ceiling provided for in your contract is $ 1,500, you cannot exceed $ 1,500 in fees between the date of subscription and the anniversary date of your contract. In this case, if you have already used the $ 1,500, the other invoices for this period will remain entirely your responsibility.
Expenses related to the prevention of diseases such as annual vaccines or pest control products can also be covered as part of the prevention package.
However, you should know that your four-legged friend may not be accepted by insurance for several reasons. The most common are the age of your dog. Indeed, if It’s less than 2 or 3 months old, or if, on the contrary, It’s more than 8 or 10 years old, depending on Its race, companies may refuse to insure It, for the simple and good reason that, the older they are, the more the animals tend to get sick and to incur expensive veterinary expenses.
It is for this reason that we recommend insuring a dog as soon as it is adopted. Do not hesitate to take puppy insurance when it becomes 3 months old in order to offer It health coverage as soon as possible.
If your dog is elderly, you will nevertheless find insurance that will accept to cover it for a higher contribution.
What is the price of dog insurance?
All dog insurance companies offer several Plans so that you can find the perfect contract for your four-legged friend. Even if the prices and the options can vary from one Plan to another, we can easily classify the contracts into 3 categories.
- Economic Plan: (Between 7 and 12 $)
The first is, of course, cheap dog insurance that caters to small budgets. It has a reimbursement rate varying between 50% and 70% on average and can include the cost of vaccines and certain operations. Please note that the annual ceiling for covered care may be lower than in a standard or premium Plan.
- Standard Plan: (Between 15 and 25 $)
This is the one most owners opt for, as the maximum ceiling is higher and the reimbursement rate varies between 70 and 90%, which is much more advantageous when an animal must be taken regularly to the vet. . It should be noted that this Plan can include the cost of the sterilization of your dog, which is advantageous given the current prices.
- Premium packages: (25 and 60 $)
Insurance companies generally offer premium Plans that cover up to 100% of your veterinary costs. These Plans are often used by professionals or people who participate in dog shows and who often have to go to the vet or owners of dogs with fragile health. It will save you money and not worry if vet fees are too expensive.
How to choose the best dog insurance?
If you have started your search for insurance for your dog, you have surely not failed to notice the swarm of Insurance companies that offer it and at all prices. And, with all the contracts presented to you, you might not know how to choose the best one for your dog. This is all the more understandable since you do not know the coverage rates or the subscription terms.
Start by establishing your needs according to your budget as well as the daily life and characteristics of your pet: does it belong to a breed known for its “fragile health”? Is It a “daredevil”? Does It tend to be at high-risk places?
This little risk study will let you know what exactly you want in terms of insurance: coverage for accident-related costs only or for illness and accident.
Once this need has been established, the best solution is, of course, to study the Plans of several insurance companies for dogs. But, as it takes time, the best is to use a free online comparator in order to obtain in a few minutes, a comparative and synthetic study of several insurance companies at the same time in order to help you make an assessment. choice. The advantage of a comparator is that you can immediately select the Plans that really correspond to the needs that you have defined upstream.
Why use a dog mutual insurance comparator?
Comparing insurance for your dog means you can find the best deal to protect your four-legged friend and enjoy the good times together in a serene way.
By choosing to use one of the many online comparators, you will be able to indicate the age, breed, but also medical history of your animal and thus find plans that are really adapted to the specific needs of your dog without wasting time. The dog insurance comparator allows you to compare the Plans of different animal insurance companies in a few minutes and without obligation.
Dog insurance and reimbursement of vaccines: is it possible?
Technically, vaccines for dogs are not mandatory, except in certain special cases, for example, during an International trip.
Nevertheless, it is important to point out that, to be insured, your four-legged companion must be vaccinated for the diseases which are listed in the general conditions of the insurer. Most vaccines will also need to be bolstered annually during a vaccination visit to the veterinarian, which comes at a cost.
Some companies offer the payment of annual vaccines in the basic plan subscribed by the insured or through the subscription of an additional option. The cost of this option is usually added to the total annual insurance amount and is spread over 12 months. The coverage of vaccines generally takes the form of an annual envelope allocated to the insured, the amount of which makes it possible to cover, partially or totally, the price of the dog’s vaccination.
Subscription conditions
Your dog must meet certain conditions to be insured by any Company The subscription conditions are generally comparable from one insurance to another:
- your dog must have an electronic chip or must be tattooed,
- Its vaccines must be up to date. It is the health record of your four-legged companion, issued by your veterinarian or by the breeder that is authentic in this matter.
The age and breed of your animal is also a factor, as we have seen earlier in this article, if it is too old it is possible that the company will refuse to insure it because the odds whether It becomes ill or injured is more important when he is between 6 and 10 years old.
But, thanks to online dog insurance comparators, you can find out, in a few clicks, whether or not you can take out insurance for your dog.
The repayment terms
The reimbursement terms may vary from one contract to another but generally, they simply consist of having your veterinarian fill out a care sheet provided by the insurance. In general, invoices relating to treatments, consultations, and operations carried out on the animal must be attached to it with its identification number.
The set must be sent by post to the address provided by the insurance company. The reimbursement, the amount and coverage of which varies according to your contract, the annual limit as well as the options to which you have subscribed, will be made between 48 hours and 3 weeks after receipt of the letter containing the supporting documents.
The repayment terms vary greatly from one insurance to another, so it is advisable to read the entire contract carefully before signing it and, if you have any doubts, do not hesitate to contact an advisor from the company you have chosen.
Dog health insurance exclusions
All care provided by a veterinarian is not covered by canine insurance. You will notice that the care resulting from hereditary diseases is very rarely it, just like the reimbursements of canine hygiene products, unless they are covered by a prevention package.
The exclusions depend on the insurer with which you purchased your policy. They are indicated in the general and special conditions of this same contract.
How to terminate your dog mutual?
As with all other mutuals, it is possible to terminate your dog’s mutual. However, certain conditions must be respected. If you wish to terminate your contract, you must send a registered letter 2 months before the anniversary date, the postmark being taken as proof.
However, in exceptional cases, for example, the death or loss of your four-legged companion, the fact of separating from it or the death of the owner cancel the 2-month delay. Nevertheless, it is mandatory to provide supporting documents attesting to the facts and reasons for the interruption of the insurance contract.
On the other hand, be careful when signing your insurance contract, because depending on the company, it is possible that you commit to a fixed period, generally, 12 or 24 months, not leaving you the possibility of terminating your insurance during this period.
Insuring your pet has multiple advantages, and the younger you do it the better because the rates will be lower. However, before subscribing to a contract with a company, it is strongly recommended to establish a comparison that will allow you to find the cheapest. Take the time to carefully study each proposal and check that they correspond to your needs and to your pet’s daily life.
By choosing to take out insurance for your four-legged friend, you will see Its life at your side in a more serene way. And, in the event that It does get injured or become ill, you won’t have to worry about the financial aspect, you can devote yourself exclusively to Its recovery and well-being.
What about other animals?
Health insurance is not just for dogs. It is also available for other pets such as cats, rabbits, ferrets, and other pets.
How does pet insurance work?
The operating principle of animal insurance is modeled on that of mutual health insurance designed for human beings.
In exchange for the payment of a monthly contribution (or annual according to the insurers), you benefit from guarantees which make it possible to obtain the total or partial reimbursement of the health costs incurred for your cat, your ferret, your parrot, or your rabbit.
Depending on the plan and the chosen insurer, other guarantees such as support in the search for a missing animal, the provision of a telephone assistance service, or the payment of childcare costs. In the event of hospitalization (non-exhaustive list)… can be taken out according to your needs.
The most comprehensive Plans also include prevention packages. This is a sum of money allocated by the insurer to participate in the costs of vaccination, sterilization, purchase of deworming and / or antiparasitic products, descaling, etc.
The rate of reimbursement of veterinary costs, the number and quality of guarantees, the compensation ceilings for a given insurer depend on the amount of the contribution.
To obtain reimbursement for a care act, it is generally sufficient:
- to take a care sheet provided by the insurer and submit it to the veterinarian for completion during the consultation,
- send the completed treatment sheet to the reimbursement service of the insurer with which the health insurance has been taken out, together with the invoice for the veterinary fees paid.
After processing the file, the duration of which may vary slightly depending on the insurer, reimbursement for treatment is generally paid by transfer directly to the insured’s bank account. These formalities may vary slightly between dog insurance providers.
All insurance companies for dogs:
- include a compensation ceiling, in other words, a maximum amount beyond which veterinary costs are no longer reimbursed. It is necessary to know it before committing. These reimbursement ceilings can be annual for a type of act covered by the contract or for life for a given pathology,
- apply a waiting period. This is the time between the subscription of the contract before being able to benefit from the guarantees. This period differs depending on the insurer. It is generally longer in the event of illness than in the event of an accident,
- include exclusions of guarantees, to be studied carefully before taking out a contract. Generally are not covered:
- care costs caused by hereditary diseases that affect certain breeds of dog, such as hip dysplasia, for example,
- the costs of care caused by diseases that could have been avoided by vaccine prevention,
- define age limits beyond which it is no longer possible to insure your animal. This age is generally between 6 and 8 years old. It is also recommended to insure your dog as soon as possible because the younger It’s at the time of subscription, it will be easy to insure It on favorable terms and some dog health insurance companies even commit to insure your animal for life beyond a subscription period defined in their general subscription conditions.
Finally, some insurers apply deductibles. These are the sums remaining payable by the insured in the event of illness or accident to the dog.
Discover all the advantages of insurance for dogs
Mutuals for dogs have many benefits that you are sure to appreciate! Indeed, in addition to ensuring reimbursement of veterinary costs, insurance provides you with additional peace of mind concerning the state of health of your companion, you will not wonder whether or not you have the means to have It treated if It becomes ill or seriously injured, because the insurance will contribute to the costs.
Then, depending on the insurance contract you choose and the company with which you subscribe, you may have options. For example, in the event of the death of the animal, even if the money will not replace the love you had for each other, you may be given financial compensation.
There are many advantages to having insurance for your pet. Indeed, if your animal is doing well throughout its life, health insurance will still reimburse the costs associated with routine visits to be made annually. If, on the other hand, It gets injured or has poor health, this investment can allow you to make real savings.
You will also appreciate the fact that companies offer a multitude of Plans, so you can choose the one that best suits your pet’s health.
frequently asked Questions
Choosing health coverage for your dog can turn out to be a real headache when you don’t know what criteria to base your search on. Find out what are the elements to check in order to choose the best contract.
In order to be able to subscribe to a mutual insurance company for dogs, it is imperative to respect certain clauses imposed by the insurance company in its general conditions of subscription.
The best health protection for your dog actually depends on your expectations and needs. Find out the questions to ask yourself in order to define your needs.
Insuring your hunting dog is strongly recommended because the latter is more exposed to the risk of contamination by wildlife and injuries.
Let’s find out more precisely the criteria that canine insurance companies take into account to set the prices of their different Plan.
Many animal health insurance companies refuse to insure a dog that is 8 years of age or older. However, there is dog insurance with no age limit.