He alth insurance for dogs is becoming an option that more and more caregivers value. And it is inevitable that, sooner or later, in a milder or more serious way, our dog ends up visiting the vet. Sometimes, it supposes an expense that the caregivers try to delay for fear of the bill, but it is a counterproductive decision, since the condition of the dog can be aggravated, which will ultimately imply an increase in expenses and the risk to its he alth.
Having insurance is a good option to control these unforeseen events without unbalancing the family budget. In addition, civil liability insurance, which covers damages to third parties, is mandatory in the case of living with certain breeds, those designated as potentially dangerous. Next, on our site, we talk about plans and he alth insurance for dogs and review their benefits to be able to choose the one that best suits our needs.
Types of dog insurance
Depending on what is covered by insurance for dogs, there are, basically, civil liability, accident, he alth or veterinary insurance and he alth plans, but it is common for insurance companies to allow you to select different coverages and hire a unified insurance that covers them all or includes various types of insurance in a single insurance. For example, in Mascota Segura they have accident insurance with extended coverage, including civil liability, at a cost of around 75 euros per year.
In the following sections we explain the characteristics of the different types of insurance from which we will be able to choose.
Dog liability insurance
This is the insurance obligatory for potentially dangerous dogs in Spain In general, keepers of other breeds do not have to contract it, but they can do it if they consider it necessary. In other words, it is not an exclusive insurance for PPPs. Its objective is to cover possible damages to third parties caused by the dog, whether other animals, people or things, for a value of about 120,000 euros, although there is insurance reaching 300,000 and even more. A couple of examples: if your dog runs after a ball and causes an accident, or if he accidentally bites you while playing with other people, the insurance would cover these cases. It is important to keep in mind that this insurance does not cover damages that the dog itself may suffer.
He alth or illness insurance for dogs
This type of insurance offers coverage for certain veterinary expenses for the dog up to a previously set limit. The assistance may or may not be in concerted centers, which usually modifies the coverage limits. Unlike civil liability, this insurance is not compulsory for any breed, but it can be very interesting, as it normally covers the costs of consultations and surgical interventions derived from illnesses. It does not deal with more common, economic and periodic expenses, such as deworming, vaccinations or microchipping. In other words, it is a useful insurance to face high expenses in unexpected situations.
It covers around 1,000-2,500 euros per year, depending on the insurance taken out. There are options that also cover expenses derived from the death of the animal, such as cremation, hospitalization or compensation in the event of an accident. It must be borne in mind that the breed of the animal and especially its age is very important when hiring it. There are insurances where if the dog is of a certain age, they do not offer he alth coverage, so the ideal is that your dog has he alth insurance before he is 7 years old. Once you have contracted it, it is for life and will cover illnesses even if you are over 7 years old.
Dog accident insurance
This type of insurance, as its name indicates, is responsible for covering the costs of veterinary assistance for the dog in the event of an accident, including the amounts derived from his death, euthanasia and cremation if, unfortunately, he does not recover from his injuries. The insurance always pays up to a previously set maximum limit. If it is exceeded, the extra amount will have to be paid by the caregiver.
Some accident insurances also cover expenses arising from theft or lossFor example, if the dog is lost, they will cover the costs of locating you and the accommodation of the dog. Others offer free telephone assistance and even the most comprehensive ones may include civil liability and legal assistance. But they will not deal with expenses generated by illnesses, unless this benefit is contemplated, which would affect the final price.
In Peta Segura we find accident insurance that covers everything mentioned above, as well as other insurance for dogs that combine accident insurance coverage with he alth and civil liability insurance. Thus, we have:
- Accident insurance
- Accident and Illness Insurance
- Accident, Illness and Civil Liability Insurance
He alth Plans
It is worth mentioning another option that exists such as he alth plans, they are plans that are oriented towards preventive medicineThus, the plans can include veterinary procedures that are not usually contemplated in the usual he alth insurance, always up to a certain maximum amount. For example, the plans cover veterinary check-ups, vaccinations, internal and external deworming or even medications. They usually cover common expenses, of lesser amount, more affordable. They do not usually cover the most unexpected expenses derived from an accident or illness. Depending on the features chosen, the prices will be highly variable.
Benefits of insuring a dog
As we have seen, the different types of insurance for dogs cover, above all, expenses arising from situations of illness, accident, theft, loss or damage to third parties. Therefore, the main advantage of taking out insurance is to cope with unexpected expenses without involving a large and sudden financial outlay, since for this it has been paid, periodically, the contracted insurance. Thus, this will be in charge of paying veterinary expenses, including euthanasia and cremation, judicial bonds, stays in dog residences, such as in case of hospitalization of the owner, legal defense, legal costs, compensation, etc. Many of these insurances also offer free telephone assistance and include attention abroad, which allows you to travel with more peace of mind.
In summary, the basic insurance benefits are as follows:
- Protection and help in the event of a large number of incidents.
- The peace of mind of having control of veterinary expenses.
- The possibility of adopting a PPP, since for them it is essential to have civil liability insurance, among other requirements.
In what cases is it mandatory to insure a dog?
Liability insurance is mandatory for these dogs:
- The PPPs and their crossings.
- Individuals who have certain physical characteristics that imply the possibility of causing considerable damage.
- The dogs that have shown aggressiveness at some point.
If you have questions about whether or not civil liability insurance is compulsory for your dog, ask your veterinarian. In any case, you should know that in some communities this insurance is mandatory for all dogs, regardless of their breed, size or character. Therefore, consult the legislation corresponding to your place of residence to avoid surprises.
How much does it cost to insure a dog?
The price to pay for canine insurance depends on the coverage contracted and the characteristics of the dog. Logically, the more features it offers, the higher the price. As it is also possible to combine several insurances, the final amount can fluctuate. As an example, it is possible to find insurance for more than 300 euros per year, while others do not exceed 20. You can find very complete insurance that for less than one euro per day includes coverage for accidents, he alth and civil liability.
Normally, since these are policies between €70 and €250, they are usually paid in a single payment to the insurer, with the dog being covered throughout the year. You can calculate what the insurance would cost you on the Peta Segura website, for example, so that you can estimate the cost and savings of having insurance with these characteristics.
How to insure a dog?
Insurance companies are going to ask for certain documentation in order to contract the insurance. Thus, the basics for any dog is the following:
- Cartilla or passport veterinarian up to date.
- Number of microchip.
- Registration in the corresponding census.
But you should know that each insurer is free to request additional information, such as a veterinary report that certifies the dog's he alth status. Remember that the dog must be he althy at the time of contracting the insurance and that the range to be able to contract insurance is usually between 3 months and 9 years approximately.
How to select the best dog insurance?
The choice of the best insurance for our dog should be based, in addition to the price, on the situations we want it to cover. In other words, it is not about simply choosing the cheapest insurance if later it is not going to give us the service we need if necessary. Therefore, the first step is make a wish listOnce we have clear priorities, we can compare the different options offered by companies and request a personalized quote from several of them, with whom we can contact directly to answer any questions and talk to specialists.
Finally, take into account aspects such as the waiting periods for coverage, which in the case of dogs, the periods are usually much shorter than in he alth policies for people. It is usually between 0 and 30 days. Also assess the maximum limits of coverage and the centers that they have arranged, the ideal is that you can go to the veterinarian of your choice and then they will reimburse you the total or a high percentage of the veterinary bill.
