As a pet owner, you may be familiar with the term ‘pet illnesses’ but do you know what that means when it comes to pet insurance? And is there a pet insurance that covers pre existing conditions? Let’s break it down.
The unfortunate truth is that our pets can get sick. One moment your pet is happily enjoying their food, and the next, they’ve lost their appetite. One night they’re running around the garden, and the next, they’re lying at your side with a mopey expression on their face. Illnesses are one of the many realities of pet ownership.
Common signs that your pet is ill
One of the worst parts about seeing our pets sick is knowing that they cannot tell us what’s wrong. This means looking out for physical symptoms or behavioural changes. So, to help you figure out what you need to look out for, here are the top 5 signs that your pet is ill. If you notice any of these red flags, make sure to either call or visit your local vet as soon as possible:
- Vomiting and diarrhoea
- Hair loss or itchy skin
- Lack of appetite or decreased activity, not drinking water
- Difficulty standing up
- Blood in stool, or not passing stool
- Excessive Panting
- Change in behaviour (becoming aggressive)
What does ‘illness’ mean in insurance terms?
So now that we have had a deeper look into the physical and behavioural telltale signs of an illness, it’s important to see what OUR team defines as an illness and what we will cover. This will help us make sure that we are all on the same page!
According to our team, ‘illness’ means any unforeseen sickness, illness or disease originating, contracted, commencing, or first manifesting itself during the period of insurance – something that started after your cover began.
Terms and conditions of illness coverage
It is important to note that, while you may have opted for illness cover, there is a waiting period before you can claim. But don’t panic, with Oneplan, it’s completely reasonable. Before you gain access to exceptional illness cover (that is honestly worth bragging about), there is a sixty-day waiting period from the Inception Date.
You also have an excess of 25% of the claim which will apply for the first 6 months. Then, from month 7 and thereafter, you have an excess of 10% of the claim. There is a minimum excess of R500 on claims, or you can pay ZERO excess if you get the Excess Buster add-on!
Special Conditions
You know that, at Oneplan, we pride ourselves in being completely honest and transparent, which means bringing your attention to these important conditions when it comes to pet illnesses:
- Dentistry or teeth related treatment/procedures are not covered under this section.
- Should your pet be diagnosed for multiple conditions in an event, an authorisation will only be granted for one event and not per condition.
- The removal of gastric foreign bodies is limited to one event per pet per year – like if Bruno swallows a rock.
Things that are not covered
Again, when we say that we try to ensure that our pet insurance plans are as comprehensive as possible, we mean it. (Please refer to your insurance policy wording document to ensure you are up to date with your cover details). However, there are a few pre existing conditions we don’t cover initially, until the given waiting period has been observed.
For cats and dogs
Spaying and neutering indicated due to a specific medical condition are excluded for the first twelve (12) months. If related to pregnancy, it is completely excluded. Voluntary spaying and neutering are covered under the applicable routine care cover.
The conditions listed below will specifically be excluded from cover for twelve (12) months from date of inception:
- Cancer
- Arthritis
- Heart Disease
- Tumours/Masses/Growths
- IMHA (Immune-Mediated Haemolytic Anaemia), Tuberculosis (TB)
- Diabetes
- Congenital, hereditary, and pre-existing conditions
- Hospital admissions for cruciate ligament repairs, hip replacements, intervertebral disc, luxating patella, elbow conditions, and/or related surgical or conservative treatment. We will pay as follows, notwithstanding pre-existing conditions or exclusions:
- Months 0 – 3: No Cover.
- Months 4 – 6: 25% of the total account subject to the event limit up to a maximum of R4000.
- Months 7 – 12: 50% of the total account up to a maximum of R8000.
It’s important to note that we DO cover these conditions, but only once the twelve (12) month waiting period is complete (which is why it’s so important to get pet insurance as soon as possible!).
The sad and painful truth is that we all get sick, including our pets, so it’s super important to ensure you’re prepared for when it happens and avoid being left with unexpected vet bills that eat away at your savings. Prioritise your pet’s health and well-being by getting in contact with our team so we can show your pet some much-deserved love and care too!
Your Pet Insurance Family,
Oneplan
