We absolutely do – and here’s why it matters for you and your pet.
You’re a great pet parent and because of that, you know your furry friend may need to be admitted into a vet hospital at some point. Let’s face it, bad things happen. But here’s the catch: bad things don’t have to break your bank account when the unexpected happens.
And that’s what pet insurance is: preparation for you and your pet when the rainy days come along.
Discover: No Vet Network with Oneplan Pet Insurance: Keep Your Favourite Vet
Why does my pet need vet hospital care?
When something goes awry, you want to know that your pet is receiving the absolute best health care available. The extensive studies and research conducted by animal medical professionals mean that there are never-ending options for saving your pets life.
When your pet goes into vet hospital, these are the people you want on your team. Without proper and timely medical attention, your pet could end up losing their life or living an uncomfortable, unhealthy life – which is the last thing you (and us) want.
The cost of vet hospital admission
You’ll understand why vet hospital admission cover is so important when you understand how much it will cost you. At the end of the day, it all depends on what your pet is going in for, how long they need to stay and what kind of surgeries are being performed.
Some stays will be vastly more expensive than others. Costs can rise very quickly as vets find new issues or need to run more preventative tests. The truth is, vet hospital bills aren’t so different from human hospital bills: scarily high if you don’t have insurance.
Let’s say your dog breaks their leg – that break alone could cost you R15 000. Or let’s say your dog swallows something they shouldn’t have, like a small piece of plastic or a sneaky mouse in the garden. You would then possibly need to book your dog in for a surgery or hospital treatment which could cost you anywhere between R12 000 and R20 000.
One last one before you stop reading from fear alone (we promise there is a silver lining): imagine your pet is hit by a car. Depending on the damage and treatment plan, you could be looking at a whopping R40 000 vet bill.
Related: Our 1# Pet Claim: Foreign Body Removal & the Costs of Surgery
The deposit
You have to take all of this into consideration, PLUS your deposit. The deposit amount needs to be paid before your pet can step a paw into the hospital, which is completely unaffordable to most people at a last minute’s notice.
In most cases, you’ll be expected to pay 50% of the cost before your pet can be treated. At most practices this is the standard procedure before they proceed with the treatment.
Oneplan helps you get this deposit over the line as quickly as possible for pre-authorised vet hospital claims so your pet can get into the hospital ASAP. When you claim, you and your vet can opt that Oneplan pays the vet directly instead of the money going through you first.
We can pay up to R5 000 in vet deposit fees, which is a huge weight off your shoulders during these stressful situations, and if you go to one of our partnered vets, they will waive your deposit altogether!
Economic euthanasia
What are your options if you can’t pay? We don’t like to bring this up because it makes us sad, but it’s important you know what you’re in for without pet insurance.
Economic euthanasia is the process of putting your pet down because you can’t afford the surgery or treatment that would make them better. We really don’t like seeing people backed into a corner, which is why we will always advocate for pet owners to join a pet insurance policy that cares.
Which plans cover vet hospital admissions?
All five of our plans cover vet hospital admissions!
- Accident Plan: Up to R8 500 per annum (illnesses not covered)
- Primary Plan: Up to R15 000 per annum
- Hospital Plan: Up to R38 000 per event
- Classic Plan: Up to R43 000 per event
- Super Plan: Up to R58 000 per event
The only difference is that the Accident Plan will only cover accident-related hospital admissions. The other four will cover you for both accidents and illnesses, so you know your four-legged friend is covered no matter what happens.
Related: Claiming for a Pet Emergency with Oneplan Pet Insurance (3 Easy Steps)
We know how scary it is when you have to admit your pet to hospital, which is why we make sure the process is as simple and stress-free as possible, so you can focus on helping your fur baby to get better quickly.
Your Pet Insurance Family,
Oneplan
