Owners are strongly advised to insure their pets due to high veterinary costs

Demand for pet insurance is on the rise in the UAE, but pet owners say premiums are high.

Pet insurance is a relatively new concept in the UAE, therefore the policies and options available in the market are limited.

Pet owners and industry leaders are urging owners to insure their pets due to high veterinary costs.

According to insurancemarket.ae, pet insurance premiums generally range between Dh1,000 and Dh5,000, depending on the breed and size of the animal. Veterinary costs are covered up to D30,000 under existing insurance schemes offered by local insurers.

Currently, insurers in the UAE provide coverage for dogs and cats only and treatment costs for the former are generally higher than for the latter, therefore the cost of insurance is also higher on the dog side. .

Jeswin Monteiro, a Dubai resident who owns a French bulldog and a husky, also failed to insure his pets, blaming high premiums.

“I check the rates with several insurance companies. For puppies, the rates are lower around 1,000 Dh but for [older dogs]it’s about Dh3,500 a year, which is a lot,” she said, adding that people don’t insure their pets because they don’t know whether such high rates are justified or not.

“As far as dogs are concerned, people don’t take out insurance when they are young because there are generally no major pathologies. Later, when the animal gets older, there are more risk factors and even vet bills are quite significant here. At that time, if we take out insurance, it will be very expensive,” Monteiro added.

She thinks pet insurance is necessary because vet bills are so high.

The nine-year-old Labrador Retriever of Dubai-based dog parent Mangal Suvarnan also doesn’t have medical insurance.

“Ideally our family dog, Whisku, would need insurance as he is older. Dogs his age are more susceptible to disease. However, pet insurance is very expensive for older dogs. .” Whisku was already suffering from urinary problems when the family adopted him nearly five years ago.

“He is on a special diet for his condition. However, pre-existing conditions are not covered by insurance policies. If he gets sick again with urinary crystals, we’ll have to pay anyway. Our priority is to keep him healthy by providing him with nutritious food and exercise,” he said.

“The bottom line is that insurance policies are very helpful if a pet gets a fatal illness,” he added.

Costs can explode

Hitesh Motwani, Marketing Director at InsuranceMarket.ae, said pet insurance is a relatively new product that was reintroduced in the UAE last year.

Hitesh Motwani

“Demand is increasing as overall veterinary costs are also increasing and having insurance is a no-brainer for pet owners. Being a pet owner myself, I think it is important to have insurance for protect yourself from unforeseen expenses. It pays for most veterinary costs – excluding pre-existing conditions – and also covers accidental injuries to the pet. As we know these costs can skyrocket, so it’s best to have a pet blanket.

Sanjeev Anand

Sanjeev Anand, managing director of business development at Al Sayegh Insurance Brokers, said a recent increase in distemper cases has prompted a number of people to consider taking out pet insurance, as treatments and veterinary care can be expensive. “Pet owners are slowly becoming more aware of their pets’ needs as we have seen an increase in the number of requests.”

He advised owners to insure their pets sooner than when needed, as policies do not cover pre-existing conditions.

Anand says veterinary care is needed in the event of unpredictable accidents and illnesses, where pets need emergency treatment.

“Many pets are put to sleep or left on the street because their owners cannot afford often very expensive treatments. Pet insurance is essential, as is medical insurance, as it protects the owner against unexpected veterinary bills to provide treatment and care for the furry family member.”

What’s covered and what’s not

Pet insurance policies typically cover veterinary costs, death benefits, pet-caused liabilities and rewards for finding a lost pet, said Hitesh Motwani, chief marketing officer at InsuranceMarket.ae.

However, this may vary, therefore pet owners should read the details when purchasing the policy.

Pre-existing conditions that exist before the purchase of the policy are strictly not covered. Elective treatments such as sterilization are also not covered.

The insurance also covers animal liability that an owner may need due to any damage caused by the animal.

READ ALSO :