When it comes to the well-being of your furry family member, you don't want to take any chances. From vet bills and accidents to routine care cover, having the right type of animal health insurance plan could be the difference between knowing your beloved pet’s healthcare expenses are covered or having to face a stack of costly bills.

That’s why this detailed breakdown digs into the unique benefits of each pet insurance plan.

Comparing the costs and benefits

We all know that having animal medical insurance makes financial sense, but there are just so many plans to choose from and it’s difficult to know which one is best for your budget and your pet. But there’s no need to worry - soon, you'll be all clued-up about pet insurance and know each plan like the back of your hand.

It all comes down to the cost and level of cover. While a Pet Hospital Plan is the usually the most budget-friendly option for pet owners, plans that include wellness cover are far more comprehensive and cover the day-to-day costs that you might not even think of until you’re faced with a pretty lengthy bill.

Here’s a basic breakdown of what each type of plan covers:

A Pet Hospital Plan

Most insurers understand that not everyone can afford comprehensive pet insurance for their furry best friends. That’s why insurers usually offer pet owners a Pet Hospital Plan which covers all the basics. Pet Hospital Plans essentially provide cover for all the unexpected bills. This typically includes cover for illness, accidents and, sometimes, kennel fees - but most day-to-day costs for routine care costs or vet visits are not included.

In real terms, you can expect to pay about R 140 pm for cat insurance and R 155 pm for a dog each month when opting for any hospital plan. That’s not too pricey when you consider that, with an animal health insurance provider like Oneplan, you'll be covered up to R35 000 for accidents and R32 000 for illnesses with an overall annual limit of  R45 000.

This type of affordable pet insurance is a great help when it comes to handling the costs for illnesses or accidents that you are never fully prepared for. But what about cover for the expected, day-to-day costs?

A Wellness Plan

A Wellness Plan is a little more comprehensive and provides the same accident and illness cover as a Hospital Plan, but it also covers routine care benefits too. I like to classify wellness coverage as cover for the expected. These benefits include preventative treatments such as vaccinations, deworming, dental care, flea and tick prevention and more.

Trust me, you'll be glad you have it. I've experienced the benefits of wellness cover firsthand. Just last month I took my pup for a few routine treatments only to be left facing a long bill for vaccines, dental care and flea/tick prevention. It would have been nearly impossible to juggle those costs alone.

So, what are the benefits of routine care?

The same way that people need regular checkups and treatments when we visit our doctor, our pets need routine care procedures to ensure that they stay happy, healthy and disease-free. Preventive care is the most proactive way to ensure your pet stays in good health.

A Wellness Plan will usually cover your consultations fees and routine care procedures when you take your pet to the vet. These preventative treatments are also a great way to detect and treat any potential health concerns such as potential diseases from ticks and fleas, bacterial infections and gum disease. These issues could end up developing into a more serious issue if left untreated and could end up costing you a lot more in the long run.

That’s why any responsible pet insurer should get on board with an animal-friendly pet insurance plan from an insurer like Oneplan. Oneplan Pet Insurance is usually my number one recommendation to all my fellow pet owners because they provide cover for accidents, illnesses, routine care cover AND vet visits with their Pet Classic Plan. I don’t know about you, but that’s something I’ll be barking to all my friends about later.

Choosing what's right for your fuzzy best bud

Let’s focus on why we're really here - to look after the health and well-being of your precious pet. Although hospital plans are cheaper, there's a range of factors to consider other than price to ensure that you pick the best insurance for your pawsome pet.

Considering that vaccines alone can cost around R300 each (and your puppy requires at least 3 before the age of one) and sterilisation can peak at around R1000 to R2 000, wellness cover from affordable pet insurance sounds like a real life-saver when it comes to sticking to your budget while still giving your pet the best affordable healthcare around.

How Oneplan has got you covered

What if you could stick to your budget but still afford the best routine care coverage for your lovable pet? Well, you can with Oneplan’s new Routine Care Plus benefit.

Oneplan has is taking their routine care cover one step further and offering routine care benefits to pet owners looking to spend a little less on their premiums by choosing the Pet Hospital Plan.

With the Routine Care Plus add-on, pet owners can choose to benefit from all the advantages of preventive care cover, while sticking with their original plan. With Routine Care Plus, you’ll save big on bills for:

●     Sterilisation

●     Vaccinations

●     Deworming

●     Flea and tick control

●     Anal gland expression

●     Teeth scaling and polishing

If you ask me, that's really the full package when it comes to pet insurance.

But Oneplan’s amazing pet care services don’t end there. Oneplan puts money in your pocket before you see the vet to help make the processes and procedures of pet insurance as easy as possible. All you have to do is log in, load your claim and the funds are transferred to your unique Onecard which you can then use to swipe at your vet’s rooms.

So, why not sing up with an insurer who is committed to providing the best insurance for your loving pets. Become a valuable member of the Oneplan family today and get an instant quote to learn more about their special pet insurance deals.

Until next time,

The Pet Insurance Team