No two pets are the same, and neither are pet insurance plans. Find the best pet insurance policy for your furry family member with this helpful guide!
When you make the best decision of your life to become a pet parent, all you want to do is make sure you are protecting your pet as best you can. With all the plans and policies available, how can you be sure you’re making the right choice?
We think that every pet deserves access to excellent veterinary care when they need it. We also believe that every pet owner should be able to access all the available options without worrying about running into debt and scrambling around for funds.
That’s why you get pet insurance.
Discover: Pet Insurance for Kittens: 5 Reasons It’s a Must-Have
Why We Love Oneplan Pet Insurance
Whenever we get asked which pet insurance company in South Africa we would recommend, our first prize always goes to Oneplan Pet Insurance.
We know how important it is to choose a pet insurer that gives you value for money and is really there for your pet when you need it most, which are just a few of Oneplan’s strong points.
Here are some of the other reasons we recommend them:
- You can visit any vet of your choice (we all know how long it takes to find the perfect fit).
- Get paid BEFORE vet visits in 1 minute with the Oneplan Claim Card and App.
- Get up to 25% discount on premium pet food and other pet care items in the Onepet Store.
- They pay up to R5000 hospital admission deposit or no deposit with their partnered vets network.
- Manage your policy and claims on the Oneplan App, meaning no complicated processes and paperwork.
Without further delay, let’s find out more about which plan is best for you! To find out more about each plan, simply click on the headings!
Choosing a Pet Insurance Policy with Oneplan
Pet Accident Plan
One thing we keep very close to our hearts is that pet insurance should be for all pet parents, regardless of budget. If you are taking the first step towards insuring your pet, an accident plan isn’t a bad place to start.
Oneplan’s Accident Plan starts from R80 per month. This includes up to R8 500 for accident cover. Accidents happen all the time. We don’t like to be the doom and gloom guys but hey, it’s the truth. When you have a playful puppy or a curious cat, the chances of them getting their noses into a little are high.
In insurance terms, an accident is an incident that causes immediate physical harm that requires emergency medical attention. Car accidents, burns or electrocution, animal fights/attacks, near drowning, poisoning or swallowed foreign bodies are all common accidents that we receive claims for. The Pet Accident Plan is perfect for budget-savvy pet parents.
Pet Primary Plan
This plan is a great option for the budget-savvy pet parent who still wants peace of mind that their fur baby is covered for those annual trips to the vet. Starting from only R160pm, the Pet Accident Plan provides great cover for both those expected and unexpected trips to the vet.
This includes R1000 per year for vet visits, up to R15 000 per year for hospital admissions (both accidents and illnesses) and up to R2 000 per year for post operative care.
On this plan, you also qualify to get up to 15% discount in the Onepet Store!
We highly recommend this plan if you are on a tight budget but need more than just emergency cover for your pet. It’s the best of both worlds!
Read this: 10 Warning Signs You Need to Take Your Pet to The Vet
Pet Hospital Plan
Next up is the Pet Hospital Plan. If you thought human hospitals were the only ones to put a dent in your wallet, you are mistaken. Oneplan’s Pet Hospital Plan covers you for two things: accidents and illnesses. You will be protected from the cost of vet fees required to nurse your pet back to health when they get sick and need to stay in the hospital.
The Hospital Plan starts from R190 per month. This will include hospital cover of up to R38 000 per event for accidents and illnesses, plus post-operative care up to R2 150 per year.
You also get kennel cover for if you are hospitalised, and your fur baby needs a place to stay. Up to R180 per day and up to R1 800 per event.
A pet hospital plan is for pet owners who want to be covered for unexpected accidents and illnesses and feel they can front the costs for routine care and day-to-day care.
Pet Classic Plan
The Pet Classic Plan starts from R280 per month, and on top of R43 000 in hospital cover, you also receive cover for post operative care up to R1 250 per year, kennel cover up to R180 per day/R1 800 per event, vet visits up to R1 400 per visit/up to R5 600 per annum, PLUS up to R800 per annum for Pet Med Savings (which can be used for routine care).
Why would you want cover for routine care? Because it’s pretty much the best thing since biltong flavoured kibble treats. And because routine care can end up costing you a whole lot of money before you know it! Routine care also helps your vet to detect and treat any underlying issues before they develop into something more serious and more expensive to treat.
Here’s what falls under routine care:
- Sterilisation
- Consultations for and/or vaccinations, deworming, flea control
- Anal gland expression
- Teeth scaling and polishing
Pet Super Plan
Ah! The plan with all the bells and whistles and the plan we wish we could give to each and every pet. This is Oneplan’s most comprehensive plan with premiums starting from R430 a month. Your pet will have up to R58 000 in hospital cover and up to R5 250 per year for post operative care.
You also get kennel cover up to R200 per day/up to R2 000 per event. When it comes to those expected vet visits, you get up to R1 650 per visit/up to R6 600 per year, and Pet Med Savings up to R900 per annum.
At the end of the day, choosing a pet insurance policy comes down to what you can afford. But can you afford an hip replacement for your Great Dane or sinus reconstruction for your Frenchie?
The Add-Ons
And we’re not done yet! For each of Oneplan’s pet plans (excluding the Pet Accident Plan), you can purchase additional products that boost your cover limits and benefits!
The Excess Buster Add on from only R25pm per pet allows you to pay ZERO excess on all claims, meaning you’ll never have to worry about unexpected out-of-pocket vet bills again.
The Pet Med Booster starts from R35pm per pet, and allows you to add R350 in Pet Med Booster Savings to your plan for routine care for the Primary and Hospital Plans or double your Pet Med Savings benefit on the Classic and Super Plans.
The Diagnostic Booster starts from R120pm per pet and gives you extra cover specifically for diagnostic procedures so that your vet can accurately diagnose your pet and give them the best possible treatment.
Please note that these prices are reflective of the date that this article was written. For up-to-date pricing, please follow this link.
Yours in Not-So-Average Pet Advice,
The Petinsurance.co.za Team