MediPet is a pet insurance provider that offers insurance for various types of pets, with monthly premiums starting at R226.00. The coverage amount provided by Medipet pet insurance is determined by the selected insurance plan, with annual limits ranging from R25,000.00 to R65,000.00.

In addition to the plans offered, Medipet provides add-ons to its pet insurance policies. The premiums for these add-ons start at R65.00 per month and can vary depending on the selected add-ons.

Below, we discuss each of the pet insurance plans offered by MediPet, including the available add-ons for each plan.

MediPet Pet Insurance Plans

MediPet offers four pet insurance plans, each providing specific coverage. The plans are as follows:

MediPet Accident Plan

The MediPet accident plan is designed to cover the costs associated with accidents. This plan is particularly suitable for older dogs who are more prone to accidents.

For a monthly premium of R226.00 per pet covered, the MediPet accident plan provides coverage for accidents. Additionally, vet visits can be covered by adding an extra R15.00 per month.

Accident coverage under the MediPet accident plan includes:

• Car accidents
• Burns or electrocution
• Falls from elevated positions
• Near drownings
• Actions of another animal
• Surgical or endoscopic removal of swallowed or embedded foreign objects
• Snake bites
• Allergic reactions to insect bites
• Biliary issues
• Accidental poisoning
• Acute traumatic ligament or tendon injuries
• The plan also covers accidental treatments for:

• Puncture wounds
• Fractured bones
• Lacerations
• Soft tissue prolapses
• Gastric torsions
• To enhance the plan, policyholders have the option to add supplementary coverage for day-to-day routine care. The only optional add-on available for the MediPet accident plan is:

Optional Add-Ons

These optional add-ons for the MediPet accident plan have a 30-day waiting period.

Routine Supreme

Routine Supreme provides coverage for preventive measures such as vaccinations, deworming, microchipping, grooming, and training, with a yearly benefit amount of R3,300.00. The premium for Routine Supreme add-on is R195.00 per month.

Routine In-Between

Routine In-Between add-ons provide coverage for vaccinations, tick prevention, microchipping, grooming, and puppy socialization, with a benefit amount of R2,200.00 per year. The premium for Routine In-Between cover is R130.00 per pet per month.

Routine Lean

An affordable preventative cover that can be added to the MediPet accident plan is the Routine Lean cover, which provides coverage for preventive measures including vaccinations, flea and deworming treatments, microchipping and sterilization, grooming and nail clipping, and training. The Routine Lean cover is offered at R65.00 per month per pet and has a maximum yearly coverage amount of R1,100.00.

MediPet Lite Plan

The MediPet Lite plan offers more comprehensive coverage than the accidental plan and has a maximum pet coverage limit of R40,000.00. Premiums for the MediPet Lite plan start at R321.00 per month, with the option to add vet visits for an additional R15.00 per month.

All additional coverage benefits are subject to a 30-day waiting period under this plan. However, accidental injuries are immediately covered upon policy purchase and have no waiting period.

Claims made under the plan are subject to a 15% excess payment, with a minimum payment of R250.00 per claim. While the plan has a yearly spending limit of R40,000.00, the maximum coverage amount per claim is R13,760.00.

The Lite plan allows for a maximum of 4 claims per year. Policyholders can choose from a list of invoices to submit for a claim, but the maximum claim and yearly spending limits will apply.

Accidents covered by the plan include:

• Car accidents
• Burns or electrocution
• Falls from elevated positions
• Near drownings
• Actions of other animals
• Surgical or endoscopic removal of swallowed or embedded foreign objects
• Snake bites
• Allergic reactions to insect bites
• Biliary issues
• Accidental poisoning
• Acute traumatic ligament or tendon injuries
• Optional add-ons are available for those who subscribe to the MediPet Lite plan. These add-ons are discussed in detail below.

MediPet Lite Plan Optional Add-Ons

Only day-to-day routine care add-ons can be added to the MediPet Lite plan. Optional add-ons have a 30-day waiting period for routine care. The available optional add-ons are as follows:

Routine Supreme

Routine Supreme offers the most comprehensive day-to-day routine care coverage for pets. This plan provides a yearly coverage of R3,300.00 and is available for a monthly premium of R195.00. The Routine Supreme add-on covers payments for vaccinations, tick or flea and deworming treatments, microchipping and sterilization, grooming and nail clipping, training, and puppy socialization.

Routine In-Between

Routine In-Between is a day-to-day routine care cover that offers lighter coverage compared to the Routine Supreme plan. This add-on can be added to the MediPet Lite plan for an additional monthly premium of R130.00.

Pet will be covered for the cost of vaccinations, tick or flea treatments, deworming, microchipping, sterilization, grooming, nail clipping, training, and puppy socialization for a yearly benefit of R2,200.00.

Routine Lean

Routine Lean is an entry-level day-to-day routine cover that offers coverage of R1,100.00 for vaccinations, tick or flea treatments, deworming, microchipping, sterilization, grooming, nail clipping, training, and puppy socialization. This cover can be added to the MediPet Lite plan for an additional premium of R65.00.

MediPet Essential Plan

The MediPet Essential plan is a comprehensive pet insurance policy that covers accidents, illnesses, emergencies, and holistic wellness. It costs R422.00 per month for dogs and R348.00 per month for cats, with an additional premium of R15.00 for vet visits.

The plan has a maximum annual coverage benefit of R55,000.00. However, the policyholder is still required to pay an excess fee for various claims. The general excess per claim is 18%, with a minimum excess fee of R350.00 per claim.

Specific claims, such as gastrointestinal conditions, lameness, skin conditions, ear and eye conditions, respiratory and spinal conditions, have their own excess of 25% per claim, with a minimum excess payment of R500.00 per claim.

The plan also has a waiting period of 30 days after joining. However, accidental injuries are covered immediately and do not have a waiting period. These include:

• Car accidents
• Burns or electrocution
• Falls from elevated positions
• Near drownings
• Actions of other animals
• Surgical or endoscopic removal of swallowed or embedded foreign objects
• Snake bites
• Allergic reactions to insect bites
• Biliary issues
• Accidental poisoning
• Acute traumatic ligament or tendon injuries
• After a 30-day no-claim waiting period from the date of enrollment, the plan requires a 30-day 50% shared copayment period. After that, the plan benefits will be fully utilized, with the excess fee remaining in effect.

There is a 6-month waiting period for knee and hip replacements, elbow and shoulder replacements, eye treatments, respiratory system treatments, and spinal treatments. During the waiting period, MediPet will pay up to R5,000.00 for diagnostic tests.

The cover comes with the following benefits:

Missing pet advert coverage of R250.00 per year.
Emergency boarding fees of R500.00 per cat per year or R1000.00 per dog per year.
Theft cover of R1000.00 in the event that a dog is stolen or goes missing.
Radiation and chemotherapy coverage.
Supplements cover up to R2,000.00 per policy year.
To enhance the product, the policyholder can add other benefits to the policy. These optional add-ons are discussed in detail below.

MediPet Essential Plan Optional Add-Ons

Chronic Care Support

This benefit allows the policyholder to add chronic benefits that are not included in the essential plan. It also helps increase the coverage amount for the chronic benefits that are included in the plan.

Premium Saver

Premium Saver features allow the policyholder to save on payable premiums. When added to the Essential Plan, this feature saves policyholders 7.5% to 15% of the monthly premiums, and the excess fee is fixed on claims. This add-on comes at an additional premium.

Day-to-Day Routine Care Add-Ons

Day-to-day routine care options include Routine Supreme, which provides cover for R3,300.00, Routine In-Between cover, which provides cover of R2,200.00, and Routine Lean, which provides cover of R1,100.00.

Day-to-day routine add-ons cover the cost of vaccinations, tick or flea treatments, deworming, microchipping, sterilization, grooming, nail clipping, training, and puppy socialization.

MediPet Ultimate 360° Plan

The most comprehensive plan is the MediPet Ultimate 360° plan, which has a maximum annual cover of R65,000.00 per policy. The premiums for the coverage vary depending on the pet insured. Dogs can be insured for R567.00 per month, while cats can be insured for R415.00 per month.

For a number of incidents covered by the product, the plan includes a waiting period. Accidental injuries, on the other hand, are covered immediately and without a waiting period. The plan includes a 30-day no-claim period during which no claims can be made for the first 30 days after joining the plan.

The 30-day no-claim period is followed by a 30-day cost-sharing period in which the policyholder pays 50% of the claim amount. After that, all policy benefits will be fully available, except for waiting periods for prescription food, dental care, cremation, and other injuries.

A 6-month waiting period applies to knee, elbow, and shoulder treatments, as well as eye, respiratory system, and spinal treatments, and cremation benefits. There is a four-month waiting period for prescription food, dental care, and sterilization claims.

The plan includes additional benefits for which there is no additional premium. Other advantages include:

• Holistic wellness cover of up to R5,000.00 per policy year.
• Behavioral therapy of R2,000.00 per policy year.
• Missing pet advert of R250.00 per year.
• Emergency boarding fees of R500.00 per cat per year or R1000.00 per dog per year.
• Theft cover of R1000.00 in the event that a dog is stolen or goes missing.
• Prescription food benefit of R150.00 for up to 6 months.
• Radiation and Chemotherapy.
• Supplements cover up to R2,000.00 per policy year.
• One dental procedure per year.
• Sterilization benefit of up to R1,200.00.
• Optional benefits can be added to the Ultimate 360° plan. These benefits are listed as follows:

MediPet Ultimate 360° Plan Optional Add-Ons

Day-to-Day Routine Care

Day-to-day routine add-ons cover the cost of vaccinations, tick or flea treatments, deworming, microchipping, sterilization, grooming, nail clipping, training, and puppy socialization. Premiums start from R65.00 to R195.00 per month.

Premium Saver

Premium Saver allows policyholders to opt for a flat excess fee on all general, specific, and dental claims. Policyholders can choose a flat excess fee of R1,000.00 for a discount premium of 7.5%. Alternatively, the policyholder can choose a flat excess payment of R2,000.00 on all general, specific, and dental claims for a 15% discount on premiums.

Advantages of MediPet Pet Insurance

Different types of plans cater to different pet needs.
Optional Add-Ons are available for each plan.
Accidental injuries are covered immediately on all plans.
Pets of any age can be covered through MediPet Pet Insurance.
Premium Saver add-on is available to help policyholders pay a lower premium.
Multiple pets can be covered.

Disadvantages of MediPet Pet Insurance

Waiting periods can be too long on some plans.
Vet historic visits may be required.
The excess fee is high in the first months of subscribing to the pet insurance.

Conclusion

Pet insurance is the most secure way to ensure that medical and other costs are covered when they arise, and MediPet Pet Insurance meets these needs well. The insurer provides straightforward balanced plans, and the optional add-ons are another great feature that allows individuals to customize their plans.