Responsible owners are aware that will be in charge of caring for them for at least 10 to 15 years, time during which they can develop illnesses or accidents, so insurance coverage financially helps them to be treated promptly and appropriately.
“Dogs and cats develop a special affiliation in families, and demand care and attention, either due to accidental situations or conditions, so it is not only important to have insurance coverage, but also support for damages caused to third parties”exposes José Guillermo López, manager of Aseguradora Rural, an institution that offers My Safe Pet.
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This insurance, in addition to veterinary telephone guidance, hospital emergencies due to accident or illness, hotel for pets in case of accident, veterinary home visits, oral deworming, among others, it also includes bodily injury and property damage to third parties caused by the insured animal.
In Universal Insuranceyou can also insure the pet, as long as the owner is also insured. The Universales Pet service, which emerged seven years ago, includes veterinary medical care and lodging for the pet, in the event of an accident, ambulance service, orientation and advice, grooming, euthanasia, cremation and psychological counseling in the event of the death of the animal. , among others, explains Astrid Gutiérrez, manager of the Life and Mass Area of Seguros Universales.
This insurance includes coverage for medical expenses and accidental death of the owner, but “is more focused on the pet.” “There are people who have never taken their pet to grooming, because their economy does not allow it or because they have not tried it; with this insurance, they can have this service”, indicates Gutierrez.
It must be taken into account, depending on the institution that offers the insurance and the characteristics of the policy, that there is an age limit to insure the animal, as well as exclusions, maximum annual amounts of coverage and a limited number of events per year. The value of the premium ranges between Q35 and Q100 per month, depending on the coverage.
Some insurances are adapted to the particular needs of each owner and animal. Furthermore, it should be considered that illnesses that are not pre-existing are covered and for some services you have to pay a deductible. In the event of the death of the pet, some insurances coordinate funeral assistance, which may include cremation and transfer of the deceased animal to the funeral home.
Also read: What do you invest in to pamper pets?
Another company that offers insurance for pets is Banco Promerica, which includes hospital emergency due to illness or accident, hotel for pets, home veterinary visits and telephone guidance.
There are veterinarians that have veterinary insurance packages, such as Animal Planet, which includes annual vaccination, deworming, two medical consultations per year for illness, three days of hospitalization and 50% discount on surgery, with a 20% deductible. The annual cost is Q1,200 for puppies and Q1,500 for adults.
“In milliseconds, a life-changing event can occur, such as the pandemic, which left many people without work, which makes it difficult to cover an emergency or pet illness, They are also part of the family. Hence the importance of having insurance for them as well,” says veterinarian Vivian Marroquín, founder and director of Animal Planet.
Also read: How to travel with our pets?
In other countries
In Spain, where pet insurance began to be offered many years ago, there are additional coverages to those that can be found in Guatemala.
For example, the owner is compensated for the value of the animal, in case it is stolen or lost. It also includes a stay in a canine residence for hospitalization of the insured, euthanasia, prosthetics, treatment for behavioral disorders, physiotherapy, teeth cleaning, vaccination and castration.
Likewise, not only pets are insured, but also horses or exotics. Prices vary between 45 and 300 euros per year -US$47 and US$312-. The age and breed of the pet is taken into account.
In the United States, dogs and cats have been insured since the 1980s. According to the North American Pet Health Insurance Association, there are 4.41 million pets insured in the US. There are policies that cover breed-specific conditions, such as hip dysplasia in bulldogs, for example; medications for chronic or serious illness such as cancer, as well as alternative therapies such as acupuncture or chiropractic.
To establish the price of the policies, age, race and selected coverages are also taken into account. The average annual policy price is US$584 for dogs and US$343 for cats.
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