Cat Insurance: A Basic Guide

Cats are, by far, the most popular household pet in Switzerland. According to statistics from the Swiss pet ownership association VHN, there are more than 1.85 million cats living in Switzerland.

How much do Swiss veterinarians charge to treat a cat?

Veterinary bills can be very high. Just the costs of procedures that are routine for many new cat keepers – such as deworming, basic vaccinations, and castration or sterilization, can easily add up to more than 1000 francs.

A blood test can cost more than 400 francs, if you account for both the veterinarian’s fees and the cost of the laboratory analysis. Treating a broken bone can easily cost 1000 francs or more. Removing cataracts can cost upwards of 2000 francs for one eye and 2700 francs for both eyes.

What is cat insurance?

Pet insurance for cats covers the costs of certain veterinary treatments. Which kinds of costs are insured or excluded varies from one insurance offer to another.

Which types of cat insurance are there?

Cat insurance falls into two main categories: Dog insurance that only covers treatment for accidents, and dog insurance that covers both accidents and illness. Offers that only cover accidents are generally cheaper than offers that cover both accidents and illnesses.

Which costs does cat insurance cover?

Cat insurance covers certain veterinary treatments. Some offers also include benefits for preventative care and alternative medicine. Which costs are covered depends on the terms and conditions of each insurance offer. The pet insurance comparison on moneyland.ch lets you filter cat insurance offers based on the specific costs they cover.

Which costs do I have to pay out of my own pocket?

Swiss cat insurance offers are somewhat complicated with regard to how they cover veterinary costs. The same cat insurance may be offered in several different deductible models, and/or with several different limits on coverage. The insurance premiums you pay may be higher or lower depending on which deductible and/or sum insured you choose. Another rule that applies is: The older your cat is, the more you have to pay for the insurance.

The deductible is the portion of the veterinary costs that you have to pay out of your own pocket. Some offers also have a coinsurance payment.

The sum insured or coverage limit is the maximum amount that the insurance will pay towards the covered costs (minus the deductible and coinsurance). Cat insurance offers generally have limits on coverage (a maximum of 12,000 francs per year, for example). As a general rule, the lower your deductible is and the higher the sum insured is, the higher your insurance premiums will be.

Which costs are not covered by pet insurance?

Swiss cat insurance offers generally do not cover costs resulting from illness or accidents that occur before you get insured. Other treatments that are generally excluded from coverage include operations that are solely for cosmetic purposes, dental treatments, treatments for hereditary illnesses, psychotherapy, deworming, and euthanasia. Costs that are not related to your cat’s health, such as sterilization or castration (unless required for medical reasons) and microchip tagging, are not usually covered. Some of these things may be covered by certain – often more expensive – cat insurance offers

Preexisting conditions are normally excluded, although some insurers let you add insurance for these.

Limitations may also apply to covered illnesses. For example, insurance providers may not cover the cost of veterinary care for illnesses that you have not vaccinated your cat against – when a vaccine is available.

Before getting cat insurance, it is important to carefully study the exact insurance benefits, terms, and conditions.

Are all cats eligible for cat insurance?

Some insurance providers only accept new insurance applications for cats that have not yet reached a certain age limit. Others accept cats of all ages. In both cases, once your cat is insured, you can keep the insurance for their entire life. The cat insurance comparison on moneyland.ch only shows offers that are available for your cat, based on its age.

Your cat’s monetary value also affects the application process. Some insurance providers may require you to submit a veterinarian’s assessment of your cat’s health condition If its insurance value surpasses a certain threshold (2500 francs, for example).

Does cat insurance cover veterinary costs right from the start?

Most cat insurance offers have a qualification period. A qualification period is a waiting period between the time that you get the insurance, and the time that the insurance actually begins to cover your veterinary expenses.

Different qualification periods may apply to different insurance coverages. The qualification periods for accident coverage are often shorter (one day or 10 days, for example), while the longest qualification periods usually apply to coverage for chronic illnesses (one month or three months, for example).

Is getting cat insurance worth it?

Getting cat insurance can be a good financial move, but it depends on various factors. Firstly, it depends on how high your total anticipated veterinary expenses are. It is also important to note that the premiums you pay vary broadly between insurance providers. Make sure to compare cat insurance offers.

To help you find out if getting pet insurance can save you money, moneyland.ch developed a practical pet insurance calculator. This calculator shows you the real cost of insurance.

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