Always check what pet insurance does not cover

Vaccinations, spays, neuterings and veterinary consultations are usually not reimbursed. “At Belfius Direct, there is an exemption of €150 per claim. Routine veterinary visits rarely cost more, so insurance does not intervene,” said Belfius spokesperson Ulrike Pommée.

Vaccinations usually cost around €50 and are reimbursed only by Santévet. Three formulas from Belfius Direct, which have the widest coverage, cost €332.79 per year for dogs and €208 for cats, but do not include vaccinations, deworming and treatment for external parasites. PetExpert, which works with KBC Insurance, considers vaccinations part of prevention. Each pet owner needs to cover these costs themselves,” said a KBC spokesperson.

Spaying or neutering a cat or dog is not usually covered by insurance. Spaying a dog usually costs between €100 and €150, depending on the dog’s weight. Spaying a cat usually costs between €150 and €250.

But even when it comes to unexpected high costs, there are exceptions: veterinary visits outside of normal business hours and treatment of chronic conditions may result in additional costs that are not reimbursed. “For pets with chronic conditions, insurance often only reimburses for the initial diagnosis and initial treatment. Sometimes in these cases, no treatment costs are reimbursed at all,” said Laura Clays, a spokeswoman for Test Aankoop.

There are also reimbursement caps. Belfius Direct caps treatment costs per illness or accident at €1,500 per year in the so-called bronze package, €2,500 in the silver package and no cap in the gold package.

“In the long run, it might be more beneficial financially if you set aside 20 to 70 euros a month for vaccinations and unexpected expenses,” Kleis said.

Some policies not only cover medical expenses, but also provide compensation in the event of theft or loss. If your cat or dog goes missing, the cost of printing leaflets or posters (usually amounting to tens of euros) can also be covered by insurance.

Most pet insurance policies only cover dogs and cats. Figo Pet is the only company that also offers insurance for rabbits and parrots.

Other pets are usually covered by home insurance. These pets include not only cats and dogs, but also poultry and small livestock, such as sheep, goats, and ponies. Horses and wild animals, such as ferrets and spiders, are usually excluded from home insurance coverage.

Damage caused by your pet is covered by home insurance, which not only covers everyone under your roof, but also your pet. You don’t have to do anything extra for this. This covers all pets living in the same house as the policyholder.

Dog insurance typically costs between €20 and €70 per month, while cat insurance ranges from €10 to €25 per month. Policies from PetExpert, Santévet, Figo Pet and Belfius Direct all offer three formulations, depending on price.

The cost of insurance depends mainly on the age and breed of the animal. The older your pet is, the more expensive the insurance will be. “Premiums increase by about 5% each year as medical costs increase for older dogs,” says Pommée. If you choose 90% coverage for your one-year-old dog at Figo Pet, it will cost €54.58 per month. When the dog is six years old, the premium increases to €77.43 per month. For a six-year-old cat, the premium is €41.20 per month. But if your cat is only one year old, it’s €30.68 per month.

Some breeds are more susceptible to illness and may need medical care more frequently, resulting in higher premiums. At Figo Pet, for example, monthly premiums range from €45.33 for a Maltese to €68 for a Pug, which often has breathing problems.

At PetExpert, premium insurance for a one-year-old Labrador costs €30 per month, while PetExpert Plus policies start at €35 per month and offer more extensive coverage. The most comprehensive policy costs €40 per month. This policy provides up to €3,600 of cover and also covers theft, loss and death of your pet.

Pet insurance has a waiting period, which means that an accident or illness will only be covered after a certain period. At PetExpert, the waiting period for injuries is 3 days and for illnesses it is 30 days. Orthopedic surgeries, with the exception of broken bones, have a six-month waiting period. Only after that period will coverage take effect.

Cats must be eight years old or younger at the time of purchasing insurance, and dogs must be five or seven years old, depending on the breed.