Animal health
Swiss do not want health insurance for their dog or cat
According to a survey, almost 91% of pets in our country are not insured.
Some insurances impose age limits in the management of animals.
KEYSTONE
Dogs, cats and other companions occupy A place of choice in the homes of Switzerland. Almost half (43%) of households share his daily life with an animal, including 2 million cats and 500,000 dogs. But few owners choose health insurance for their hair ball, according to the last barometer HelloSafe.
Out of 22 countries, Switzerland is found in 5e Position, with 9% insured domestic animals. If it stays far behind Sweden (91%), it is ahead of countries like France (5%).
Over 1000 fr. per year for insurance
How to understand these figures in a Swiss context? First of all, holding an animal costs. According to Hellosafe, for a cat, the annual bill is 1000 to 1,500 francs per year and it takes approximately 1000 francs more for a dog. These expenses include food, care and veterinary visits.
But in the event of a glitch, the addition quickly becomes salty: surgery varies between 1000 and 3000 francs, a diagnosis between 200 and 800 francs, and an emergency can exceed 2,000 francs. However, despite these sums, few Swiss turn to health insurance for their animal.
A fuzzy and expensive insurance offer
According to Hellosafe, the first obstacle to an insurance subscription remains the cost. There is also another barrier: the lack of clarity. Already in 2021, The French Consumer Federation (FRC) Pointed out the difficulty in finding a jungle of tenders and conditions.
It must be said that the pet insurance market is difficult to decipher. On the one hand, specialized insurers like Epona or Wau-Miau offer products exclusively intended for dogs and cats. On the other, the major traditional companies have invested this niche by integrating specific formulas.
This diversity complicates comparisons, because each contract offers different guarantees. Variable franchises, annual reimbursement ceilings, exclusions of care (in particular dental or behavioral), age criteria or refusal to cover certain pre -existing diseases: these are all specifics specific to each insurer. A bit like each contract had its own rules.
Added to this is a large price range: according to the animal, its race, its age, its state of health or the chosen coverage, the monthly premiums can range from 5 francs to more than 55 francs.
Another unknown difficulty: the first year of life of an animal is often poorly covered, if not at all. Between vaccines, control visits and antiparasitic treatments, veterinary costs accumulate quickly. HIC: many insurances refuse to reimburse this care deemed “preventive” or “non -urgent”. Some contracts even exclude animals under a year.
For owners, taking out insurance is therefore not enough. We must also understand what is covered and what is not, while inquire about the health problems specific to certain breeds of dogs or cats.
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