How to buy pet insurance

english.shanghai.gov.cn

A visit to the veterinarian can become quite expensive and buying pet insurance has become a popular way to reduce costs.  

China's multifunctional app AliPay offers pet insurance to protect your furry friend’s health. Here is a guide to how to buy a pet insurance policy.

 

Search "pet insurance" (宠物保险) on the Alipay app. 

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There are two types of insurance: medical insurance and liability insurance. Medical insurance is for veterinary services, while liability insurance covers the damage caused by your dog or cat if it injures someone. 

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This works like your health insurance — the lower the deductible, the higher your premium. For instance, the pet medical insurance has three plans: the basic version covers up to 5,000 yuan ($695) in medical fees per year; the upgraded version has a limit of 15,000 yuan per year; and the luxury plan covers up to 30,000 yuan per year. Usually, a higher proportion of medical fees can be disbursed for treatment at designated pet clinics. 

 

Note: You can turn on the Alipay app’s translation service in “Settings” – “General” – “Translation Tool”.

 

After selecting an insurance package, complete your pet’s profile, including species, name, birth date and gender. 

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Then upload profile photos of your pet and choose its breed. Confirm the information and proceed.

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Go through the disclaimer page and select a payment method – one-off or installment. Then make the payment. 

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Now you can check the details of your policy or file a claim in “My Policy” (我的保单). 

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Insurance packages usually require a waiting period before benefits kick in to prevent pet owners from purchasing policies after their pets get sick. The waiting periods vary, from 10 days for accident coverage, to 3 days for common diseases, and 90 days for more serious problems like cancer and oral disorders. 

 

Source: City News Service

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