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. 

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. 

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. 

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

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

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

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

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.