As much as we all want our cats to be super-heroes who won’t get sick and won’t be involved in any accidents or emergencies, we can’t always control what happens.
Anticipating the future of your cat is not possible. Even if you provide them the greatest care, some surprises can catch you off-guard, sometimes leading you to decisions that you would never want to make.
Just like us, your cat’s life too comes with uncertainties, and it is your job to give them a fighting chance to thrive and live with the best quality of life possible.
So, is pet insurance necessary and worth it in Malaysia? Yes, you can actually buy a pet insurance for your cats in Malaysia. Let’s take a look!
Pet Insurance: The Basics
Pet insurance can be you and your cat’s saving grace in terms of covering the cost of medical care of your cat.
There are instances when your pet insurance becomes the lifeline of your furry family member considering the skyrocketing medical bills. Depending on your pet insurance policy, you can be reimbursed for your expenses for emergency care, surgery, cancer treatment, and prescription medications.
Pet insurance not only extends the life of your cat by enabling you to provide them with immediate medical attention but also protects your budget from unexpected costs.
The Cost of Pet Insurance
According to the Oyen - a digital pet healthcare insurance provider for pet dogs and cats in Malaysia, the average yearly cost for pet insurance starts from RM299 and enjoy up to RM8,000 in medical coverage annually for cats.
The price of the insurance premiums is dynamic, and some of the factors that affect this are your cat’s age, breed, approximate cost of veterinary care where you live, and certain inclusions you want in the insurance policy.
Additionally, pet insurance costs go up as your cat gets older, which is expected because they will be more prone to illnesses as they reach their senior years.
And due to the increasing costs of pet insurance, canceling it often becomes your only option. But this will cancel your cat’s entire coverage — a huge risk because you won’t know when your cat will need the insurance support.
Pet Insurance Coverage
The pet insurance coverage varies depending on the type of insurance you avail of. But bear in mind that pet insurance is intended to cover unexpected expenses, and hence, routine costs are not covered.
Here are some of the factors covered in pet insurance that includes illnesses and accidents:
- New illnesses or injuries
- Emergencies related to accidents like bite wounds, broken bones, cuts, and torn ligaments.
- Treatments necessary in case of accidents such as x-rays, ultrasounds, sutures, bloodwork, hospitalization, surgery, and medications.
- Reimbursement of costs for major illnesses like FIV, cancer, diabetes, ear infections, heart diseases, parvovirus and more. You may check out the complete coverage list HERE.
It will not cover vaccinations, spay or neuter surgery, teeth cleaning, and annual checkups. Most importantly, pet insurance will not cover any pre-existing medical conditions of your cat.
The Verdict
Pet insurance is a necessary investment if you want the peace of mind of knowing that you can provide immediate medical attention especially multi-cats household or certain breeds which are prone to diseases without being too stressed about the costs. Pet insurance ensures that your cat receives the best possible care without you having to face grim financial risks. Otherwise, it's a good idea to set aside an emergency fund for your cats.