Pet Insurance
Hong Kong
​​​​​
Anyone considering Pet Insurance for a newly adopted pet, or puppy, here are some factors to consider:
Poodles and small breeds are susceptible to many diseases , however if your pet is covered before the age of 4 years old, then some of these chronic conditions will be covered for the rest of their lives (with certain plans), I will highlight below.
I found that One Degree has been great for Alice (a 7-year old Maltese diagnosed with Mitral Valve Disease), but there are less comprehensive plans for healthier dogs which won't have you as out of pocket as the pricier plans. However would be reassuring to know that you have laboratory costs, xrays, ultrasounds & hopsitalisation costs (the latter of which is incredibly expensive it not covered).
​
24-hour Veterinary Hospitals will expect you to cover the hospitalisation charges upfront, very much so as you would receive a Guarantee of Payment (GOP) from your own insurance provider, at least with Pet Insurance, you will have that peace of mind and know what is going to be covered before you visit the hospital. To have a plan that covers hopsitalisation stays will really save a lot of expense. Unfortunately not all my animals are covered under insurance, but having pet insurance for just 3 of my pets has meant huge savings!
​
If your pet becomes suddenly ill and needs to be hospitalised, the only hospital i know that currently accepts payment in installments is CityU Veterinary Medical Centre, offer an installment plan and this needs to be approved by your bank, i believe only HSBC, Hang Seng Bank & Bank of China are available and the bill needs to be over HKD 30,000.
​
​​
​
​
​
​
​​​​
Highlights:
-
Your pets age, make sure you get them insured asap and they could be covered the rest of their lives (i.e. One Degree Insurance plan has this - double check as not all insurance companies cover for life). Click on the link for my referral code which offers 32% off the first year's annual insurance premium.
-
If your pet is listed on their High Risk Breeds such as Rottweilers & Pitt Bulls pls check eligibility, this could affect premium costs.
-
It's helpful to have third party insurance, in the event that your dog is likely to get involved in any accidents with other dogs i.e. fights)! If its your dog that injures another dog, you could be asked to cover the vet bills, so make sure you have an insurance plan in place covers third party liability (i.e. Fwd insurance includes third party insurance).
-
If your pet has been covered early on (before the age of 4), if it's an insurance plan like One Degree, they will be covered for Chronic Illnesses for their lifetime (relating to the Pet CEO Plan).
-
If you feel like your current plan's premium goes up too much each year, perhaps consider downgrading your plan? There are many plan options with something for everyone rather than cancel your plan.
-
Some people don't like to use their insurance, but I take a completely different approach, it's there to be used. I use for most visits and the premium hasn't gone up to the point I would consider cancelling. If you think about the cost of one xray, blood tests, ultra sounds etc, an annual premium would in many cases be less than paying for one of these tests.​
​​
Pet Insurance Comparison Table
Hong Kong pet insurance primarily covers dogs and cats, focusing on medical expenses, third-party liability, and additional benefits like funeral costs. Coverage typically includes veterinary consultations, surgeries, hospitalisations, diagnostics (e.g., X-rays, MRIs), medications, and chemotherapy.
​
Most plans have annual limits, co-payments (20-40%), and waiting periods (e.g., 90 days for illnesses). Below is a comparison table of key features from major providers, based on their flagship plans.
The data in the table has been provided by EverBright Actuarial