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To be insured, the cat must be identified either by transponder (microchip) or by tattoo. Generally, companies also require that he be up to date with his vaccinations. Some even impose an age limit.
With regard to the exclusions applied for cats, insurers are unanimous in:
Out-of-date vaccination against rabies, typhus, coryza and leukosis,
The AIDS virus.
So we start by consulting his veterinarian to update the animal's health situation.
Comparison criteria to take into account before purchasing cat health insurance
When choosing an insurance that will take care of the health of his cat at a lower cost, it is strongly recommended to compare several offers from different mutuals. It is certainly not always easy to find your way around. Between the different formulas, contracts with or without waiting period and deductible, exclusions, age limits and prices (very variable), looking for good health insurance for your cat requires a lot of attention from the owner. of the animal.
The criteria to be scrutinized are as follows.
The tariff
The cost of the health insurance policy for a cat varies according to the formula chosen and therefore the extent of the guarantees, the age of the cat, its breed too because some are more predisposed than others to serious pathologies. These breeds are therefore likely to cost more in terms of care. The price is certainly a factor of comparison that counts, but it should not be the only criterion of choice.
Choosing the cheapest insurance exposes you to the risk of being reimbursed for only 50% of the expenses incurred. Entry-level contracts often have countless exclusions and are subject to a substantial deductible or a relatively long waiting period. As for their reimbursement ceiling, it is necessarily much lower than that of a Comfort or Optimal contract.
Age limit
The majority of insurers agree to insure a cat from the age of 3 months. On the other hand, some of them set an age limit beyond which they no longer grant subscription, generally between 8 and 10 years. However, some mutual insurance companies are much less attractive since they cover senior cats and very old cats.
It is an important selection criterion because it allows the owner of an old cat to be reimbursed, at least in part, for heavy surgical procedures or even for palliative care allowing to soften the end of life of the small feline. . For less than € 20 per month, this cat insurance without age limit therefore covers the most expensive acts.
The exclusions
The contracts are annexed to a more or less substantial list of exclusions. You really need to read it before committing to verify that your cat is not targeted by one or more of them. They may relate to the most expensive veterinary procedures, certain recurrent diseases in cats, burial or cremation and many others. It is recommended to choose an insurer that limits the number of exclusions to be the best reimbursed possible.
Franchise
This is an amount remaining payable by the owner of the animal after reimbursement of expenses incurred. To benefit from a good coverage of veterinary costs, it makes sense to opt for a contract with a low deductible, or better still for a contract without deductible.
The waiting period
The period during which the insurance company does not reimburse any expenses related to illness or accident is called the waiting period. This period during which the contract is therefore not yet active varies from professional to professional, between two days and nine months. The insurer thus wishes to verify that the animal to be covered is in good health at the time of subscription.
It is easy to understand why it is highly preferable to choose a cat health insurance contract without waiting period. In the event of a problem, the master can be reimbursed for treatment upon subscription.
The reimbursement ceiling
It is recommended to opt for a fairly high reimbursement ceiling so that the cat can benefit from better care without this suffocating the budget of its owner. With a high-end contract, the reimbursement ceiling is around € 2,000 per year, while it is often less than € 700 for a basic contract.
The health certificate
Generally, before taking out a contract, the owner must produce a health certificate drawn up by a veterinarian or an attestation of honor certifying the good health of his cat to the insurer. In this case, he must complete a health questionnaire and attach it to his subscription request. This results in a reduction of the elimination period, or even its cancellation.
How to take out a cat insurance contract