SA pet veterinary insurance major growth in first year

A turbulent year economically, 2008 has seen many pet-owners in South Africa sign their pets up for medical aid to avoid suffering the financial repercussions of an emergency visit to the vet. This trend can be attributed to both economic circumstances, as well as pet-owners becoming more conscious of good pet-care. Medipet South Africa has seen unprecedented growth in its first year due to its straight-forward and affordable pet medical cover.

Rising living costs as well as the fact that many South Africans are choosing to educate themselves about good animal-care, are two reasons Richard Neville of Medipet SA gives for the company's membership increase in the last six months. "We have seen a steady increase in the number of people joining. From about 71 people signing up per month, we have now got to the point where we see 10 or 12 people joining each day," Neville illustrates.

Pets have always been seen as companions, yet it is often the case that their welfare is the last to be considered when finances are low. As Neville argues, "It's not unusual to have medical aid for our families, yet our pets often suffer when they are ill, even if we consider them a part of the family."

People tend not to budget for medical pet care so that when our pets do fall sick, we are often unable to ensure that they receive the proper medical attention. Knowing that expenses are taken care of through a medical aid, pet owners won't need to think twice before taking their pets to the vet.

Louise Beevers, part-owner of Medipet SA, is herself a veterinary nurse and has helped to develop what is now a comprehensive policy that genuinely covers all major accidents and illnesses that your pet could suffer from. "The aim has been to keep the policy simple and practical. For example, we try to ensure that your pet is covered even if a special type of treatment (hydrotherapy, acupuncture, physiotherapy) is recommended by your vet to help your pet to a full recovery," explains Beevers.

According to a survey done by Mintel, one in two pet owners had to make an unexpected trip to the vet in the past two years. Emergency care for a pet can cost thousands, yet worrying about the financial repercussions of caring properly for a pet should not be the first thing that comes to mind when medical attention is required. "People are realising that there is value in having medical aid for pets not only because it makes sense financially, but also because it brings peace of mind knowing that your furry companion is looked after properly," Beevers finishes.