Choosing between some of the best Pet Insurance suppliers in South Africa

Since ancient times and even as you read this sentence, humans have worshipped, adored, cared for and revered our pets. They are an essential part of millions of South Africans’ lives. No matter what you do, who you are or what sort of day you’ve had, pets are absolutely delighted to see us, and despite popular belief, cats are fairly pleased too. They are part of the family, and if they get sick or injured, we will try to do anything in our power to help them. That’s where Pet Insurance comes in.

What is Pet Insurance and what does it cover?

Despite walkies, treats, pampering, brushing, occasionally putting sweaters on them and sharing a secret language, we also need to take care of the veterinary bills whenever our fur babies need to get medical attention or go for their check-ups. Pet Insurance helps pay for those vet costs when your pet gets injured or sick. We always want the best care for them, and that is becoming increasingly costly, so think of Pet Insurance as a Medical Aid for our faithful furry companions. It generally covers:

• Accident cover, for injuries and emergencies for the more adventurous types

• Illness cover, for infections, ongoing conditions, and disease-related treatment (depending on the plan)

• Some even include routine care, annual vaccinations and vet check-ups.

Accident-only cover is cheaper but can disappoint when the issue is illness-related, which is increasingly common as pets get older. Many insurers limit new illness cover to pets below a certain age; check each insurer’s entry age and waiting period rules.

What does Pet Insurance not cover?

Being a pet parent takes a lot of care and responsibility, so there are some specified conditions that are not covered*:

Common exclusions often include…

• Pregnancy and delivery of puppies.

• Grooming.

• Behavioural problems.

• Procedures classified as not mandatory, such as dew claw removal or skin fold resection.

• Hereditary illnesses such as hip dysplasia, elbow dysplasia, or entropion. (Some comprehensive plans may include these.*)

• Preventable diseases such as flu or worms.

• Dental procedures such as removing rotten teeth and gingivitis.

• Pre-existing conditions that showed clinical signs before insurance was taken out.

• Standard food.

• Tick paralysis.

* Exclusions vary by insurer/plan; always check policy wording, waiting periods, and sub-limits.

Why get Pet Insurance?

With the rising cost of taking care of your pets’ vet bills, we think Pet Insurance has become a necessity for Mzansi animal lovers, and just like considering Medical Aid for you and your family, there are a number of factors to consider.

• Vet consultation fees

• Medication and treatment costs

• Diagnostics cost like as blood tests

• Unexpected surgery

• Overnight stays

• General upkeep like deworming, annual vaccinations, etc.

Consider annual limits and sub-limits

Where applicable, there may be an overall annual limit to how much vet care your pet can get in terms of cost.

Sub-limits may also apply for the following:

• Diagnostics

• Hospitalisation

• Chronic medication

• Dental care.

As with any policy, when considering insurance, read the fine print to understand exactly what they are covered for. While they might not enjoy going to an animal hospital, they would thank you if they knew they were getting the best available treatment without putting you out of pocket.

Pet Insurance excess

In South Africa, this is the amount you pay out-of-pocket per claim, typically ranging from 10% to 25% of the total cost or a fixed fee (e.g. R150–R500). Common structures include lower excesses for accidents (approx. 15%) and higher for illnesses/hospitalisation (25%). Many insurers offer optional "zero excess" add-ons for a higher monthly premium.

Pet Insurance is not just for dogs and cats

If you have more exotic or equestrian tastes when it comes to pets, these are also covered by Pet Insurance and will affect the premium based on a number of specific criteria (including, of course, exactly what species of pet you want to insure).

Claims process and payout timelines

Check:

• Which documents are required

• Whether pre-authorisation is needed for surgery or hospital stays

• Whether payouts are based on “reasonable and customary” fees

Have a clear idea of how to contact your insurer in the event of an emergency to sort out payment.

How much can Pet Insurance cost?

Below is a list of Hippo partners that offer Pet Insurance and the starting premium amount listed by each provider on their website – at the time of writing (March 2026)

*Premiums vary by pet profile, plan, underwriting and location. See insurer T&Cs.

Compare competitive Pet Insurance quotes with Hippo

Whether it’s a bird, bunny, rodent, reptile, dog, cat or horse, Hippo it first so you can find better. Whether it’s better cover, a better price, or just better suited to your lifestyle, you can find it on hippo.co.za and compare Pet Insurance quotes in just a couple of clicks and a few minutes.