We do not have pet insurance for Apple, Captain and Kimchi. This is a considered decision that we revisit annually. The starting point: a serious vet bill in India can be Rs.25,000–80,000. Annual pet insurance premiums start at approximately Rs.2,500 for a basic policy and reach Rs.8,000–12,000 for comprehensive coverage. If you have one serious illness event every three to five years, insurance pays for itself.

What Indian Pet Insurance Typically Covers

  • Accidents and injuries
  • Illness hospitalisation - tick fever, parvovirus, leptospirosis
  • Diagnostic tests - blood work, X-rays, ultrasounds
  • Surgery - emergency and elective surgery for covered conditions
  • Third-party liability (some policies only)

What Is Almost Never Covered

  • Pre-existing conditions - most common rejection reason
  • Routine preventive care - vaccinations, deworming, flea/tick prevention
  • Dental cleaning
  • Congenital and hereditary conditions
  • Waiting period conditions - most policies have a 30–60 day waiting period
  • Older dogs - most policies do not cover dogs above 7–8 years

Providers in India (2025)

  • New India Assurance
  • United India Insurance
  • Bajaj Allianz
  • Digit Insurance
  • Tata AIG

Compare on Policybazaar's pet insurance section.

Key Questions to Ask Before Buying

  1. Which vets are in the network?
  2. What is the waiting period?
  3. Is there a per-incident or annual deductible?
  4. What is the sub-limit for specific conditions?
  5. Does the policy cover tick-borne diseases specifically?

Why We Do Not Have Insurance (And Why You Might Want To)

You should probably buy pet insurance if: a Rs.40,000+ emergency vet bill would create financial strain; you have a puppy under 2 years; you travel frequently to tick-endemic areas; your breed has known genetic health risks; you do not currently have an emergency fund for vet bills.

Related: Tick fever guide | Vaccination schedule | Finding a good vet India

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