The benefits of 5 weeks free insurance to you and your clients
Reassurance
Former BVA president and partner in an independent practice, Robin Hargreaves MRCVS says, “There’s really no downside to your clients taking out 5 weeks free insurance. Strangely some people are anxious about doing that. But we need to reassure them: there’s no commitment, this is a genuine service, it’s 5 weeks free, it will stop at the end of the period, no bank details are required, nobody loses.”
Experience
From the vets’ perspective, the initial period where the puppy or kitten joins the family is quite a vulnerable time. Puppies do get dropped by children; they jump off furniture; they eat something they really shouldn’t. Doing the first health check, or vaccinations, is the perfect opportunity to offer new owners free, quick and easy cover when, perhaps, welcoming a new pet to their family means this is the last thing on their minds. Vets have the benefit of experience and will want to bring this valuable service to their clients’ attention. It’s not good for anyone if a pet needs treatment, the medical care is there but the funds are not.
Avoiding exclusion
However, long term conditions can also make themselves known when an animal is still young. For example, a puppy between 8 and 18 months old may develop a “sticky ear” which could be the beginning of a lifetime of quite serious allergic skin disease. If that happens in the gap between 5 weeks free insurance and taking out a lifetime policy, that dog’s condition may never be covered for the rest of its life.
Breathing space
For your clients, this might be their first pet, or insurance is something they intend to get around to, but we all know that things have a habit of not waiting for the right moment to happen. “An introduction to 5 weeks free insurance to start with is a no brainer.” Just to get them through the initial period of getting to know each other. They can then make the seamless transition to an Agria Lifetime policy if they choose to take it out.
“We don’t want puppies and dogs and cats to miss out on the opportunity of having great cover. We want to be offering 5 weeks free insurance to every eligible pet we see, that’s healthy, as early as possible. And remember, if somebody, for whatever reason, doesn’t take that insurance out, it’s still available to them until their pet is 18 months of age.”
Robin Hargreaves
Former BVA President
About the Author
Senior Veterinary Advisor at Agria Pet Insurance. In addition to his extensive clinical and industry experience, Robin is passionate about animal welfare and the proven social benefits of pet ownership. He is also a representative of Mind Matters, a Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons initiative developed to improve the mental health and wellbeing of those working in the veterinary sector.
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