What is pet insurance in India, and what does this policy cover?
Pet insurance in India is a policy that covers the medical treatment of your dog or cat when they fall ill, get injured, or need surgery. It also covers scenarios beyond healthcare, third-party liability if your pet causes injury or damage, financial support if your pet is lost or stolen, and a mortality benefit in case of death.Â
Bajaj General Insurance was the first company to offer pet insurance in India. Their policy is flexible, so you can pick the coverage options that best fit your pet’s needs.
Why Is Pet Insurance Becoming Essential in Indian Households?
India now has over 42 million pets, and the number is rising quickly, especially in cities. Vet bills have become much higher. For example, fixing a broken bone in a medium-sized dog can cost ₹40,000 to ₹80,000. Surgery for an intestinal blockage can be more than ₹50,000. Treating a tick-borne illness can cost ₹10,000–₹20,000 in tests and medicines across several vet visits.
Less than 1% of pets in India have insurance. Many pet owners don’t know about pet insurance, or they only see its value when they face a large, unexpected vet bill.
Bajaj General Insurance introduced pet insurance to India. Their policy now lets you choose the protections that matter most to you, such as surgery costs, third-party liability, or pet theft.
What Is Pet Insurance?
Pet insurance is an agreement where you pay a yearly fee, and the insurer helps cover certain vet bills and other pet-related costs during that year.
Pet insurance in India usually works as an indemnity policy, meaning the insurer reimburses you or the vet for approved expenses up to the coverage limit. It doesn’t cover routine or preventive care, but it helps with high, unexpected costs from accidents, illness, or emergencies. Coverage is available for:
Dogs aged 3 months to 10 years (indigenous, cross-bred, and exotic breeds, all except those banned by the Government of India)
Cats aged 3 months to 7 years
You can include more than one pet under the same policy.
What Does Pet Insurance Cover in India?
Bajaj General Insurance’s pet policy has one required base cover and several optional add-ons. Each add-on covers a different risk, and you can choose the ones that suit your pet best.
Section 1: Surgery and Hospitalisation (Mandatory Base Cover)
This is the main coverage included in every best pet insurance coverage; it covers the cost of surgery at a vet clinic or hospital if your pet needs an operation due to an accident or illness. It covers:
Surgery costs and surgeon fees
Anaesthesia
Post-operative care
Prescribed drugs during and immediately after surgery
Reasonable and customary inpatient treatment charges for illness or accidental injury requiring overnight veterinary stay
Bajaj General’s pet policy pays up to ₹2,500 per day for hospital stays, with a yearly limit of ₹10,000 for inpatient care. Surgery costs vary depending on the procedure.
Section 2: Outpatient (OPD) Cover
This optional cover pays up to ₹30,000 for outpatient treatment if your pet is sick but doesn’t need to stay overnight at the hospital. It’s useful for situations like:
Fever and infections
Gastrointestinal issues
Skin conditions
Ear infections
Diagnostic tests and prescribed medications
There is a 10% deductible for each claim in this section, with at least ₹1,000 payable by you. This cover is not available for giant breeds over 4 years old or other breeds over 7 years old, unless you renew it every year.
Section 3: Mortality Benefit Cover
This optional cover pays a lump sum if your pet dies because of an accident, illness, or humane euthanasia certified by a vet. You can choose either ₹5 lakh or ₹10 lakh coverage when you buy the policy.
This section is age-restricted and not available for giant breeds over 4 years, other dog breeds over 7 years, or cats over 8 years unless continuously renewed.
Section 4: Terminal Disease Cover
This optional cover pays ₹30,000 if your pet is diagnosed with a listed terminal illness during the policy period, provided your pet lives for at least 30 days after the diagnosis. The covered illnesses depend on the type of pet and include certain chronic and end-stage diseases.
A 30-day waiting period applies from the policy start date.
Section 5: Long-Term Care Cover
This cover pays ₹25,000 if your pet is diagnosed with a listed illness requiring ongoing veterinary care. It covers chronic conditions, not terminal ones. Examples include hip dysplasia, hypothyroidism, and chronic kidney disease.
Section 6: Theft, Lost, or Straying Cover
Provides financial support if your pet is stolen, lost, or goes missing. It covers recovery assistance costs (requires a General Search). There is a 90-day waiting period from the start of the policy. Legal liability if your dog causes injury, death, or property damage to a third party. Includes both the compensation payable and legal defence costs. No waiting period applies to this section.
This is particularly relevant given India's rising dog bite statistics. This cover is especially important because dog bite cases are rising in India, with some districts seeing over 50 incidents a day. For pet owners living in apartments with shared spaces, this protection helps guard against a risk that many people overlook. It’s just as important to know what isn’t covered as what is. Common things not covered by pet insurance in India include: conditions at the time of policy purchase
Cosmetic or elective procedures (tail docking, ear cropping, declawing)
Pregnancy, whelping, and birth-related surgeries
Dental treatment not caused by accidental injury
Costs related to voluntary euthanasia unless medically certified
Damage caused by pets used for prohibited hazardous activities
Cataract surgery for giant breeds over 5 years or other breeds over 7 years (unless renewed continuously)
Behavioural issues and training-related costs
An important caveat that catches many pet parents unaware: Bajaj General's policy will not cover claims for diseases preventable by vaccinations that were not given. Keeping your pet's vaccination schedule current is not just responsible care; it is a policy prerequisite.
How to File a Pet Insurance Claim?
For all illness-related claims, you must notify Bajaj General within 24 hours of the incident. Most claims are settled within 15 days after you submit all required documents. But core requirements include:
Duly filled and signed claim form
Veterinary medical papers and bills
Discharge summary (for hospitalisation claims)
Diagnostic reports (for terminal disease, long-term care, and OPD claims)
Death certificate with photographs of the deceased pet (for mortality claims)
General Diary Entry from the nearest police station (for theft, lost, or straying claims)
Proof of advertising and search efforts (for theft, lost, or straying claims)
Police reports and legal notices (for third-party liability claims)
Claims can be registered through the Bajaj General app, chatbot, QR code scan, or by calling the toll-free number. The app offers real-time claim status tracking.
Conclusion
Pet insurance in India covers your dog or cat’s medical treatment if they get hurt or sick, and also covers death, theft, serious illness, long-term care, and third-party liability.Â
Bajaj General Insurance has the most established pet insurance policy in India, and you can customise it to fit your pet’s age, breed, and needs. For cat owners and family members, ensuring that a veterinary emergency does not turn into a financial one means pet insurance is no longer optional. It is the responsible next step after adopting a pet.









