Occident adds a televet service to its pet insurance

"The insurer now offers free clinical care with a vet via video consultation, in addition to a new comprehensive online and telephone advisory service to facilitate pets' care and wellbeing."

Pet care is playing an increasingly important role in Spanish households. Currently, it is estimated that there are 15.9 million dogs and cats in Spain (ANFAC), which means that almost half of all households live with a pet.

In this context, Occident has incorporated a new televet service into its pet insurance, which allows insured parties to quickly and conveniently access professional veterinary advice without having to travel. With this addition, the insurer strengthens its value proposition with an innovative and free solution that expands the services associated with the insurance and facilitates access to professional guidance for the animals' care and wellbeing.

The new service, available to both new customers and existing insured parties, allows consultations to be carried out via telephone, internet or video consultation, offering professional guidance on the pets' health, wellbeing and daily care.

The televet service is structured into three levels of care, designed to respond to different needs. On the one hand, the service incorporates video consultation with prior appointment, in which a vet can assess symptoms, provide guidance on possible diseases or recommend preventive and therapeutic measures, avoiding unnecessary trips to a clinic.

Video consultations are managed through the website mascotas.occident.com, where the insured party can register and book an appointment through an online calendar, and are available from Monday to Friday, from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., except national holidays.

It also offers general veterinary guidance, which allows common questions about the animal's health and wellbeing to be resolved, including aspects related to feeding, behaviour, vaccination schedule or preventive recommendations.

Finally, it includes a comprehensive advice service aimed at facilitating the coexistence and daily management of pets. It incorporates information on pet-friendly hotels, searches for specialised services such as trainers, groomers or home caregivers, as well as guidance in case of loss of the animal or on travelling with pets.

In the words of Occident's Director of Personal Insurance, Sergio López, 'with this addition, we are strengthening our Pet Insurance with a service that facilitates access to professional veterinary advice for insured parties in a convenient, agile and friendly way, to support them in the care and wellbeing of their animals.'

Animal welfare regulations drive demand for protection

The entry into force of Law 7/2023, on the protection of the rights and wellbeing of animals, has reinforced the role of insurance in responsible pet ownership. The law, though official regulations are still under development, states that dog owners must take out and maintain valid civil liability insurance for damages to third parties for the entire life of the animal.

In this regard, the Mascotas de Occident insurance combines insurance coverage and services designed for the daily care of animals, such as a wide veterinary network, reimbursement of veterinary care expenses, and civil liability coverage. The addition of the new televet service reinforces this approach by facilitating access to professional veterinary guidance in a convenient, agile way and without the need to travel.