Definitions & Explanations

We’ve listed and defined some of the insurance terms you’re likely to come across on our website:

Accident, Accidental, Accidentally An unforeseen incident resulting in injury to your pet and cannot be prevented. This includes but is not limited to the following:

Motor Vehicle Accident
Burn or electrocution
Near drowning
Actions of another animal
Swallowed/embedded foreign body needing endoscopic/surgical removal
Allergic reaction to insect bite (not tick or flea); Snake bite
Poisoning
Fractured bone
Traumatic ligament or tendon injury
Puncture, lacerations, abrasions or wounds
Gastric Dilatation and Volvulus (Stomach Torsion)

Acute condition An Illness or injury that is sudden and your pet will recover from 100% without an
additional inciting cause

Age related condition A specific health condition that pets are at higher risk of getting due to what age they are.

Breed related condition A specific health condition that pets are at higher risk of getting due to what breed they are.

Chronic condition A condition that persists for more than 3 months of your pet’s life whether
intermittently or consecutively or needs treatment more than 3 times a policy year. These conditions
will not be covered after this chronic period. unless you have the Yapp Cover extension.

Clinical Pathologist A specialist that assists with the diagnosis of diseases based on the analysis of
samples using chemistry, microbiology, haematology and molecular pathology within a laboratory

Clinical signs Refers to deviations in your pet’s normal healthy state, bodily functions or behaviour.

Commercial purpose Any pet that is not treated as an at-home/companion pet. This includes, but is not limited to the following working purposes: police/guard/security work, customs, quarantine, racing, betting, research, commercial breeding, leased/rented out.

Congenital condition A condition present from birth of the pet due to a development problem during gestation.

Elective & Cosmetic Procedure A procedure that your veterinarian deems unnecessary and is for the owner’s preference as opposed to the pet’s health.

Excess The amount the policy holder will have to pay towards the total claimable amount of a finalised claim. The excess will vary depending on which Plan or Extension your claim falls under. You might have more than one excess to apply if your claim falls under both the Kido Best Plan and Yapp Cover Extension. The excess is included in the Annual Limit / Sublimit.

Geriatric/Senior Pets that are aged 9 years and older.

Growth Any form of cancer, benign or malignant, on or within the body, or a condition that resembles a growth eg. Intradermal cyst, skin tag etc.

Hereditary condition Refers to a condition that is passed down to a pet from their parents and can show clinical signs at any time during that pet’s life.

Illness Any change to your pet’s normal healthy state resulting in them becoming sick or diseased and diagnosed by a veterinarian.

Incident The event involving your pet that you can claim for.

Inpatient Your pet is admitted to hospital while they receive diagnostics and/or treatment, food and hospitalisation overnight.

Insured Refers to the policy holder and person responsible for the pet/s listed on the Policy.

Maximum sublimit per claim Maximum amount paid out per claim including the excess.

Musculoskeletal condition Any condition involving the musculoskeletal system including that of the bones, muscles, ligaments, tendons and joints e.g. Osteoarthritis, Cruciate Ligament tear or rupture, luxating patellar, spinal conditions.

Non-endemic disease A disease that is known to not occur in a certain area.

Outpatient Your pet receives diagnostics and/or treatment, but is not admitted to hospital for overnight stay.

Over the counter medication Medication that you can buy from any retail outlet or your Veterinarian
without your pet having to see the Veterinarian or charged a consultation/prescription fee.

Pandemic disease A new disease that has never existed before or is new to a certain area that causes widespread illness to dogs and / or cats.

Pet Refers to your dog or cat listed and covered on your policy.

Policy year A 12 month period from the day the Policy incepts until renewal 1 year later. Renewal will default to the 1^st of the month your policy incepted.

Pre-anaesthetic bloods Blood tests done to determine if any unknown health risks need to be addressed before and/or while an anaesthetic is performed on your pet.

Pre-existing condition A condition, illness or injury that effected your pet before the inception of your policy or within the waiting period. This includes congenital, genetic and hereditary conditions.

Puppy Socialisation Classes for puppies under the age of 4 months and run by experienced dog trainers. Puppies are taught appropriate social skills with other people and dogs, and fundamental obedience exercises.

Physiotherapy This includes, but is not limited to, treatment of a pet using hydrotherapy, electrotherapy, manual therapy, therapeutic exercise, land treadmill, acupuncture, gold bead implants, flotation devices, life jackets, carts, harnesses, orthotics and prosthetics.

Premium Party Pack For a 10% discount on your monthly premium the excess to apply will be a flat
R1 000 OR for a 20% discount on your monthly premium the excess to apply will be a flat R2 000. With
your bigger claims you will end up saving on your excess too in comparison to having just the Basic
Excess with no Party Pack. There is a three (3) month notice period when opting in or out of this.

Risk address Your home where you and your pets reside the majority of the year in South Africa

Routine care & Preventative treatment Any treatment or procedure that would involve the daily upkeep and living expenses of your pet. These expenses you as a responsible owner should be aware of when taking a pet into your home and includes annual check-ups, vaccinations, puppy socialisation, sterilisation, anal gland expression, nail clipping, ear cleaning, dentals unrelated to an Accident, external and internal parasite treatment & prevention, grooming, over the counter medication, food and supplements.

Sublimit A maximum amount allocated towards a claim or part thereof, within the annual policy limit.

Total annual limit per pet The maximum amount paid out per policy year per pet covered on your policy. This amount includes the excess.

Total annual limit per policy Refers to the maximum amount that will be paid out per policy year for your policy. This amount includes the excess.

Treatment Refers to any care given to or procedure performed on your pet at a veterinary practice.

Vet fees Refers to the reasonable costs charged to a pet owner for the treatment of their pet by a veterinarian. Fees deemed excessive will be re-evaluated at the reasonable fee charged by your average veterinarian for that condition.

Vet, Veterinarian A doctor qualified in the treatment of dogs and cats and registered with the South African Veterinary Council as a veterinarian.

Vet practice A veterinary practice, hospital, clinic, surgery or centre that you take your pet to be treated by a qualified veterinarian and is registered with the South African Veterinary Council.

Vet Whizz Fee For speedier claim settlements, you have the expertise of an in-house qualified
Veterinarian managing your claims. This will cost an additional R11.50 per month per plan.

Waiting period The period between policy inception, the addition of a new pet, or the addition of an optional Extension, and the date from which you can first lodge a claim. Any condition that manifests within the waiting periods will be excluded from cover as these will now be deemed as pre-existing, unless you have the Yapp Cover Extension.

We, our, us Refers to Mutual and Federal Risk Financing Limited, the Insurers.

You, your, yours Refers to the insured or policyholder.