PAWS GUARD Policy Wording

Section 1 - Veterinary Fees

What is insured?

This section of Your Policy covers Treatment carried out by a Vet for treating an Illness or Accidental Injury suffered by Your pet whilst insured with Us.

This section also includes cover for Complementary Treatment as recommended by Your Vet while Your pet remains insured with Us.

Please note all claims and vet invoices must be submitted in a timely manner and always within 90 days of any Treatment or claim occurring.

What is not insured?

  • For PAWS GUARD Products, any amount greater than the Benefit Limit per Condition as shown in Your Schedule;
  • Any claims after the Benefit Limit have been exhausted;
  • The Excess as stated in Your Schedule;
  • The Co-Payment of 15%, if applicable and as stated in Your Schedule;
  • Any claim made within, or relating to the applicable Waiting Period;
  • Any claim for Illness or Accidental Injury that relates to a Pre-existing Condition;
  • Any claim for Illness or Accidental Injury that showed Clinical Signs or Symptoms before Your Policy Start Date or within the Waiting Period;
  • Any claims for cruciate ligament that occur within the first 14 days of the Policy Start Date;
  • Any claim for cruciate ligament that showed any Clinical Signs or Symptoms prior to the Policy Start Date;
  • Any Dental and Oral Treatment that is not due to an Accidental Injury, Tumor, Lumps or Critical Illness
  • Any Dental and Oral Treatment relating to cosmetic dentistry, routine cleaning and descaling;
  • Any Dental and Oral Treatment for root canal surgery;
  • Any claim for cosmetic, elective, or routine Treatment or any Treatment which is preventive and not treating an Illness or Accidental Injury, including but not limited to the following:
    • Vaccination;
    • Spaying;
    • Breeding;
    • Pregnancy and giving birth;
    • Castration in any event, even if recommended by Your Vet;
    • The removal of retained testes;
    • Stem cell gene therapy;
    • Immunology therapy;
    • Grooming, bathing, nail clipping, de-matting;
    • Control and elimination of fleas, ticks, skin mites, worms and lung worm;
    • Any claim costs that occur as a result of any the Treatments listed above being carried out by Your Vet or any licensed practitioner;
    • Any claim costs where routine Treatment is carried out as part of a wider Treatment;
    • Any claim costs for not having any of the Treatments listed above carried out if suggested by Your Vet.
    • Any claim costs where the original Treatment has failed & Your Vet is required to repeat the Treatment again or conduct subsequent Treatment to rectify their error.
  • Any Illnesses that Your pet should be vaccinated against or where Your pet has not been dewormed or treated for fleas;
  • Any claim relating to Behavioral Issues. The costs for any diagnosis and investigations into the cause of Behavioral Issues are also excluded;
  • Any costs in excess of $100 and/or greater than 24 hours relating to intravenous infusion for pets younger than 8 unless directly related to treatment that was life-saving for Your pet and Your Vet confirms this to Us;
  • Any costs for food, vitamins or supplements, whether or not prescribed by Your Vet;
  • Any claims resulting from Your pet being medically overweight or underweight and this results in Your pet needing Treatment as a result of not being the recommended medical weight for its age, breed type and sex as recommended by an independent Vet;
  • Any claim if Treatment costs are not supported by an original invoice from Your Vet;
  • Any out of hours Vet Fees, except where this is life saving for Your pet;
  • Any claim where the cost of a referral consultation exceeds $100 and where hospitalization costs exceed $200 per day;
  • Any claim for hospitalization or transportation by ambulance;
  • Any claim for home visits unless Your Vet has confirmed that to move Your pet would endanger Your pet’s life;
  • Any claim for unlicensed medication unless Your Vet can confirm it has been clinically proven to treat the Condition being claimed for;
  • Any claim for housing, cages and bedding;
  • Any claims for buster collars, medical vests, and boots (including warming blankets);
  • Any claim for umbilical hernias, dew claws, ear crops and tail docking, unless it is required as the result of an Accidental Injury;
  • Any costs relating to the cremation, burial or disposal of Your pet’s remains;
  • Any costs relating to charges made by Your Vet to provide or fill out a prescription, completing a claim form, referring Your pet to another veterinary practice, any interpretation fee and any fee for post, packaging and courier fees;
  • Any costs for Treatment incurred after the Policy End Date as shown on Your Schedule;
  • Any costs or claims if Your Policy is cancelled, lapsed or expired or after the End Date;
  • Any claims or costs for medication to be used, and/or Treatment to be completed after the Policy End Date as shown on Your Schedule;
  • Any costs if You do not contact Us with a completed claim form within 90 days of the Treatment
  • Any miscellaneous costs that do not directly relate to the Treatment of an Illness or Accidental Injury, including but not limited to single use items, non-medical items, cleaning supplies and other such costs that a Vet may charge but are not directly related to the actual Treatment of Your Pet;
  • Any claim where You have failed to disclose Your pet’s full medical history; or where Your pet has suffered from a Condition, whether or not Treatment was received; and You failed to disclose this information to Us at inception of Your Policy, and if it had been disclosed to Us, We would have applied an endorsement to Your Policy in respect of that Condition.
  • Any claim or costs relating to an injury or illness caused by another pet from the same household.

 

Section 2 - Third Party Liability

What is insured?

This section of Your Policy provides cover for damages and legal costs where You are found liable in the event Your dog causes death or injury to third parties (excluding Dog Walkers, Vets, Dog Hotels staff, Vet Clinics and Pet Hospitals staff or any other person taking care of your dog as a paid service).

Under this section of cover, We will also pay if someone You have asked, who is not a member of Your Family and You are not paying them, is looking after Your dog when the death, injury or property damage occurs.

The Benefit Limit We will pay under this section is as shown in Your Schedule.

  • $3,000 for Silver Paws Guard
  • $5,000 for Golden Paws Guard
  • $10,000 for Platinum Paws Guard

What is not insured?

  • Any claim if Your pet is not a dog;
  • Any amount greater than the Benefit Limit as shown in Your Schedule;
  • The Excess, as shown in Your Schedule;
  • Any claim made within, or relating to, the Waiting Period;
  • Any claim if the claimant is You, a member of Your Family, household, employee and/ or anyone looking after Your dog with Your permission;
  • Any costs relating to criminal proceedings against You;
  • Any claim where liability has been accepted by You or Your Family without Our involvement or approval unless the liability would exist without that agreement;
  • Any claim where the liability is covered by any other insurance policy;
  • Any claim where a misrepresentation has been made by You at the Start Date of Your Policy and that misrepresentation is relevant to the claim.
  • Any claim where We discover that Your dog has previously shown signs of Aggression and You did not advise Us;
  • Any claim where there has been a change to Your dog’s normal behavior and Your dog has started showing signs of Aggression and You did not advise Us;
  • Any claim where the advice from a breeder, animal rehoming center, Vet or pet behaviorist has not been followed in respect of Your pet;
  • Any claim if the incident happens in a place where dogs are specifically prohibited from being in;
  • Any claim that occurs outside Lebanon;
  • Any claim resulting from illegal activity including but not limited to poaching or dog fighting;
  • Any claims where no legal liability is established;
  • Any claim resulting from Your Pet passing on any disease, infection or virus to another animal or human including, but not limited to, Zoonotic Diseases;
  • Any fines, compensation and prosecution costs following Your prosecution under the provisions of any act.

 Conditions

  • You must notify Us immediately of any claim made against You;
  • You must not admit responsibility, offer, promise, pay or agree to pay any claim, settle or negotiate with any third party following an event that may or may not give rise to a claim without Our written permission; You must inform Us immediately of any impending prosecution, inquest or fatal inquiry or civil proceedings;
  • You must send Us immediately any correspondence and/or documents You receive in relation to an event without replying to it;
  • You agree to assist Us in establishing the circumstances behind an incident and provide Us with written statements, and the details of any witnesses and attend court if required;
  • If Your dog is injured in an attack by another dog, You must supply Us with witness statements and full details of the other pet owners insurance as We may take action against the owner of the other dog on Your behalf if We feel the other dog owner can be proven legally liable;
  • You agree that We can commence legal action to get compensation from any third-party or recover from any third-party any payments that have already been made in Your name;
  • You agree that We can take over and conduct in Your name the defense and/or settlement of any claim under this Policy;
  • You must help Us to take legal action against anyone in relation to Your Policy with Us or help Us defend any legal action in relation to Your Policy with Us should We ask You
  • You must provide Us with full details of any other insurance policy held in Your name or held in connection with Your
  • In the event that there is another insurance policy in force, You must report the incident to that insurance company first and tell Us the name of that insurance company, Your Policy number with that company and the reason for You lodging a claim with that insurance company.
  • We reserve the right to remove this section of cover, Third Party Liability, from Your Policy where We believe cover should be withdrawn. This will not result in a Premium

 

Section 3 - Overseas Holiday Cover - Veterinary Fees

What is insured?

This section provides cover in the event Your pet needs emergency Vet Treatment as a result of an Accidental Injury or Illness that first showed Clinical Signs or Symptoms during Your Holiday, up to the Benefit Limit, as stated in Your Schedule, while You are on Holiday with Your pet.

Claim is settled on refund basis, up to a maximum payable as per Lebanese tariff for the given treatment

This cover applies to a maximum Holiday duration of no more than 30 days and up to a total of 3 Holidays per Period of Insurance.

What is not insured?

  • Any amount greater than the Benefit Limit as shown in Your Schedule;
  • The Excess, as shown in Your Schedule;
  • The Co-Payment of 15%, if applicable and as stated in Your Schedule;
  • The exclusions as listed under the Veterinary Fees section of Your Policy and the General Exclusions section of Your Policy;
  • Any Holiday that exceeds 30 days in total, or more than 3 Holidays during the Period of Insurance;
  • Any costs incurred prior to Your Policy Start Date, or incurred during a Holiday that started before the Policy Start Date;
  • Any cost for Treatment that was in progress prior to Your Holiday;
  • Any costs if the Holiday was booked to specifically seek Treatment for Your pet outside Lebanon;
  • Any costs for putting Your pet to sleep, cremation, disposal or to bring Your pets body home;
  • Any claim or costs in respect of confiscation, detention, requisition, damage, destruction of Your pet, or any costs resulting from any action taken by customs or any government officials or authorities of any country in respect of You or Your pet;
  • Any claim if not received by Us within 90 days of the Treatment.
  • Any claim that relates to a Pre-existing Condition or that showed Clinical Signs or Symptoms before Your Policy Start Date or within the Waiting Period;
  • Any claim for Illness or Accidental Injury that relates to a Pre-existing Condition or that showed Clinical Signs or Symptoms before Your Policy Start Date or within the Waiting Period;
  • Dental and Oral Treatment that is not due to an Accidental Injury;
  • Any claim for elective procedures which are preventive and not treating an Illness or Accidental Injury;
  • Any claim for Stem cell or gene therapy;
  • Any claim for routine examinations which includes vaccinations, grooming, spaying or neutering, breeding, pregnancy and giving birth;
  • Illnesses that Your pet should be vaccinated for;
  • Any cost for food, which includes any food prescribed by Your Vet or vitamins and mineral supplements;
  • Any claim for the Treatment of Behavioral Issues or Aggression.

Conditions

You must provide an original receipt for the cost of Treatment with the name and address of the treating Vet practice in English; You agree to cover any costs for obtaining the original receipt in English, should any arise.

 

Section 4 - Emergency Boarding (Kennel/Cattery) Fees

What is insured?

This section covers You against the costs of boarding Your pet in a licensed boarding kennels or cattery or pet minding business in the event that You need to stay in hospital for more than 2 consecutive nights, up to the Benefit Limit as stated in Your Schedule.

What is not insured?

  • Any amount greater than the Benefit Limit as shown in Your Schedule;
  • The Excess, as shown in Your Schedule;
  • Any claim made within, or relating to the Waiting Period;
  • Any stay in hospital that was expected or foreseen before Your Policy Start Date;
  • Any claims where the boarding kennels or cattery or pet minding business is not licensed;
  • Where Your stay in hospital or nursing home care is for convalescing purposes only;
  • Where Your stay in hospital is as a result of alcoholism, drug abuse, attempted suicide or self- inflicted injuries;

Conditions

  • You will need to provide original receipts for the boarding kennel or cattery or pet minding business;
  • The receipt will need to include the name of Your pet, Your full name and address as the Policy Holder, the dates that Your pet was boarded and the daily rate charged;
  • In addition, You will also need to provide evidence of Your stay in hospital by providing a medical certificate from the hospital. This will need to include Your full name and address as the Policy Holder, the dates You were in hospital for and the medical reason for Your

 

Section 5 - General Conditions

The following conditions apply to the whole of this Policy

  • You must tell Us immediately of any changes in Your circumstances that may affect Your pet insurance and the cover provided.
    • This includes but is not limited to;
      • Any change of address for either You or change in Your Vet,
      • Any change of ownership of Your pet,
      • Any complaints made about Your pet, including any change in Your pets normal, everyday behavior or if Your pet starts displaying Aggression.
    • Some changes may result in a Premium change or Your Policy being voided.
  • You agree that Your current and any previous Vet may release information or records regarding the medical history (including test results and the history of the weight) for any Your pets insured with Us.
  • You agree that We can commence legal action to get compensation from any third-party or recover from any third-party any payments that have already been made in Your
  • You must ensure that Your pet is vaccinated and dewormed and that all recommended vaccinations are kept up to date.
  • As a minimum, Your dog should be vaccinated against distemper, hepatitis, leptospirosis, kennel cough, lung worm, heart worm and parvovirus.
  • As a minimum, Your cat should be vaccinated against infectious cat flu, lung worm, heart worm and feline leukemia.
  • If Your pet is not vaccinated, We will not pay any claims that result from any of the above Illnesses, unless the vaccination has failed.
  • We will request evidence of vaccinations to be provided by Your Vet.
  • You must provide proper care and attention to Your pet at all times and take all reasonable precautions to prevent Accidental Injury or damage, as well as arranging and paying for Treatment for Your pet to reduce the likelihood of Illness or Accidental Injury.
  • You must ensure that Your dog is under control at all times, and due care should be maintained to prevent Your dog from escaping and causing itself Accidental Injury or any other persons or animals.
  • When walking near or in an area where Your pet could escape onto a designated road You must ensure Your dog is on a collar and lead.
  • You must ensure Your pet cannot escape or stray from Your
  • When loading Your pet into or out of Your vehicle or another person’s vehicle, You must ensure that the area is either secure or Your pet is on a lead and under Your
  • If Your Pet is injured in an attack by another dog, You must supply Us full details of the other pet owners insurance as We may take action against the owner of the other dog on Your behalf if We feel the other dog owner can be proved legally liable.
  • If You deliberately or recklessly mislead Us or conceal information that We consider important to the Policy at Your Policy Start Date or renewal, We may cancel Your Policy and retain any Premium This includes where Your pet’s breed or date of birth has not been declared to Us correctly and is not stated correctly on Your Schedule as a result. Actions such as these could lead to Us voiding Your Policy.
  • At the end of each Period of Insurance, We may alter the terms and conditions of Your Policy. We may take into consideration the following, but not limited to: Your pet’s age, medical history, Excess, Policy benefits, and the Premium.
  • If We are unable to collect any Premium when due, We will try to contact You in order to collect the Premium. If We cannot collect the outstanding Premium within 14 days of the Premium due date, Your Policy will be cancelled with effect from the Premium due date. Any outstanding claims, whether submitted to Us or not, will not be honored or paid.
  • You must submit any claims and claims forms to Us in a timely manner. In any event, We will not pay claims greater than 90 days old.
  • If at the time of an event giving rise to a claim under this Policy, there is any other insurance policy in Your name, which is active and provides cover for the same expense, loss, damage or liability then We will only be liable for Our proportionate value of the claim, such proportion being determined by reference to the cover provided under each of the relevant policies. This General Condition does not apply to the Third-Party liability section of cover.
  • In the event that there is another insurance policy in force, You must report the incident to that insurance company first and tell Us the name of that insurance company, Your Policy number with that company and the reason for You lodging a claim with that insurance company.

 

Section 6 - General Exclusions

The following exclusions apply to the whole of this Policy. We will not pay claims for any of the following reasons;

  • If We are made aware of any Pre-existing Conditions at the time of a claim, these Pre-Existing Conditions will not be covered and We reserve the right add a relevant endorsement(s) to Your Policy in respect of these Pre-Existing Conditions.
  • Any malicious or willful injury or gross negligence suffered by Your pet which is caused by You, or members of Your Family.
  • Any costs for medication that is not prescribed by a Vet or purchased using a prescription not provided by Your Vet.
  • Vet Fees will only be paid if they are: Essential for Your pet’s health and well-being. We may limit any payment to a maximum mark-up of 100% for veterinary Treatment, medication and dispensing fees;
  • Blood sampling charges and Vet fees will be capped at the Lebanon market average;
  • Each and every claim will be reviewed by Our claims assessors and costs will be compared against charges for the same or similar Treatment to make sure that the Treatment and veterinary fees are reasonable, necessary, essential, and not excessive compared to the rest of the Lebanese
  • If Your pet is less than 4 weeks of age at Your Policy Start Date.
  • Any Vet bill or part of an invoice that is over 90 days’ old.
  • If Your pet suffers from a notifiable disease, or any sexually transmitted diseases, or Rabies, or Aujeszky’s Disease or Leishmaniasis.
  • Any costs, loss, illness, injury, damage, death or legal liability directly or indirectly caused by:
    • An epidemic, pandemic or other such health warning, and declared as such by the Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA), and/or the Animal & Plant Health Agency (APHA) and/ or the World Health Organization;
    • Arising from any fear or threat, whether actual or perceived, of such epidemic or pandemic being declared or occurring;
    • Any action taken in controlling, preventing, suppressing or in any way relating to any outbreak of such epidemic or pandemic.
  • The destruction of Your pet, by order from any government, local authority or any person having jurisdiction in the matter, or for the protection of livestock.
  • Any costs and compensation if Your pet is put to sleep under a court order.
  • Any claim resulting from Your pet passing on any disease, infection or virus to another animal or human including, but not limited to, Zoonotic Diseases.
  • Any legal expenses, fines and penalties connected with or resulting from a criminal court case.
  • Any loss, damage or liability, cost or expense of any kind caused directly or indirectly by war, civil war, invasion, insurrection, rebellion or revolution.
  • Any claim arising from radiation, nuclear explosion, or pollution of air, soil and water.
  • The cover provided by this Policy only applies to incidents which occur within Lebanon and will not apply to any event arising in any countries outside Lebanon with the exception of “Section 3 - Overseas Holiday Cover - Veterinary Fees” where cover is extended for Vet Fees only which occur outside of Lebanon.
  • This Policy does not cover any loss, bodily injury, damage, or any legal liability to pay compensation arising out of a decision of any court
  • Any costs related with organ transplantation or blood donation.
  • Any costs for Treatment incurred after the Policy End Date as shown on Your Schedule; Any costs or claims if Your Policy is cancelled, lapsed or expired or after the End Date.

 

Section 7 - Excluded Dogs and Cats

  • Any dogs used for the following activities and/or pursuits are excluded from Our Policy:
    • Trade, profession or business or used as gundogs, breeding, showing;
    • In connection with shooting or for the purposes of hunting of any kind whether for business or recreational purposes.
  • Any dogs used for racing, coursing or “beating” whether for business or recreational purposes are excluded from Our Policy.

 

Section 8 - Making a Claim

We are here to help and make the claims process as straight forward as possible.

In the event that You need to submit a claim, please email Your completed and signed claim form, along with Your pet’s full medical history, to help@insureonline.info or, alternatively, You can deposit the claim form to:

Securite Assurance sal,

GEDCO Center

Dekwaneh, Lebanon

Remember, Your Vet will need to complete the medical information about Your pet and both You and Your Vet will need to sign the form.

In order to prevent delays, when making a claim please attach Your pet’s full medical history with the claim form.

Please note each and every claim will be reviewed by Our claims assessors and costs will be compared against charges for the same or similar Treatment to make sure that the Treatment and veterinary fees are reasonable, necessary, essential, and not excessive compared to the rest of the Lebanese market.

We reserve the right to contact vets to establish if Your Pet has received Treatment and to request any additional clinical history for Your Pet to assist with Our review of Your claim, even in the event that You have not disclosed that vet to Us.  

 

Section 9 - Cancelling Your Policy

This section explains Your rights in respect of cancelling Your Policy. This section also sets out Our rights in respect of cancelling Your Policy. 

Your rights - 14 Day Cooling off Period: -

  • You can cancel Your Policy within 14 day from the Start Date or the date You receive the Policy terms and conditions whichever is the later;
  • If You cancel Your Policy within this 14-day period, We will refund any Premium You have paid Excluding Taxes unless You have made a claim and settlement terms are subsequently agreed; and
  • If the claim has been made the full Premium will be due at cancellation, which We reserve the right to deduct from any claim settlement prior to the claim being paid to You.

 

Your rights – After the 14 Day Cooling off period

  • After the 14-day period, as long as no claim has been made, You may cancel this Policy at any time and receive a pro rata refund of the Premium paid for each unexpired full month of cover, calculated from the date the cancellation request is received by Us.
  • If a claim has been made, the full annual Premium will be due at cancellation, which We reserve the right to remove from any claims settlement before any claim is made.

 

If You choose to cancel Your insurance, simply contact us on (+961) 3 925 350

 

Our Rights to cancel:

  • We may cancel this Policy by giving You 30 days’ notice in writing if We have a valid reason for doing so.
  • Valid reasons may include, but are not limited to:
    • If We suspect fraudulent activity;
    • If You are not complying with the terms and conditions of the Policy in a material way.
    • If You or anyone acting on Your behalf use threatening or abusive behavior towards Our staff, the staff employed by Our Administrator, the staff employed by Our Claims Handlers or any other suppliers We have engaged to administrate Your Policy;
    • If You have failed to keep up to date with Your payments, We reserve the right to either cancel Your Policy or with-hold claims settlement until Your Premiums are brought up to date in line with Your Policy Schedule.

 

A cancellation email will be sent to You and:

  • Any Premium You have paid for the period after the cancellation will be refunded to You; and
  • We will only pay any valid claim occurring before the cancellation date;
  • If the claim relates to fraudulent activity or where Your Policy has been voided, We may not pay any claim occurring before the cancellation date and reserve the right to recover monies where claims have been paid to You. If a claim has been made the full annual Premium will be due at cancellation, which We reserve the right to remove before any claim is made.

 

Section 10 - Renewal of Your Policy

This section explains Your rights and Our rights at Renewal.

  • We can review the Premium at renewal, and this may increase, or stay the same;
  • The terms and conditions of the Policy may be changed;
  • The circumstances that may give rise to a change in Premium or to the terms and conditions of the Policy are:
    • Your overall claims experience; or
    • changes in legislation, taxation or interest rates; or to improve the clarity of Your terms and conditions.

If You are unhappy with any changes We make, You can cancel Your Policy in accordance with Your rights.

  • Your Policy is an annual Policy and will automatically renew each year, unless You have informed Us that You would like to cancel.
  • We will contact You within 10 days before Your Policy renews to inform You of any changes to Your Policy with details of Your renewal Premium and any applicable Excesses.
  • We will assume at renewal that Your details have not changed, unless You inform Us
  • If You submit a claim after Your renewal has been issued and this would have affected the renewal, We offered had We been aware of the claim, We reserve the right to amend the premium back to the renewal date as not to jeopardize Your Insurer.

 

Section 11 - When the Policy and cover ends

This Policy will end automatically at the earliest of the following events, the End Date:

  • The Period of Insurance has ended;
  • You fail to pay Your Policy Premium;
  • You or We cancel the Policy;
  • The Benefit Limits have been exhausted and no cover remains;
  • Death, theft or loss of Your pet;
  • You or We do not renew the Policy.