新华视点·关注宠物经济丨看病比人贵 宠物保险靠不靠谱？

Core Insights - The increasing trend of pet insurance in China is driven by the rising number of pet owners and the high costs associated with pet medical care [2][3] - The pet insurance market is experiencing rapid growth, with a compound annual growth rate of 96.33% from 2016 to 2022, and a projected year-on-year growth of 129.5% in 2024 [3] Group 1: Market Trends - The penetration rate of pet ownership in China reached 22% in 2023, with over 120 million urban pets expected by 2024, marking a 2.1% increase from 2023 [2] - Pet medical expenses can be exorbitant, prompting more pet owners to seek insurance as a financial relief [2][3] Group 2: Insurance Products - The pet insurance market includes various products such as medical insurance, liability insurance, and accident insurance, with over 20 medical insurance options available [2][3] - Medical insurance premiums typically range from hundreds to thousands of yuan, with coverage amounts from several thousand to tens of thousands of yuan [3] Group 3: Challenges in the Industry - There are concerns regarding the complexity of insurance products, misleading sales tactics, and varying quality of customer service, which may lead to reduced coverage [4][5] - Many pet owners report difficulties in the claims process, with a significant number of complaints related to claim rejections and lengthy procedures [5][6] Group 4: Recommendations for Improvement - Industry experts suggest enhancing the regulatory framework for pet medical practices and establishing a shared information platform to improve claim assessments [7] - The use of advanced technologies such as biometric identification could streamline the insurance process and improve efficiency [7] - Clear communication regarding coverage, claims conditions, and exclusions is essential to protect consumer rights and enhance service quality [8]