Frequently asked questions

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Does Calingo pay the vet bill directly through the vet's clinic?
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Unfortunately, we are not there yet. But we are working on this solution. At the moment, you can submit the invoice to us under"Report vet visit".

Vet visit
Is there a waiting period for submitting veterinary bills?
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Yes, there is a waiting period of 30 days from the start of the contract for illnesses. Accidents and preventive measures have no waiting periods and are covered from the start of the contract.

Vet visit
How long does a normal refund take? 
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We will usually process a fully submitted vet visit within 15 working days and then release it for payment. Payment may take a few days. If it takes longer, we will always let you know why.

Vet visit
How can I report a vet visit?
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It is best to report your vet visit directly online under "Report vet visit". It is best to have all the necessary information about your vet visit ready (date of vet visit, location, invoice, diagnosis, etc.).

Vet visit
Who is behind Calingo?
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Pet parents, pet lovers and insurance professionals. Take a look at Instagram at caling.pet or our website, where you can see our team.

About Calingo PET
How does Calingo stand out from other pet insurance providers in Switzerland?
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There are several pet insurance providers in Switzerland. How our insurance compares to Animalia, Wau-Miau, Mobiliar can be found here. At Calingo, we are pet lovers and understand how close the bond between people and pets can be. Dogs and cats are part of the family and accompany us through all stages of life.Unfortunately, our furry family members are not immune to illness and accidents, even though we as pet owners would of course do everything for it to be that way.Should your furry nose fall ill or have an accident, we are here for you and your faithful companion.

About Calingo PET
What are the main pet insurance exclusions?
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You can find a complete list of all exclusions in our GCI(here). For example, we do not cover any costs for:
- treatments that were not recommended / prescribed by a veterinarian.
- operations that are only for cosmetic purposes.
- vet visits during the waiting and lockdown period.

Exclusions
My pet has an emergency, who can I call?
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Please call your local veterinarian, they will indicate the emergency service outside the regular opening hours. Of course Calingo will also cover the additional costs in case of an emergency.

Services
What does advanced treatment mean, what services does it include?
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We will cover the cost of stem cell treatment, gene therapy, transplant surgery with pre- and post-transplant care, and prostheses if your vet recommends it and all other options have been exhausted.We do not cover the cost of any other advanced treatments.

Services
Is the care after a surgery of unlimited or limited duration? 
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As long as it is prescribed by your vet, Calingo will cover the cost.

Services
Why can't I select the additional cover for pre-existing conditions when buying the insurance?
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After a certain age, we no longer offer you the additional coverage of pre-existing condition, as you would pay more for it than you could benefit from it.

Services
Are hereditary diseases covered?
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Yes. Calingo insures hereditary diseases of your furry friend as standard in the basse coverage. You don’t need to purchase additional coverage. 

Services
Are pre-existing conditions covered?
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Yes. Calingo also insures pre-existing conditions of your beloved furry friend. To do this, you must select the additional coverage "pre-existing conditions" when purchasing the insurance. 

Services
What is a pre-existing condition?
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We define pre-existing conditions as conditions that were known in the last 24 months before the start of the contract and cause follow-up costs (e.g. operations or regular vet visits), as well as chronic diseases (e.g. allergies, arthritis, heart problems). Minor treatments such as a healed ear infection or one-time diarrhea, on the other hand, are not considered as pre-existing conditions. Pre-existing conditions that occurred more than 24 months prior to the insurance start date are classified as new conditions. Therefore, such cases are covered by our base coverage. If you are unsure whether your pet needs this additional coverage, please contact us by phone or e-mail.

Services
Are expenses for complementary treatment covered?
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Yes, expenses for physiotherapy (e.g. after surgery), naturopathy, osteopathy, hydrotherapy are covered as long as prescribed by your vet. However, preventive complementary treatments are not covered.

Services
Are health checks and preventive treatments covered?
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Costs for preventive treatments such as vaccinations, parasite prevention, castration and health checks are covered. The annual health checks at the veterinarian are obligatory at Calingo and are reimbursed in the regular (CHF 150 p.a.) and complete (CHF 200 p.a.) package.

Services
I would like to switch to Calingo. What do I need to consider?
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Good decision, we are already looking forward to meeting you :) Before you take out a policy with us, make sure you get out of your current contract. You can always leave your insurance after a claim. The other option is to submit a written notice of cancellation at least 3 months before the renewal of the policy.By the way, with Calingo you can always cancel your insurance. We don't want to force you to stay with us if you are not happy with us and our service. 

General questions about pet insurance
Can I change my base insurance package with Calingo at will?
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As with us humans, you can always adjust your pet's accident & health insurance at the start of the new contract period. Adjustments must be notified to Calingo by telephone or in writing up to 14 days before the start of the new contract period. Simply contact us via e-mail [email protected] or call us on 0800 00 57 90 and we will make the desired change.

General questions about pet insurance
What are my responsibilities as a pet owner?
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We recommend that you take your pet for a veterinary check-up (including dental check-up) at least every 12 months and follow the veterinarian's vaccination recommendations.
You are responsible for the health and welfare of your pet and must comply with the Swiss Animal Welfare Act at all times.
If your pet falls ill or has an accident, you must ensure that a veterinarian examines your pet immediately.

General questions about pet insurance
Will my pet insurance be canceled if my pet gets sick?
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No, your pet insurance will not be cancelled if your pet falls ill. That is exactly what we are here to do – protect your pet. However, your insurance can be cancelled if you have neglected your duties as a pet owner or if there has been fraud.

General questions about pet insurance
How do I get my documents?
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We send out all documents via email to protect the environment. Exceptionally, we can offer postal shipping for an additional fee.

General questions about pet insurance
How can I pay my premium?
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You can pay your premiums monthly or once a year. If you pay monthly, you can set up a standing order with your financial institution with the first payment slip. We will not charge you any additional fees for monthly payments. Payment by credit card, Twint or E-Bill is not possible at the moment.

General questions about pet insurance
Do you also offer only accident insurance?
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No. With Calingo PET, you can only insure your furry friend for accident and illness, in order to offer him/her the best possible protection.

General questions about pet insurance
Can I insure more than one pet with you?
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Yes, you can insure as many pets as you like. Please take out one policy per pet. We are working hard on a insurance where you can include more than one pet.

General questions about pet insurance
Up to what age can I insure my pet with Calingo?
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At Calingo we believe that every animal deserves a healthy and happy life. That is why we offer protection for all breeds from the age of 2 months (8 weeks) with no upper age limit.

General questions about pet insurance
What is the difference between franchise, deductible and cost coverage for pet insurance?
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Deductible: As with health insurance for humans, you also pay an annual deductible for your pet. You decide how high your deductible is.

Deductible: In the case of the supplementary benefit pre-existing illness, there is a deductible of CHF 300, i.e. you pay the first CHF 300 yourself.

Cost coverage: After you have paid your annual deductible, Calingo will cover 100% or 80% of the treatment costs. You decide how much Calingo will cover.

General questions about pet insurance
What franchise do I have to pay?
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As with us humans, you pay an annual deductible for your pet. You decide how high your annual deductible is (CHF 0; 150; 300; 500; 1,000; 2,000). As soon as the deductible is used up, we will cover the costs, either at 80% or 100%.

General questions about pet insurance
Will accident and health insurance become more expensive as my pet ages?
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No. Compared to other providers, your insurance premium does not increase with the age of your pet. However, we ask owners of dogs and cats aged 9 and over to pay 20% of the cost of all vet visits.

General questions about pet insurance
Do I have the right to choose a vet of my linking?
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Yes, within Switzerland you have free choice of veterinarian. You can also freely choose your veterinarian abroad in areas close to the border, as long as the vet is not more than 75 km away from your place of residence.

Vet visit
Do I get an insurance card for the accident and health insurance of my pet?
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No, at the moment we do not issue insurance cards. However, we are currently working on an app that will include a digital insurance card. 

General questions about pet insurance
 Do I have the right to choose a vet of my linking?
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Yes, within Switzerland you have free choice of veterinarian. You can also freely choose your veterinarian abroad in areas close to the border, as long as the vet is not more than 75 km away from your place of residence.

Will accident and health insurance become more expensive as my pet ages?
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No. Compared to other providers, your insurance premium will not increase with the age of your pet. However, we do ask owners of dogs and cats over the age of 10 to cover 20% of the cost of all veterinary visits.

What franchise do I have to pay?
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As with human accident- & health insuracne, you pay an annual franchise for your pet. You decide how high your annual franchise is (CHF 0; 300; 500; 1000). As soon as the franchise is used up, we will cover the costs, up to 80% or 100% depending on what you chose when you bought the policy.

What is the difference between franchise, deductible and cost coverage for pet insurance?
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Deductible: As with human health insurance, you also pay an annual deductible for your pet. You decide yourself how high your deductible rate is. Deductible: For the additional service pre-existing condition, there is a deductible of CHF 300.00, i.e. you pay the first CHF 300.00 yourself. Cost coverage: After you have paid your annual deductible, Calingo covers 100% or 80% of the treatment costs. You decide how much Calingo will cover.

Up to what age can I insure my pet with Calingo?
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At Calingo we believe that every animal deserves a healthy and happy life. That is why we offer protection for all breeds from the age of 2 months (8 weeks) with no upper age limit. 

Can I insure more than one pet with you?
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Yes, you can insure as many pets as you like. Please take out one policy per pet. We are working hard on a insurance where you can include more than one pet.

Do you also offer only accident insurance?
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No. With Calingo PET, you can only insure your furry friend for accident and illness, in order to offer him/her the best possible protection.

How can I pay my premium?
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You can pay your premiums monthly or once a year. If you pay monthly, you can set up a standing order with your financial institution with the first payment slip. We will not charge you any additional fees for monthly payments. Payment by credit card, Twint or E-Bill is not possible at the moment.

How do I get my documents?
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We send all documents digitally via email to protect the environment.In exceptional cases, we can provide postal delivery for a fee.

Will my pet insurance be canceled if my pet gets sick?
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No, your pet insurance will not be cancelled if your pet falls ill. That is exactly what we are here to do – protect your pet. However, your insurance can be cancelled if you have neglected your duties as a pet owner or if there has been fraud.

What are my responsibilities as a pet owner?
Arrow down icon

We recommend that you take your pet for a veterinary check-up (including dental check-up) at least every 12 months and implement the vaccination recommendations of the veterinarian. You are responsible for the health and welfare of your pet and must comply with the Swiss Animal Welfare Act at all times.
Nevertheless, if your pet becomes ill or has an accident, you must ensure that a veterinarian examines your pet immediately. Treatment recommendations must be followed.

Can I change my base insurance package with Calingo at will?
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Sure, just get in touch with us via e-mail [email protected] or call us on 0800 00 57 90 and we will make the desired change. You can switch between the different packages as often as you like. Please note, however, that the CHF 0 excess can no longer be selected once your pet reaches the age of 10.

I would like to switch to Calingo. What do I need to consider?
Arrow down icon

Good decision, we are already looking forward to you :) Before you take out a policy with us, make sure you get out of your current contract. You can always leave your insurance after a claim. The other option is to submit a written cancellation at least 3 months before the renewal of the policy.At Calingo, by the way, you can always cancel when you want. We don't want to force you to stay with us if you are not happy with us. 

Are health checks and preventive treatments covered?
Arrow down icon

Costs for preventive treatments such as vaccinations, parasite prevention, castration and health checks are covered. The annual health checks at the veterinarian are obligatory at Calingo and are reimbursed in the regular (CHF 150 p.a.) and complete (CHF 200 p.a.) package.

Are expenses for complementary treatment covered?
Arrow down icon

 Yes, expenses for physiotherapy (e.g. after surgery), naturopathy, osteopathy, hydrotherapy are covered as long as prescribed by your vet. However, preventive complementary treatments are not covered.

What is a pre-existing condition?
Arrow down icon

We define pre-existing conditions as conditions that were known in the last 24 months before the start of the contract and cause follow-up costs (e.g. operations or regular vet visits), as well as chronic diseases (e.g. allergies, arthritis, heart problems). Minor treatments such as a healed ear infection or one-time diarrhea, on the other hand, are not considered as pre-existing conditions. Pre-existing conditions that occurred more than 24 months prior to the insurance start date are classified as new conditions. Therefore, such cases are covered by our base coverage. If you are unsure whether your pet needs this additional coverage, please contact us by phone or e-mail.

Are pre-existing conditions covered?
Arrow down icon

Yes. Calingo also insures pre-existing conditions of your beloved furry friend. To do this, you must select the additional coverage "pre-existing conditions" when purchasing the insurance.  

Are hereditary diseases covered?
Arrow down icon

Yes. Calingo insures hereditary diseases of your furry friend as standard in the basse coverage. You don’t need to purchase additional coverage.  

Why can't I select the additional cover for pre-existing conditions when buying the insurance?
Arrow down icon

After a certain age, we no longer offer you the additional coverage of pre-existing condition, as you would pay more for it than you could benefit from it.

Is the care after a surgery of unlimited or limited duration?  
Arrow down icon

As long as it is prescribed by your vet, Calingo will cover the cost.

What does advanced treatment mean, what services does it include?
Arrow down icon

We will cover the cost of stem cell treatment, gene therapy, transplant surgery with pre- and post-transplant care, and prostheses if your vet recommends it and all other options have been exhausted.We do not cover the cost of any other advanced treatments.

My pet has an emergency, who can I call?
Arrow down icon

Please call your local veterinarian, they will indicate the emergency service outside the regular opening hours. Of course Calingo will also cover the additional costs in case of an emergency.

What are the main pet insurance exclusions?
Arrow down icon

At Calingo, the well-being of our beloved dogs and cats always comes first. For this reason, we do not cover the costs of:
- treatments that are not recommended/prescribed by a veterinarian.
- operations that are only for cosmetic purposes.
- diseases that are the result of extreme breeding for one trait (e.g. short-headedness / brachycephaly in French Bulldogs). 

Why does Calingo exclude diseases / conditions in certain breeds? Can I still insure an animal of this breed with you?
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 You can insure all breeds with us. For certain breeds of dogs and cats we exclude conditions if they are the result of extreme breeding for purely external characteristics. Most of these characteristics can be "freiteted" by genetic tests or a certificate of the veterinarian. By listing these conditions we would like to create transparency on the one hand and on the other hand create the incentive to have a dog and cat population in Switzerland that is as healthy as possible.

How does Calingo stand out from other pet insurance providers in Switzerland?
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There are several pet insurance providers in Switzerland. How our services compare to Animalia, Wau-Miau, Mobiliar or Epona can be found here.
We at Calingo are pet lovers and understand exactly how close the bond between humans and animals can be. Dogs and cats are part of the family and accompany us through all stages of life.Unfortunately, our balls of wool are not immune to illness and accidents, even if we as pet owners:inside of course would do anything for it.Should your fur nose fall ill or have an accident, we are there with empathy, heart and mind for you and your faithful companion.

Who is behind Calingo PET?
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Pet parents, furry lovers and insurance professionals. Check us out on Instagram here or on our website, you'll see our team there.

How can I report a vet visit?
Arrow down icon

The best way to report your vet visit is directly online under "Report damage". Have all the necessary information about your vet visit ready (date of vet visit, location, invoice, diagnosis, etc.).

How long does a normal refund take?  
Arrow down icon

We will usually process a fully submitted vet visit in 5 business days. If it takes longer, we will always let you know why.

Is there a waiting period for submitting veterinary bills?
Arrow down icon

Yes, in the case of illnesses there is a waiting period of 30 days from the start of the contract. In the case of chronic pre-existing conditions, this waiting period is 90 days. Accidents, emergencies and preventive measures have no waiting periods and are covered from the start of the contract.

Does Calingo pay the vet bill directly through the vet's clinic?
Arrow down icon

Unfortunately, we are not there yet. But we are working on this solution. At the moment you can submit the invoice under "Report damage", we will process the damage within 5 days.

Our pet insurance – as unique as your pawsome furry friend

Happy dog