Mutual schemes, igualas and vet health plans: better than insurance?

Besides insurance, there is another way to spread the cost of the vet: paying a fee to the clinic or to a mutual scheme (mutua). They have different names depending on where you are, but the idea is similar.

How they usually work

• Clinic health plan: a monthly or yearly fee that includes the basics for the year (vaccinations, worming and flea treatments, check-ups) and discounts on everything else.
• Iguala: a fixed fee that entitles you to certain services at that clinic.
• Mutua (mutual scheme): an organisation you pay a fee to and that covers part of your vet care, often in a network of clinics.

Health plan or insurance

A health plan is mainly for the predictable: what you know you will spend each year. Health insurance is for the unexpected: an operation or an expensive illness. You can have both. A plan for everyday care plus third-party liability is usually a sensible combination.

Always ask

• Exactly what is included and what is not.
• Whether there is a minimum term or you can cancel whenever you like.
• Whether the discounts apply to emergencies and out of hours.
• What happens if you move to another city or change clinic.