Lotte Non-Life Insurance (000400) said on the 19th that it has launched a product covering risks that can arise while walking or traveling with a dog.
Offered through ALICE, the insurer's lifestyle insurance platform, the product differs from existing pet insurance, which mainly covers illness or injury to the animal. Instead, it focuses on risks faced by the owner. Customers can choose between a walking plan and a travel plan.
The walking plan covers up to 10 million won ($6,900) in legal liability if a dog's sudden behavior leaves the owner liable for damages. If the owner dies from an injury, the policy pays up to 5 million won toward raising the dog. If the owner is hospitalized for an injury and must board the animal, the policy covers boarding costs of up to 50,000 won a day for as long as 180 days.
The travel plan covers up to 10 million won for residual disability from injuries sustained during domestic travel with a dog. It also covers fractures and cast treatment, hospitalization for food poisoning, and theft at the policyholder's home while away, with home theft losses covered up to 1 million won. For trips to Jeju Special Self-Governing Province, the policy pays up to 100,000 won in extra accommodation costs if a flight is canceled.
Owners of multiple dogs can enroll up to three animals, and family members traveling together can be added as covered companions. For a 40-year-old man, the walking plan costs about 6,000 won a year for one dog, while the travel plan costs 2,000 won for a three-day, two-night trip covering up to three dogs.
An official at Lotte Non-Life Insurance said the product reflects the coverage owners need at a time when walking and traveling with dogs has become part of daily life, adding that the company will continue to identify everyday coverage needs.
