Marking the seventh anniversary of its pet insurance brand “PetperMint,” Meritz reported that external ear infections (otitis externa) were the leading cause for insurance payouts among dogs, accounting for 16,521 cases.
SEOUL, July 29 (Korea Bizwire) — Ear infections and knee dislocations are among the most common and costly claims made under pet insurance policies in South Korea, according to new data released by Meritz Fire & Marine Insurance.
Marking the seventh anniversary of its pet insurance brand “PetperMint,” Meritz reported that external ear infections (otitis externa) were the leading cause for insurance payouts among dogs, accounting for 16,521 cases. Other frequent claims included gastroenteritis (14,495 cases), vomiting (10,325), and inner ear infections (9,415).
In terms of payout amounts, patellar luxation — a dislocation of the kneecap — topped the list with 7.3 billion won (approx. $5.6 million) in claims, followed by cruciate ligament injuries (2.39 billion won), gastroenteritis (1.98 billion won), and ear infections (1.97 billion won).
Dogs Claim Most Insurance for Ear Infections, Cats for Vomiting (Image supported by ChatGPT)
For cats, the most common claim was for vomiting (1,033 cases), followed by gastroenteritis (766) and conjunctivitis (662). The largest payouts for feline cases stemmed from foreign body ingestion (180 million won), vomiting (170 million), and gastroenteritis (150 million).
Since the product’s launch in October 2018, PetperMint has accumulated 135,000 policies as of the end of June. Around 115,000 dogs are currently enrolled, with the most insured breeds being Pomeranians, Toy Poodles, and Maltese. Meritz also launched cat insurance in April 2019, with over 20,000 cats now covered, primarily Korean Shorthairs.
Across both dogs and cats, more than 50% of policyholders reside in the greater Seoul and Gyeonggi Province area, underscoring strong demand for pet health coverage in South Korea’s most densely populated region.
Lina Jang (linajang@koreabizwire.com)
