Announced on October 27, 2026, the offering gives pet owners three coverage options: accident only, accident and illness, or comprehensive protection that also includes physiotherapy and routine care.
Naked, which is based in Johannesburg, says the product is designed to make veterinary care more affordable while giving customers a faster and more convenient claims experience.
According to the company, early claims data shows a median payment time of 1.3 days, with 60 per cent of claims paid within 48 hours. Around 29 per cent were settled within an hour of approval, while the fastest recorded payment took just 12 minutes from submission.
Sumarie Greybe, cofounder of Naked, attributed the speed to the company’s use of artificial intelligence to assess and approve eligible claims automatically, including outside normal business hours. Claims that require additional information or human judgement are referred to its team for further review.
The insurer highlighted the experience of a customer whose dog swallowed a sock and needed emergency treatment. The claim was submitted at 10:30 pm, and the payment reached the customer’s bank account at 10:50 pm after approval and submission of the required banking details.
Under the policy, customers can select annual coverage limits ranging from R15,000 to R120,000 and visit any registered veterinarian in South Africa. Naked said covered treatments fall within annual and per claim limits rather than being restricted by separate caps for individual types of treatment.
The launch comes as veterinary expenses continue to put pressure on household budgets. Dr Erika Pienaar of Prime Pet Veterinary Day Clinic in Nelspruit said a consultation at her practice costs R585, while surgery to remove an object swallowed by a dog can range from R5,800 to R15,000.
These costs highlight the potential value of pet insurance, particularly when animals require emergency treatment or surgery that owners may not have budgeted for.
Naked is entering a competitive market that includes OUTsurance, dotsure.co.za, Oneplan, MediPet and PawPaw Pet Insurance. OUTsurance advertises pet insurance from around R65 per month, while dotsure.co.za offers plans starting at R99. Prices and benefits from Oneplan, MediPet and PawPaw vary according to the policies customers select.
With premiums beginning at R40, Naked is positioning its new offering as an accessible option for pet owners seeking financial protection against unexpected veterinary bills.
The move also broadens the company’s existing digital insurance portfolio, which includes car, home, household contents and standalone item cover. Customers can obtain quotes, purchase policies and submit claims through its app, extending its app based approach to another area of everyday insurance.
