More Infromation on Pet Insurance

In response to several inquiries for more information on the pro and cons of pet health insurance, I have decided to write the following article.

The first question is: do you really need pet insurance?

Unfortunately the days of “working crystal balls” has long gone by, leaving the decision up to each individual and/or family.

There is no way to predict whether or not your pet will need it.

However, here are a few thoughts to mull over:

Puppies and kittens are accident prone. Their curiosity can get them into a lot of trouble and their immune systems are not fully developed and can pick up viruses and other diseases.

As our pets get older, they too, acquire such problems as arthritis, kidney disease, heart problems and possibly cancer.

Research has shown that 60 percent of dogs over the age of 6 years will contact some form of cancer

Veterinary care is very expensive and a serious illness can really “break the bank.”

Most policies cover emergency situations, which can be costly.

Now that you have a few reasons why you should have pet insurance. Here are a few things that you should be on the look out for when searching for the “right” policy:

What is covered and what is not.

Coverage should include common health problems such as skin disorders, colds (respiratory problems), ear infections, along with such things as diabetes, kidney problems and cancer.

Accidents should be covered, little things like scrapes with other dogs or cats along with the more serious accidents like being hit by a car or swallowing something strange.

Check to see if regular preventive medical care is covered including vaccinations, blood work and annual physicals.

How are you reimbursed? Read the fine print be certain what the exclusions are and how long it will take to get your claim paid.

Make certain the company is licensed to do business in your state.

Who or what determines the treatment your pet can receive? Are you and /or your vet able to make the decisions on needed treatment? Check the fine print again to see if the company dictates the kind of treatment allowed.

Can you use a vet of your choice or are you restricted, as in most human insurance to specific doctors?

Are you allowed “after hours emergency treatment?”

In case of a serious ailment are you allowed to see a specialist?

What is not covered? Is the policy easy to understand or is it filled with a lot of phrases that require a Philadelphia lawyer to decipher?

Look for a plan that does not limit your visits. Some plans will only allow you limited visits, also look for a plan that will allow you to keep the policy as your pet ages. Some plans limit renewals.

Talk to your vet and ask him/her for recommendations on insurance companies. Talk to other pet owners and check out their experiences.

What kinds of plans are available? Most insurance companies have several plans available.

The best plan will have the highest per incident benefits, low deductible and of course more than likely the highest premium.

A Basic policy will undoubtedly have a lower visit ratio, more restrictions, higher deductible and of course a lower premium.

There is a “Pet Accidental Insurance” which covers specific accidents only and carries a lower premium.

Some companies will allow you for an additional fee to add a wellness and prevention rider which will cover such things as diagnostic screenings, spay or neutering, heartworm tests, parasite tests and many more things. All for an additional fee, of course.

If you have a breed of dog/cat that has known hereditary problems be certain that those conditions are not excluded in the policy.

If your pet has a pre-existing condition (like in human insurance) it will not be covered. Some insurance companies will allow a condition, if you can prove that it has been cured to be covered again in the new policy.

Pet insurance policies usually cover 80% of the incurred costs with you paying the other 20% plus the deductible.

In cases of a sudden or serious illness these policies are a god-send, covering the largest part of the medical expense.

If you can afford the premiums they afford you peace of mind knowing you can give your pet the best of care.

In closing, keep in mind most policies do not cover routine care as normal coverage, the routine stuff we do every year is usually covered with an additional rider and a premium price.

Last, but not least do some research on the “track record” of the company you are considering.

Your state has an insurance commissioner’s office. It is worth the time to call and check to see if the company you are considering has any complaints or other issues against it.

Hind sight is wonderful, but expensive some times. Look before you leap and/or buy.

Additional Information

For more information about the types of pet insurance coverage that is available, may I suggest you visit My Pet Cover
and learn about the different types of pet insurance, along with other interesting articles concerning pet insurance.

Independent Thought

Keeping your pet healthy and well fed is one way to cut down on veterinary bills, here is a good source. All the information related to pet supply and latest pet food can be found at eukanuba dot com. They even deal with pet gifts.

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