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Having witnessed the tragedy of a sick or injured pet many times over, we strongly encourage owners to purchase pet health insurance before their pet needs medical attention. There are several to choose from and if approached properly can help tremendously with the cost of care during and after a medical crisis. Below are some tips to help find a plan you are happy with. |
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Take the time to "shop around" and ask a lot of questions. |
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Don't get sold on "wellness plans" – wellness care is important but predictable - you may end up paying as much in wellness premiums as you already pay for wellness care! |
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Focus your premium dollars to get the most for unplanned illnesses and injuries – this should be your motivation for coverage |
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Watch for terms like, "eligible" – research what is and is not eligible |
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Some plans have a "Schedule of Benefits" that put a standardized "cap" on a procedure or surgery – know what they are |
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Some plans may consider an illness or injury "pre-existing" after the first year of coverage – ask if "coverage continues after a benefit year" |
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Some plans may not cover certain illnesses or injuries in certain breeds – read all exclusions carefully |
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Some plans may not cover what they consider "alternative" treatments, like acupuncture or physical rehabilitation – ask if these are covered |
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All plans have a "waiting period" before they begin covering your pet – know for what and how long |
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The older your pet gets, the more limited choices you have to begin coverage – this is not true for continued coverage |
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Premiums usually begin at $6.00 to $8.00 monthly and go up according to species and breed – younger animals are the least expensive to cover |
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Plans do not pay your veterinarian directly. Most are designed for you to pay your veterinarian and submit your claim to the company – ask what the average reimbursement time is for a claim |
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Many family veterinary practices are now offering a form of 'in-house insurance' through monthly prepays that will cover unlimited office examinations and discounted products. This can be very beneficial, but keep in mind that this type of coverage is limited to that one practice. It DOES NOT cover the cost of care if you have to go elsewhere for a sudden emergency or if you have to be referred for a specialty procedure. |
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Our Helpful Numbers and Websites page will give you a couple of websites to help in your search. |
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Pet insurance can literally be a life saver, is reasonably priced, and can ease a great burden if a tragedy happens. There are many plans out there so it is very important that you know what your premium is paying for. A little solid research is well worth the time and may prevent surprises or disappointment when you least expect it. |
