Taking care of your pet can be costly, especially if an illness or accident takes your family by surprise. Pet insurance may provide the financial relief some owners need for their peace of mind. Searching through pet insurance reviews can give you an idea of what to look for, and understanding how these policies operate will help you find a plan that will keep your pet happy and healthy for a long while!
How Pet Insurance Works
It’s no wonder why pet owners are hesitant to research insurance for their furry friends. When humans need to find coverage, they have to dig through HMOs and referral plans to make sure they have the right policy that fits their lifestyle. Insurance companies negotiate with hospitals and service providers to save costs, creating a maze that most policy seekers are loath to explore. Luckily, coverage for pets is a much more streamlined process!
Unlike human options, pet insurance doesn’t pay the provider but reimburses the owner. Since there are no negotiations with doctors, you are free to find a veterinarian that works well with your cat or dog. Set coverage options also mean there is never a question about how much your bill will be. Check with pet insurance reviews to determine what percentages a company’s policies cover to figure out if their plans will benefit your budget.
Quality Coverage
No one wants to pay for an insurance plan that doesn’t provide the service they’ll need. Most pet insurance policies cover similar conditions and common dog and cat illnesses that will affect your pet throughout its lifetime. Other standard inclusions, such as microchipping and prescription medications, can help take the bite out of more costly vet visits, and accidental injury policies will certainly help you sleep better at night.
There are also certain circumstances where most pet insurance will leave you high and dry. Some of the most common issues that companies won’t cover include the following:
- Pre-existing Conditions: If your pet has a chronic illness that was discovered before your plan came into effect, most policy providers won’t cover the costs of continued treatment. Some insurance coverage won’t even start for a few weeks or even months, leaving big gaps where your pet will be out in the proverbial cold.
- Missed Vaccines: Vaccines are an important part of your pet’s health, and missing even one may mean a loss of coverage. If your dog comes down with kennel cough, but its bordetella vaccine is out of date, you may be out of luck!
- Cosmetic Surgery: Most plans won’t cover something that the insurance company deems “cosmetic,” which may include tail and ear docking on dogs or declawing cats. Though not strictly appearance-related, policy providers don’t deem them necessary.
- Prescription Pet Food and Supplements: Most plans avoid covering supplements and pet foods that require a prescription because many of those products don’t have any scientific backing for their efficacy, much like herbal remedies for humans.
- Common Breed Problems: Some plans have exclusions about specific breeds, such as lens luxation in Jack Russel Terriers. Avoid such policies if possible since you’ll be left paying out-of-pocket for procedures your pet will most likely need.
If you feel some of these are essential services, it may take some research into pet insurance reviews and company websites to find one that can be tailored to your needs. Wellness visits are another consideration since many plans consider these as add-on plans to supplement accidental injury and illness coverage.
Who Should Get Pet Insurance?
While it may be easy to say that everyone should get some insurance plan for their cat or canine companion, that isn’t always the case. If your pet is generally in good health and you find the premiums affordable, it may be a great option to avoid huge expenses if an emergency were to occur. Such a financial cushion may even protect you from needing to make a choice about your pet’s health because you cannot afford the treatment.
People with younger animals should certainly start looking through pet insurance reviews for a great plan. Since your pet is still developing, it’s easier to spot conditions before they become a problem and ensures the policy provider knows pets are up-to-date on vaccines and necessary tests. Veterinarians also feel there are a lot of advantages to spaying and neutering young pets, procedures that insurance companies usually cover.
Research Pet Insurance Reviews and Plans
Pet insurance is something that owners want to have but never use. If you feel that you can financially handle premiums, don’t hesitate to loom through reviews and check out individual policy providers. Having great pet insurance will help you feel better about raising a new kitten or adopting a resume dog since it will mean never having to choose between your pet’s healthcare and your bank account ever again!
