Having pets means unexpected expenses such as chewed shoes and broken furniture. They require your time and energy with the need to be taken out and exercised. Pets need you to feed them and be their voice. They also depend on you to keep them as safe and as healthy as possible. Pet insurance is available to help with that!
One of the most basic ways to show that you care for your pets is by having a pet insurance plan. Just like when your children break a bone, your dog can break a bone as well and need emergency surgery. With humans, it’s easy. You to go to the emergency room, get x-rays, get a diagnosis, and present your insurance card. You’re either covered at 100% or you have to pay a percentage of your bill – whatever insurance doesn’t cover. For animals, it’s a little different. First, you have to find an open veteffect, see if you can settle the pet enough to get an examination, and then pull out your wallet to face the music. Are you prepared to hand out thousands of dollars to repair your beloved pet? No worries. Read on to find out more about pet insurance coverage and how you can care for your pets with less stress.
What is pet insurance and what does it cost?
Pet insurance can help you avoid the high costs of paying for illnesses and emergency accidents that can be everyday occurrences with pets. Pet insurance doesn’t usually carry a high deductible, but it will more than likely reimburse you for a large portion of what you had to pay out in vet bills. This can save you thousands over your pet’s lifetime.
The pet insurance cost depends on on a few factors determined by your pet:
- Breed – some pet breeds are known for having more health problems than others. This can affect what your monthly fees will look like.
- Location – Your location can predict the cost of your insurance. Depending on average vet care costs in your city you could end up paying slightly more or less for your pet’s insurance coverage.
- Age – Aging pets are at a higher risk for developing health issues which means their monthly premiums may be higher, especially if you wait to sign them up for insurance once they’re older or have health issues already. However, if you sign your pet up as a puppy or kitten, some companies will never reduce or limit your pet’s coverage.
- Species – In general, it costs more to insure a dog than a cat. This is not necessarily always true depending on the breed.
- Annual Coverage Limit and Annual Deductible – These two factors can sometimes be confusing. Higher limits of what insurance will cover usually translate to higher monthly premiums and vice versa. As with regular insurance for humans, deductibles have to be met first before most plans start to reimburse up to 90% of your pet’s vet’s bills.
Coverages
Pet insurance covers a wide variety of accidents and illnesses your pets may come in contact with. These coverages include and are not limited to:
- In-office or virtual vet visits
- Dental illness
- Behavioral issues
- Hereditary conditions
- Parasite infections
- Prescription food and supplements
- Physical therapy
- Alternative Therapy – including acupuncture and chiropractic care
Just like human insurance, some pet insurances even cover dental care! Some of these things include:
- Dental illnesses – including gum disease
- Basic exams
- X-rays
- Procedures and any medications used to treat them
- Tooth extractions
Make sure to read the fine print when signing up for dental coverage. Some don’t cover annual cleanings or cosmetic services. Most policies can provide you with a complete listing of everything the policy will and will not cover.
Conclusion
In the long run, having pet insurance is really a good idea when you’re a pet owner. Our pets can’t talk to us and tell us what’s wrong with them or what they’re feeling. Vet bills can be as high as medical bills for humans.
The best path to pet insurance would be to research a few companies and lay all of their offerings out on the table. Most pet insurances will cover basic exams, vaccines, and annual checkups. Make sure you pick the policy that fits your and your pet’s needs. Keep in mind that the age of your pet or the extent of their medical pre-existing medical conditions could have an affect on the amount you’ll pay for your policy every month.
