Do You Need Pet Insurance?
With many providers to choose from, how do you know which one is right for you and your pet? Like people insurance, pet policies come with a variety of deductibles, co-payments, and premiums. Unlike people coverage, you usually have to pay the vet bills in full and wait for reimbursement. The cost of coverage can increase depending on your pet’s breed (purebreds cost more to insure because they’re more prone to some hereditary conditions), age (plans may cost more as your pet gets older), the rising cost of veterinary care, and the coverage options you choose, such as your deductible amount. Other companies calculate reimbursements based on the “usual and customary costs” of vet care in your area. Almost all policies exclude pre-existing conditions and may exclude breed-specific conditions (or charge you more to cover them).
You can pick a plan that insures costs due to accidents (such as injuries caused by motor vehicles), or accidents and illness (including arthritis, cancer, and colitis). Some providers also offer wellness coverage for certain routine care, like annual exams, flea and tick treatments, and vaccinations. Eighty-one percent of pet insurance policies are accident and illness plans for dogs; 14.6 percent provide the same kind of coverage for cats and other pets. Only about 4 percent of the market is made up of accident-only and wellness coverage.
Please take a moment to read this article from The American Veterinary Medical Association
Here are a few companies to research….
