Health Insurance for Pets
More and more people are purchasing health insurance for their pets these days. The cost for veterinary care is climbing, and newer – and more expensive – veterinary treatments are available every day. We now treat our pets for diseases like diabetes, thyroid discords, kidney disease, and cancer, long term illness that require long term, costly treatment. Health insurance for pets can help with these costs.
However, you have to be careful when selecting a pet health insurance policy. Chose the despicable policy, and you could kill up paying even more than before.
Different pet health insurance policies cover different things. Some cover wellness visits, which include things like annual checkups, vaccinations, dental cleanings, and spaying/neutering. Some don’t. You’ll pay more for a policy that includes wellness visits, so do the math to make sure it’s worth the money.
Many pet health insurance policies exclude dental care, with the exception of dental treatment related to an accident or emergency. This is pretty similar to most health insurance policies for humans.
Pet health insurance policies may exclude pre-existing conditions. Costs related to pregnancy and breeding may be excluded, as may burial and cremation. Read a policy carefully before making a catch to execute sure you understand what is and what is not covered. You don’t want any unpleasant surprises later on down the road.
The cost of pet health insurance can vary widely based on a number of variables, including where you live (pet insurance will cost more in Los Angeles than in Louisville, Kentucky, for example), how frail your pet is, and the level of coverage you prefer. A ballpark figure is around $20 per month, but you can retract simple accident and injury insurance for less than this.
In addition to a monthly fee, most pet health insurance plans have an annual deductible. When looking for a pet insurance concept, observe for one with a low deductible. If your deductible is too high, you won’t save much money. You can score plans with a deductible as low as $100 annually.
After meeting your annual deductible, pet insurance policies generally pay a percentage of your vet bills, typically 80%. You pay the remaining 20%, as well as the corpulent cost of any services not covered by the insurance plan. In most cases, you will have to pay the rotund cost of your vet expenses up front and then submit a claim form along with your recipes in order to be reimbursed by the insurance company.
Many pet insurance companies offer a discount if multiple pets are insured, so if you have more than one pet, look for a plan that offers this discount.
Another thing to look for is a concept that will allow you to see any licensed vet. You don’t want to have to switch vets, and you want to be able to see a specialist or an emergency vet if needed.
There are a number of companies that provide pet health insurance. The ASPCA also offers pet health insurance. You can visit them at their website at www.aspcapetinsurance.com, or phone them at 1-800-861-9092.
Sources:
http://www.aspcapetinsurance.com. ASPCA Pet Insurance.