What You Need to Know About Pet Insurance

Did you know that you can purchase health insurance for your pet?  If you didn’t, you’re not alone.  Many pet owners have no idea this even exists.  The ones that do know it exists aren’t really clear on how it actually works and if it’s worth the money.  To help you decide if you should buy health insurance for your pet, here some questions you should find out about the insurance you’re interested in before you buy.  These questions will make sure that you have all of the information you need to know before you make your decision.

• Can I choose my own vet?  If not, which vets do you cover?
• What type of pets do you cover?
• Do you cover after hours emergencies?
• Does the coverage stop when my pet turns a certain age?
• What is the total amount of reimbursement?
• What exactly is and isn’t covered under the policy?
• Are there any medical conditions that aren’t covered?
• Do you cover accidents?  If so, are there any exclusions?
• Do you cover any pre-existing conditions?  If so, which ones?
• What are the premiums for the different choices in coverage?
• What are the deductible choices I have?
• How will the deductible affect the premium?

These are all very important questions to ask.  Many companies that offer pet insurance have hidden fees or several restrictions they may not tell you about until you ask.  You need to find out as much as you can up front.  There is no reason to pay your premiums for months or years even, only to find out that they won’t cover your pet’s particular health problem. 

You should also find out if your current vet will take the insurance you’re interested in.  If not, they should be able to recommend a few choices that they do take.  This may be a big influence in your decision of which provider to go with.  Another tip is to make sure that you get all of the information you’re told over the phone in writing, and read your policy carefully before you sign.  Many times sales people will tell you one thing over the phone to get you to buy, then your policy says something completely different.

You should weigh all of your options when deciding on buying pet health insurance.  Depending on your needs, it may or may not be a good choice for you.  Before you buy, you should really consider all of the information above.  You need to make sure that the insurance plan will fit into your budget and cover all of your pet’s needs.  You may find that it’s cheaper for you to continue to pay for your pet health costs out of pocket.  In which case, you should pass on the insurance.