There are a number of things that you need to consider before you make a definite decision as to if you should really purchase pet insurance. Here are some tips that may be useful to you:
1) You should assess your monetary circumstances. Pet insurance can be expensive depending on the plan that you choose.
2) You need to consider whether or not you own a pet that needs special medical treatments. In most of the cases to buy pet insurance, you will not have to provide a medical history before you can obtain coverage which means your pet can get coverage regardless of the previous medical history.
However, as pets get older, depending on their breed they might start to show signs of various old age diseases such as hyperthyroidism.
Therefore if your pet is ten years old or older you will still be able to purchase pet insurance but the insurance company will most likely need to look at your pet's medical records. You may need to pay for premium rates which are higher but can still save you a lot of money in medical expenses since older pets tend to have more health problems.
However if your pet is at least middle-aged and in good health you most likely do not need pet insurance. The pet will need yearly veterinarian checks, but the cost of that is far less than the cost of pet insurance.
There is another reason to purchase a pet insurance if you are dealing with pure bred dogs, especially if you decide to show the dog. The appearance of these dogs depends very much on their health, so it is very important that they have the proper insurance.
In addition if you have a dog that has done work in the movies, and if the dog gets sick it affects filming, it is also important that the dog has health insurance. The insurance will benefit you just as much as it will benefit the dog in this case.
3) You should shop around to find the best pet insurance company. Some things you want to look out for are:
i) how much the company charges per month,
ii) the size of the coverage,
iii) the vets you are limited to, or if you are limited to any vets at all, as well as
iv) what is covered by the policy should your pet need medical assistance. One of the most important things you want to note is the coverage when it comes to pet medical emergencies.
The Coverage
There are pet insurance policies for all kinds of pets. It is a common misunderstanding that pet insurance policies only cover cats and dogs but there are, in reality, policies out there to protect any pet, no matter what kind it is.
Many pet insurance policies will provide coverage for everything from routine office visits to emergency surgery. There are a vast variety of plans available for you to choose from. Basic plans will cover things such as accident or illness, prescription drugs, x-rays, hospital stays, and even treatment for chronic diseases.
Higher packages such as premium coverage is available which also helps with routine vaccinations, annual office visits, flea and tick control, and other preventive measures. The good news is that most of these premium policies will even cover hereditary conditions such as skin disorders and back problems.
All You Have To Do
With many pet insurance companies the only thing you will be asked to do when your visit at the vet is done is to pay your portion of the bill. The rest of the bill will be paid to the vet directly by the insurance company. If however your vet does not accept this mode of payment then you will need to turn in the bill to the pet insurance company yourself. Most companies will process your claim within the week and return your money to you in a timely manner.
Some pet insurance companies require you to pay a deductible before insurance coverage begins. Some companies offer deductibles as low as fifty dollars while others can cost over a hundred dollars. Fortunately there is only one deductible for each year of coverage.
There are many companies that now provide the service of pet insurance so you should have no problem finding a policy that fits within your budget. You can ask your vet for pet insurance information or call an independent pet insurance company that you can source online. Remember to shop around to ensure that you are getting the lowest priced premiums available.
Any avid pet owner likely would do most anything to keep their pets happy, unfortunately many pet owners are not even fully aware that getting pet health insurance for their cat or dog is even an option for them. This is because most people are never told about it until after it is too late. Sure you might see a flyer in the store, or some add online, but the truth is that no one ever really wants to share the bottom line truth about what is involved with getting pet insurance. Let's take a quick look at the good and bad points of what you will encounter with insuring your pet's health for the long term.
Like any type of insurance, there are dozens of companies that can provide you with insurance quotes and plans. As with your own insurance, you will be left to decide which company is best for you and your pet's needs. Here is a brief list of several of the most readily available pet insurance carriers on the Internet:
Pet Care Insurance Companies - PetCareInsurance.com Veterinary Pet Insurance Company (VOI) -PetInsurance.com Pets Best Insurance - PetsBest.com Vet Insurance - VetInsurance.com
The basics of any insurance plan, whether it is for you or your pet are always the same: coverage, cost, and available doctors.
Because not all vets will be participating members of any one insurance company, you should always check with your locally preferred vets first. If you have been using the same vet for 20 years, then ask if they are members of any vet insurance companies, and ask why they have never mentioned it to you before.
Insurance coverage will vary based on each company. I found one company website, PetCareInsurance.com, to be quite informative and displayed available coverage options from the start. They did not hide behind the "get a quote type option". Coverage levels can include accidents only or long-term illnesses, and could range from a seventy percent (70%) payments to as high as one hundred percent (100%) cost coverage.
They also list the cost associated with common problems. This is when you realize that some issues like gastric torsion (where the stomach twists and bloats) or a bone fracture can cost you $3000 per occurrence. The vet is never going to tell you ahead of time how much some hereditary disease will cost you. No one ever thinks to ask how much it will cost *if* my dog breaks a leg. We do not want to think ahead in that manner. A breeder I received two dogs from recently paid $2500 to remove a throat blockage from a 5 week old puppy. There is no way to know what will happen with your pet.
The monthly costs involved could be as low as $11 per month for accident only coverage, to a range of $35-$85 for specific breeds long term illness coverage. Obviously some breeds are more prone to particular illnesses then other breeds. You should know your breed well, and take this into consideration when looking for pet insurance.
The bottom line is that you need to do your homework. You need to know the potential risks for your breed of cat or dog, as well as how they behave. If your dog is chasing cars all day long, assume that the risk of an accident is much higher then a dog who is stuck indoors all day. This is in no way saying that an indoor accident will not happen, but some things are more inherently dangerous.
Decide if you can afford to spend a small amount each month, or if you could afford to come up with a quick $3000 if you need to. Check with your vet about pet insurance companies they recommend or use personally. Ask them for their honest opinions, not a sales pitch. By taking the time and steps needed to learn and make an informed decision about pet insurance you could literally save your pet's life.
Both Cindy Heller & Derek Wood are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
Cindy Heller has sinced written about articles on various topics from Network Marketing, Finances and Jewelry. Cindy Heller is a professional writer. Visit to learn the difference between. Cindy Heller's top article generates over 368000 views. to your Favourites.
Derek Wood has sinced written about articles on various topics from Obesity, Make Money Online and Pets. Derek Wood breeds and trains large breed dogs through the use of healthy and humane techniques. He is a life-long pet advocate and animal friend. Get