Keeping an animal as a pet means adopting it as part ---practically a member, if not really a member--- of the family. Your children pet it, you talk to it, you care for it and you love it, especially if your pet is a dog or cat that can also reciprocate with love for you. It is therefore natural for you to fret and worry if your pet gets sick, hurt or otherwise unhealthy.

What happens, then, if your pet suddenly gets hurt or falls ill, and you don't have the budget for its hospitalization or treatment at the time? Will you nevertheless take it to the vet, hoping to find him a compassionate professional, who can ‘advance' you the cost of medical treatment? Or would you just accept the inevitable –whatever it is--- result of your pet's injury or ailment? To avoid such scenario, the answer is pet insurance.

Why Insure your Pet?

Whether you accept it or not, your pet is an investment. You probably bought it from a pet shop or a kennel if it is a dog. You provided it with food, water, shelter, and plenty of attention. In return you expect to derive pleasure and reciprocal attention from it. It may, of course, simply be psychic in terms of fulfillment but fulfillment nevertheless. Therefore it follows that you hope to receive such fulfillment from your pet as long as you can.

But pets, like humans, are also subject to ailments, accidents, and hurt. In such instances they also need medical treatment and attention, but it does not follow that you can always support such need. The need may come suddenly and unexpectedly, that you may not be ready for it. Therefore, as you insure your loved ones you should think of insuring your loved pet or pets to provide it with a continuous opportunity to reciprocate the love and affection you bestowed on it.

Insurance coverage

Pet insurance, just like normal insurance for humans, also underwent a series of development phases. After the barrier of non-acceptability was hurdled, the extent of insurable coverage also grew in a series of spurts. Today, after many decades, pet insurance has evolved into an insurance industry sector with its own rules, regulations, levels, standards and requirements. Pet insurance has come of age.

Like any other kind of life insurance, pet insurance basically covers health and hospitalization, veterinary care and medicine, and life and accident insurance in varying combinations of cover, depending on many different factors. These factors may include, among others, pet species and other specifics (if a dog or cat, for example, breed, age, and whether its master is a family or an individual), living and other domestic conditions, and level of care normally bestowed by its owner. Some might even consider the economic stratum the owner belongs to as a significant factor in determining the appropriate insurance cover for the pet.

Insurance Particulars

As stated above, insurance coverage of pets vary with companies in terms of coverage and eligibility requirements. Some pet insurance companies will not cover animals not certified by their veterinarian as ‘normal', ‘stable', or ‘controlled', those prone to certain ailments or diseases, ‘old' pets, and the terminally ill. Other companies, notably those insuring pets of high-profile owners such as the rich and the famous, may even require authenticated and certified pedigree papers, but the coverage amounts may also be astronomical and incredibly large.

Premium payments also depend on the capacity to pay and desired or agreed on terms. Some may be monthly, semi-annually or annually, and may cover regularly scheduled check-ups, standard or special preventive medication, vaccination, grooming, and other wellness requirements. Group insurance options are also available, often at rates lower than individual costs, as well as accident insurance, which may specify coverage terms.

It is best to check around for the best deals, but one thing is sure: pet insurance is your best gift for your pet.