Your pet is an important part of your family. But unfortunately, just like a human family member, your pet often needs expensive healthcare and medical treatment. A year of wellness checkouts at the vet costs an average of $235 for dogs and $196 for cats – and procedures like a single tooth removal can total more than $400. Fortunately, pet insurance may be able to help you reduce these costs. You can search online for pet insurance policies right now.
Pet insurance, like human health insurance, covers the costs of some medical needs. From routine checkups to accidents and unexpected illnesses, pet insurance can be a hugely valuable financial investment. And it can be affordable. You can find pet insurance at different price points with an online search.
If you’re wondering how you can find the perfect pet insurance policy for your pets, here are a few tips that’ll help you choose between different options.
Determine Whether Your Pet Will Qualify
Pet insurance is available for animals of all kinds. Of course, the most common pets covered by pet insurance are cats and dogs. But even if you have a popular, well-known pet, it’s a good idea to check and see if your furry friend qualifies for insurance coverage.
Some pet insurance plans limit the types of animals that can qualify. And even if cats and dogs are accepted, there may be limitations on their breed. Certain breeds may have a predisposition or higher risk for certain medical conditions, and that can lead to some cat and dog breeds being excluded on some pet insurance plans.
Age is another important factor. Young pets are easy to insure. Older pets – seven to eight years old or older – are considered geriatric. And because they’re more likely to develop illnesses and ailments, older pets may not qualify for coverage. If they do qualify, their premiums may be more expensive.
Additionally, if your pet has any pre-existing conditions, you’ll want to see if there are any limitations or exclusions. Typically, pet insurance will not cover any conditions that your pet is currently undergoing treatment for or has been treated for in the past. However, there are some pet insurance companies that will offer plans that do include pre-existing conditions. You just have to search and shop around.
Decide What Kind of Coverage Your Pet Needs
Once you’ve determined your pet can qualify for pet insurance, you’ll want to look into the available types of coverage. Different insurers offer different levels of coverage – and you can also customize your pet’s coverage with some insurance companies.
The following are the most common types of pet insurance plans you can buy:
- Accident-Only Plans, which cover accidents like broken bones.
- Pet Wellness Plans, which cover routine treatments and vet visits, like annual wellness exams, vaccinations, and flea and tick prevention.
- Time-Limited Plans, which cover treatments up to a certain limit and within a certain time period.
- Maximum-Benefit Plans, which only cover pets up to a certain dollar amount.
- Lifetime Policies, which are the most comprehensive policies available.
Ask yourself what kind of coverage is most important for your pet. Do you want routine costs covered, like annual vet checkups, vaccinations, and preventative medicine? Or is it more important that your pet is covered in the event of an accident? Comprehensive coverage can be a great compromise choice, as it includes everything you might want. But to save money, more limited policies are more affordable.
Look Into What’s Covered and What’s Excluded
Before you make the final decision on a pet insurance policy, make sure to check the fine print. You need to know exactly what’s covered and what isn’t. Otherwise, you might find yourself paying for procedures or services that you didn’t expect to.
Check for any excluded health conditions, any breed specifications, and any limitations that might appear as your pet grows older or becomes ill. Will your pet be covered if they develop a serious illness while insured?
Make sure to look at what’s included when you visit the vet too. Routine checkups might be covered, but what if you have to make an emergency visit? What about blood tests and other diagnostic work?
You should also look at the details of your insurance premium. Insurance companies can increase premiums – and you need to find how often your premium may change, as well as by how much. You don’t want to discover that your premium will increase dramatically each year, or that it’ll quickly get to a price you can’t afford.
Compare Pet Insurance Companies Online
Lastly, make sure to search for pet insurance online. It’s the easiest way to discover all of the different pet insurance policies that are available. And you can browse insurance companies’ policies right from home. Look for quality pet insurance plans, and read what customers have to say. See if there are any exclusions or special factors to consider.
You should also compare the pet insurance policies you’re interested in. Compare their prices and their coverage levels, as well as how you’ll be reimbursed. That’s the best way to find a pet insurance policy that meets what you and your pet need.