Pet
Insurance? Need it? Have it?
Love it? Hate it? Confused by it? What are your thoughts? Well we have had a handful of customers ask
us about Pet Insurance so we thought we’d blog about it today. There are a variety of different pet
insurances out there, just like with your own personal insurance every
insurance company/type is different but I’m sure there is a plan out there to
fit (almost) everyone’s different needs.
Q: What
are the basic considerations when deciding what pet insurance coverage is right
for me?
Most policies have annual premiums that can be paid monthly, including varying levels of deductibles, and allow for different types of coverage. Many plans do not cover hereditary conditions, illnesses or annual vaccines.
You should decide whether to secure comprehensive pet insurance coverage, which may include exams, vaccinations, and spraying or neutering, or a more limited plan that focuses on emergencies or surgeries.
In evaluating different types of pet insurance coverage, consider your own financial situation and ability to pay for a catastrophic event such as a medical emergency or a surgery against the likelihood that your pet will have certain types of medical problems. In making this decision, some pet owners have found it useful to weigh whether the neighborhood in which they live are conducive to traffic-related accidents or incidents with neighboring animals.
Q: In some places, I've seen it described as older pet insurance or senior pet insurance. Can I get insurance for my older pet?
Yes, you can get pet insurance for your senior pet, but you will want to very carefully review plan features and make certain the benefits are consistent with your expectations. Not surprisingly, you are likely to find that premiums for senior pet insurance are more expensive than those for your younger pets.
Q: What about pet insurance for pre-existing conditions?
As with securing insurance policies for yourself or your family members, securing pet insurance for pre-existing conditions can be an insurmountable hurdle. When requesting a quote or completing paperwork, we encourage you to be forthcoming about your pet's medical issues and be prepared to provide your pet's medical records, if requested.
Q: My dog is perfectly healthy? Do I really need pet insurance?
Life is unpredictable. No matter what you do to keep your pet healthy, you have no control over accidents and unforeseeable illnesses. Pet insurance coverage helps ensure the best possible medical care for your pets, while protecting you, as the owner, from having to make extremely difficult financial decisions around your pet's care, at a later date.
Q: How will my pet's insurance policy be involved when I visit my veterinarian's office?
With most plans you pay the complete costs upfront and get reimbursed later.
After paying your veterinarian for the complete costs your pet's care via cash, check or credit card, you must complete the appropriate paperwork provided by your insurer and submit this to the insurance company. In the pet insurance industry, there are no co-pays. Your insurer will then reimburse you the based on the conditions of your plan.
In certain cases, you may have to request that your vet complete elements of the insurance company's claim form.
Most policies have annual premiums that can be paid monthly, including varying levels of deductibles, and allow for different types of coverage. Many plans do not cover hereditary conditions, illnesses or annual vaccines.
You should decide whether to secure comprehensive pet insurance coverage, which may include exams, vaccinations, and spraying or neutering, or a more limited plan that focuses on emergencies or surgeries.
In evaluating different types of pet insurance coverage, consider your own financial situation and ability to pay for a catastrophic event such as a medical emergency or a surgery against the likelihood that your pet will have certain types of medical problems. In making this decision, some pet owners have found it useful to weigh whether the neighborhood in which they live are conducive to traffic-related accidents or incidents with neighboring animals.
Q: In some places, I've seen it described as older pet insurance or senior pet insurance. Can I get insurance for my older pet?
Yes, you can get pet insurance for your senior pet, but you will want to very carefully review plan features and make certain the benefits are consistent with your expectations. Not surprisingly, you are likely to find that premiums for senior pet insurance are more expensive than those for your younger pets.
Q: What about pet insurance for pre-existing conditions?
As with securing insurance policies for yourself or your family members, securing pet insurance for pre-existing conditions can be an insurmountable hurdle. When requesting a quote or completing paperwork, we encourage you to be forthcoming about your pet's medical issues and be prepared to provide your pet's medical records, if requested.
Q: My dog is perfectly healthy? Do I really need pet insurance?
Life is unpredictable. No matter what you do to keep your pet healthy, you have no control over accidents and unforeseeable illnesses. Pet insurance coverage helps ensure the best possible medical care for your pets, while protecting you, as the owner, from having to make extremely difficult financial decisions around your pet's care, at a later date.
Q: How will my pet's insurance policy be involved when I visit my veterinarian's office?
With most plans you pay the complete costs upfront and get reimbursed later.
After paying your veterinarian for the complete costs your pet's care via cash, check or credit card, you must complete the appropriate paperwork provided by your insurer and submit this to the insurance company. In the pet insurance industry, there are no co-pays. Your insurer will then reimburse you the based on the conditions of your plan.
In certain cases, you may have to request that your vet complete elements of the insurance company's claim form.
*Below
is a sampling of some of the different pet insurances & what some of them
do/don’t cover. For more details please
contact the pet insurance company directly.
We hope that this helps your search of what pet insurance is right for
you & your pup.
| VPI | Major Medical Plan | Medical Plan | Injury Plan |
| 1. Accidents Covered | 1. Accidents Covered | 1. Accidents Covered | |
| 2. X-Rays & Surgeries Covered | 2. X-Rays & Surgeries Covered | 2. X-Rays & Surgeries Covered | |
| 3-Prescription & Hospitalization Covered | 3-Prescription & Hospitalization Covered | 3-Prescription & Hospitalization Covered | |
| 4- Illneses (Cancer & Hereditary Diseases) | 4- Illnesses (Cancer) |
| Embrace: | Full Coverage | Accident Only |
| 1. Illnesses and Accidents | 1. Selected Accidents Covered | |
| 2. Hospitalization and Surgery | ||
| 3. Diagnostics and Nursing |
| PurinaCare | Accident Only | Full Coverage | Plus |
| 1. Selected Accidents Covered | 1. Illnesses and Accidents | 1. Preventive Care Coverage | |
| 2. Hospitalization and Surgery | 2. Illnesses and Accidents | ||
| 3. Diagnostics and Prescriptions | 3. Hospitalization and Surgery | ||
| 4. Diagnostics and Prescriptions |
| 24 Pet Watch | Gold | Complete | Optimum | Accident Only | Starter Only |
| 1. All Accidents Covered | 1. All Accidents Covered | 1. First Time Illness Coverage | 1. Selected Accidents Covered | 1. First Month Only $1 | |
| 2. All Illnesses Covered | 2. All Illnesses Covered | 2. Selected Accidents Covered | 2. No Illnesses Covered | 2. First Time Illness Coverage | |
| 3. Choose 70 or 90% Pay Out | 3. $150 for Wellness Costs | 3. $150 for Annual Wellness | 3. 100% Pay Out | 3. Selected Accidents Covered | |
| 4. 70% Pay Out | 4. 90% Pay Out | 4. 100% Pay Out |
