What Is Pet Insurance?

Pet health insurance has been around for some time but many people aren't aware of it. Pet owners with insurance can now provide greater levels of care that in previous years would have been cost prohibitive. Unlike other health care professions, veterinary medicine is not financially based on insurance. Pet owners are accountable for all the veterinary costs which includes preventive, emergency and disease conditions.

Pet health insurance is similar to human insurance policies with annual premiums, deductibles, and the pet owners choice of different coverage plans. Plans are usually based on species, age, if there are pre-existing conditions and if your pet is mostly an indoor or outdoor pet. Some companies will allow for pre-existing conditions if your pet is stable after the 3 to 12 month waiting period. Other companies will refuse to cover pets with pre-existing conditions or terminal diseases. Some dog breeds that are prone to certain diseases may not be covered either. Most of these insurance policies start when your pet is 6-8 weeks old. Some will have an age limit of 8 years while others will have no age limit.

The cost of the policy can vary depending on the type of pet and the package optiom that the pet owner has selected. Some packages are comprehensive paying for most types of veterinary care which includes annual checkups, immunizations, preventive medications and spay/neuter surgeries. Other plans will only cover accidents and illness.

Most plans offer immediate coverage for accident claims and a 30 day wait period for new policies on illness claims. A reduced rate can be obtained if you are insuring more than one pet.

Pet insurance is a growing option for many pet owners who think of their pets as being a loved and cherished member of the family. Pet Health Care Insurance is resonably inexpensive and covers unexpected health or accident issues. If you had to pay for treatments out of your own pocket, would you be able to cover the costs?

Odds are that sometime during your pets life they are going to need veterinary care for injuries or illness and being faced with thousands of dollars in bills makes you ask yourself the question, can I afford to pay or will I have to euthanize my pet because I didn't have insurance.

Deciding to purchase a health insurance plan is not an easy decision but the peace of mind it provides for the pet owner knowing that their beloved companion will be well cared for is worth the cost of the policy.

Some things to consider when buying a policy to get a headstart and save time:

• Are pre-existing conditions included or excluded

• What are the age ranges of pets that are accepted

• What is covered? Vaccinations, spaying, neutering, or cancer therapies

• Is there a difference in an indoor pet or one that is often outside

• How much is the deductible

• Can you use any veterinarian or does the provider decide

• Is there an annual limit on how much the policy will pay

• Are there restrictions on certain breed types

• Under what conditions can the insurance policy be canceled by the insurer

• How long before a claim is paid

Now that you know what to look for go ahead and get a Free Quote from the different insurance companies and compare them. Select the one that best serves you and your pet. There is no greater feeling than knowing that your faithful companion will be cared for no matter what unfortunate event might arise.