TeamHealthcare for pets is not cheap. The cost of common pet illnesses and injuries can be more than expected and the added cost of ongoing medication can become a huge financial burden.
It is not possible to predict all veterinary expenses that come with becoming a pet owner. Getting pet insurance is the best way of handling health expenses.
Without insurance, it becomes hard to take proper care of pets. Luckily the pet insurance can provide the financial assistance required to ensure the good health of the animals.
Benefits Of Pet Insurance
Pets are just as vulnerable to illnesses and injuries as we are. It is a smart move to be financially prepared for any such tragedy by investing in pet insurance.
Here are a few reasons for getting pet insurance
- Freedom to choose your veterinarian
- No discrimination against any age or breed of the pet
- Offers financial security
Pet Insurance Coverage
The finest pet insurance policies can cover a significant portion of the cost of expensive medical care and diagnostic procedures. However, depending on your insurance plan, not all conditions/expenses incurred by your pet will be covered. Selecting a breed-specific pet insurance plan ensures that your pet gets the best care it needs and deserves.
The coverage includes:
- Unaccepted accidents and injuries like broken bones, ingestion of foreign objects, etc.
- Unexpected illnesses like glaucoma, parvovirus, cancer, etc.
- Surgeries
- Medication
- Examinations/diagnostics (like x-rays, blood tests, MRIs, and more)
- Fees for emergency examinations
- Pre-existing ailments are generally not covered by most insurance policies.
The specifics will vary according to the kind of coverage you and the provider you select. Things not covered by Pet Insurance Does Not Cover the Following:
- Pre-existing diseases
- Routine health examinations to ensure the wellness of the pet
- Vaccines
- Medication to prevent illnesses or injuries
- Neuter/Spay
Exclusions
While no pet insurance company covers pre-existing illnesses, some do cover curable conditions after a waiting period with no recurrent symptoms.
Additionally, dogs with pre-existing conditions remain eligible for insurance; their coverage would just omit the pre-existing illness.
Coverage Types
While the words “accident” and “sickness” may seem to be interchangeable, there is a distinction between the two. When a pet sustains a physical injury because of an event, it may suffer fractures (broken bones), burns, wounds, or other physical ailments. In some cases, policies covering illnesses also cover other health issues like viral infections, hip dysplasia, parasites, and even dental issues.
Accident-only policies cover just emergency treatment as a result of accidents, like when your pet is struck by a vehicle or falls down the stairs. This kind of coverage excludes diseases and breed-specific problems.
Accident-illness policies cover both accidental injuries and unforeseen illnesses. It is the most prevalent, accounting for about 95 percent of pet insurance policies issued by the industry. This kind of plan does not cover preventative care or pre-existing diseases but does cover almost everything else.
Pet Insurance: How Does It Work?
Pet insurance makes sure that the pet’s health does not become a financial burden for the owner by mitigating the financial risks that come with unpredictable health expenses. Unlike conventional insurance, pet health insurance operates a little differently.
When the medical costs are covered by insurance, the expenses of your visit to the veterinarian will be the insurer’s responsibility. The payment depends on the proportion decided in the plan.
Pre-existing Diseases In general, insurers do not cover pre-existing conditions, and each insurer defines them differently.
Waiting Period
The waiting period is put in place so that the pet owners do not rush to get an insurance plan in case their pet gets sick or injured.
Generally, pet insurance plans include a 14-day waiting period, except for hip dysplasia and other illnesses that have their waiting periods. Restriction of Policy Most plans requires you to choose certain coverage limitations. These include an annual reimbursement cap, which is usually between $5,000 and $25,000 – the greater the cap, the higher the premium.
Finally, many insurers impose age restrictions on coverage, which means that coverage on an existing policy will lapse beyond a certain age. Similarly, some pet insurance firms will not provide new coverage to pets beyond a certain age.
Conclusion
Keeping a pet is fun and it comes with a huge responsibility as you have to ensure the well-being of a living being. Getting pet insurance makes sure that you are financially prepared if a medical emergency strikes. A good insurance plan can save and extend the life of your pet.
Whether your pet is young and healthy or old, you should consider getting pet insurance because the tragedy can strike your pet anytime. Always evaluate the whole cost of a pet insurance coverage and compare it to the possible veterinary expenses you may spend.
