You love your pet, and you want to take care of them for as long as possible. Maybe that means feeding them the best food or providing a cozy bed.
However, what about covering vet bills? Pet insurance might be just what you need! Even with all your best efforts, keeping your pet healthy can lead to unexpected medical bills from time to time.
Check out this blog post for everything you need to know about pet insurance.
Whether you’re thinking of getting it for the first time or adding another pet to your policy, we’ve got you covered. Keep reading to learn more!
What is pet insurance?
Pet insurance is health insurance just like any other kind of insurance – you pay a fee every month (or year, depending on the policy) in exchange for having coverage in case your pet is injured or becomes ill.
Most policies will either reimburse you for your pet’s expenses or pay you a lump sum if your pet needs treatment for a serious illness or injury.
There are several types of pet insurance policies — some cover accidents, some cover chronic conditions, and some cover both.
You can even find policies that cover routine care, like flea and tick prevention or teeth cleaning.
How does pet insurance work?
The most common types of pet insurance are “accident only” and “routine care” policies.
When your pet is sick or injured, you take them to the vet. The vet bills your insurance company, which then decides if they’ll cover the cost.
For an “accident only” policy, you’ll most likely pay a small deductible each time your pet needs treatment.
For a “routine care” policy, you’ll pay a set amount for each item on the schedule, such as flea prevention or teeth cleaning.
For “chronic condition” policies, you’ll pay a monthly fee. If your pet is diagnosed with a chronic condition, you’ll have coverage for related treatments.
Who needs pet insurance?
Any pet owner can benefit from pet insurance. However, it’s especially important if you have a pet with special needs.
For example, a dog that’s blind or in chronic pain would likely spend a lot of time at the vet. You’d want to be able to get that care without spending a fortune.
If you have a senior pet or a new kitten or puppy, you’ll want to get pet insurance.
Senior pets are more likely to get sick, and they could become expensive to treat. Kittens and puppies are likely to get into trouble, causing cuts and other minor injuries that require treatment.
Any pet owner can benefit from pet insurance, but those with special needs have the most to gain.
How to choose a pet insurance provider
There are a lot of pet insurance providers, but not every company is a good fit for every pet owner.
Here are some questions to ask yourself as you shop around:
· How much coverage do you get?
· How much does it cost?
· Is customer service quick and friendly?
· Is it licensed in your state?
Bottom line…
Fortunately, the cost of pet insurance is much less than the cost of treating chronic or serious illnesses or injuries.
If you have a young pet with no health issues, you might save money by paying for pet insurance over the long term.
If you have an older pet, or you have a pet with special health needs, you should definitely consider purchasing a pet insurance policy.
Even one claim could pay for the cost of the pet insurance policy, and peace of mind is definitely priceless.
