If you own a pet and pet insurance is not a line item in your budget, you need to re-think it.There are more than 170 million cats and dogs in North America.Less than 3% are insured.Compare that to 20% in the UK.
It just makes sense to have pet insurance.What happens when pooch gets sick, develops a congenital disease or just plain gets in a tousle with another doggie and suffers some serious damage?Veterinarians are not cheap and it doesn’t take much to run up a bill in the thousands.For just a few dollars a month you can buy a pet insurance that will leave you worry free, secure in the knowledge that you will be able to afford the health care that your pet needs.The peace of mind is priceless.
The puppy has arrived, the essentials have all been taken care of; a visit to the vet, follow up scheduled, a nice little bed for Fluffy to lie on, perhaps a crate with another soft bed inside that she can retire to at night. Food and drinking bowls, supply of natural food and treats, lead and collar, perhaps a coat, and a few toys. Done? Not quite. Pet insurance.
Pet insurance is so important that you might want to have Immediate Coverage Pet Insurance in place before you bring Fluffy home. Many years ago when our daughter Vanessa left home to be on her own, she quickly got herself a puppy. She went to the local shelter and picked out a cutie. The pup was spunky, of indeterminate breed, but oh so cute. Those kohl lined eyes hinted of beauty and aristocracy, even if only in the eyes of the beholder. Vanessa named her Cali.
Overnight Cali got sick. The vet diagnosed parvo and suggested that the pup be taken back to the shelter in exchange for another. Asked what the chances would be with treatment, the vet was not very encouraging. Vanessa decided that this pup should have a chance at life, and after some $1500 in vet bills, Cali pulled through.
Vanessa did not have the money. She was just 18. The vet took pity and let her pay on the cuff. But still, $1500 was a lot of money for a young girl just starting out on her own
and it took her some time to pay it off.
Had she had the foresight to purchase pet insurance before taking Cali home, it would have been a different story. Cali, bless her doggie soul, should have been called Trouble because that is what she got into a lot, and the vet bills continued to be a steady line item in Vanessa’s budget.
What are some of the things to consider?
Regular Coverage.
Includes regular things like annual checkups, teeth cleaning, vaccinations and other sorts of preventative care. Ask your vet for a list, and then get a quote from your vet as to what this would cost per year. These are not typically costly expenses and you may opt to forgo this basic care and pay for it out of pocket so as to keep your premiums at a minimum. Some insurance companies may include this as a starter and build up from there.
Veterinary Fee Insurance:
This would include more than the basics. What if your puppy gets sick from having eaten something that she should not have, or developed some sort of a reaction to something and may need an overnight or even a longer stay at the vet clinic. May even need to be on IV. Medication. These are real and valid costs that can run up your vet bill.
Accidents:
My friend’s dog Gus was kibitzing around with a very rambunctious furry pal. Somehow, the other dog managed to swat Gus’s eye area, rendering a huge gash through the eyelids, miraculously leaving the eye intact. Complications ensued. Almost $2000 later, Gus is fine.
Liability,
Rocko might be a lovable and gentle dog, but for some inexplicable reason this most gentle of dogs suddenly takes a dislike to another dog and attacks that dog, or worse yet, a child, and delivers much damage. I personally know someone whose child was attacked in the dog owner’s home. The damage to the child was a scar on her face, a scar that over time became less and less pronounced, yet the award was significant enough that the trust fund that was erected not only paid the now grown girl for her college but living expenses as well. A scenario like could easily bankrupt you.
Travel/holiday:
If you travel a lot and take your furry pal with you, it would be wise to include this option. Most people take their pets with them on road trips. The dog is in unfamiliar territory and in his excitement might get careless and get into some sort of an accident … or, again, just might suffer with a sore tummy, dehydrate or something equally upsetting. Be sure that your insurance covers out of state vet coverage.
Breed Specific Conditions:
Some breeds are more prone to certain conditions, such as hip dysplasia, stomach torsion, eye problems, and the list goes on. When buying a breed do some research to see if this breed is predisposed to certain conditions. Include this in your “shopping list” when asking for a pet insurance quote.
For the best pet insurance coverage for your pet – shop around.
If you are a pet owner then you should seriously consider getting the proper pet insurance to cover the expenses involved in taking care of an animal. This is the best way to insure that you will be able to afford the unexpected expenses and will be able to provide the best care possible for your pet.
Animals are just like humans; they are just as prone to diseases and accidents as we are. Veterinary care is expensive and can have a debilitating effect on your bank balance if your pet needs emergency services. We never anticipate emergencies – stomach torsion, accident or a sudden illness. It can happen in the blink of an eye. It’s difficult enough that your pet is suffering but what if you can’t afford it? This is where pet insurance is so important. For a small monthly/annual expenditure, you can be assured of the best vet care for your precious in case of an emergency.
But how to choose the right insurance? Here is a checklist when selecting a pet insurance:
Step 1. Decide on what your needs are.
The more comprehensive the pet insurance the more it will cost. If price is no object by all means cover as much as you can: basic pet care such as annual checkups, inoculations and dental care; wounds from another dog attack or getting hit by a car; breed specific conditions such as stomach torsion or difficulty in breathing. Consult you vet as to what services or illnesses should be covered.
Step 2. Submit requests for quotes from two or three pet insurance companies. Even though you may specify what you want included, some companies will include other items as a bundle.
Step 3. When you receive the quotes carefully read through all the terms and conditions on the different policies. There are many hidden things in insurance policies, highlight the things that you want explained further and call each company for their explanation. Pick the best feature/benefit from each one and write up your wish list and resubmit. This time the quotes will be based on your knowledge based preferences and it will be easier to compare.
Step 4. One word of advice: do not go for the cheapest price instead focus on the amount of coverage that the insurance will provide. There is no point in paying for cheap insurance if it won’t cover your expenses in the future. Often times if your pet gets sick you end up paying more with the cheap insurance than you do with insurance that has higher premiums.
Just like with people, veterinarians believe that preventative care is the best prevention for diseases. It is important that your insurance will provide the necessary vaccinations, the necessary screenings and will provide all routine care that your veterinarian recommends. Be sure that you actually take your pet in for the proper screenings and vaccinations as well. If you are going to pay for the insurance that covers them you really want to make sure that you utilize this coverage.
Your pets are family and will live with you for a long time. Sometimes even with the best of care, they fall ill. Having pet insurance is the best way to ensure that you never find yourself unable to give your ill pet the care that is needed.
Pet insurance is a rapidly growing industry and for a good reason. In the United States there are over 160 million cats and dogs of which less than 3% are insured compared to 20% in the UK
It just makes sense to have pet insurance. That is why what I was hearing stopped me cold my tracks. My built in hearing radar had picked up words that it was programmed for, alerted my brain and instantly perked up my ears. The words were Pet Insurance. I looked in the direction from where the words were coming and did the only honorable thing I could: I made myself inconspicuous and eavesdropped.
This was in a highly reputable pet store in a very affluent part of town. The manager was in conversation with a customer and what I heard sent my head spinning and my senses screaming. The manager was telling her customer “… that is why I do not carry any pet insurance. I just put money in the bank and if I need it, I use it…”
Adhering to this logic, why would anyone then carry health insurance, car insurance, property insurance on your house and contents? Why not just put money away in the bank every month, and if you have a car accident, well you have the money to pay, if your house burns down, well you have the money to build another, if your health suffers … you get the drift.
Even if the above made sense, human nature somehow eschews prudence in “putting money in the bank” … why else are so many on the brink of financial disaster, no matter at what point of life they are in or how much money they make? The idea behind insurance is that for a small monthly or annual payment, you protect yourself against huge layouts of cash should an unlikely unexpected event present you with a bill larger than all your bank accounts combined. Insurance provides you with peace of mind
As with anything else, one model of pet insurance does not cover all. When shopping for your furry friend there are several things to consider. Type of Insurance: write up a list of all the things you want covered. Here is a list to begin with
- health insurance
- vet insurance
- holiday/travel insurance
- breed specific hereditary conditions
- accidents – think not only of vet bills but liability
- kennel costs
Include as many items as you can think of, categorize them in order of priority and then go shopping. You can do this online. Approach several insurance companies. You might want to ask your vet for a referral or two. Submit your list in order of importance and ask for a quote. Let each company know that you are shopping for the best pet insurance and are submitting the same list to a few of their competitors — in this way they may be more inclined to sharpen their pencil.
After you get our quotes take them to your vet so that he can help you assess and select the best one for your and your pet’s needs. It’s always good to check with the professionals who deal most with what you are looking for and then you will be secure in the knowledge that you have the best pet insurance
