Friday, December 7, 2012

Any suggestions on pet health insurance for a reasonable cost?

Q. I am looking for some cat health insurance for 2 cats. 4 and a 5 year old. I heard that it is very expensive. Any suggestions?

A. Pet insurance is good for unexpected accidents and illnesses. They can get expensive quickly, so it's nice to have insurance to cover the costs. Pet insurance does not cover pre-existing conditions, so if your pet is already sick or injured, it is unlikely that pet insurance will cover the costs to treat it.

For other costs like regular exams and vaccines, it's best to self-budget since these costs are expected. Some pet insurance companies offer coverage, but it is typically not cost-effective. (Imagine paying an extra $200 per year on your premiums for $200 worth of routine coverage...)

A few good questions to ask when researching pet insurance are:
1. Does the policy cover everything? Hereditary and congenital issues?
2. What are the payout limits? Will it be enough money for my worst case scenario?
3. How much does it cover for each condition?
4. What are the pricing and deductible options?
5. Is it an ongoing policy? If my pet has an illness during my first policy year, will it be covered the next policy year?

Be sure to do thorough research - Some plans don't pay based on your actual bill, but have lists of predetermined dollar amounts that they will pay for each condition which can be shockingly low in many cases. I would recommend getting an actual insurance plan that covers based on your bill so that you are never faced with a difficult and expensive situation when you *thought* you were covered.

We cover 90% of the actual bill for diagnostic testing, treatments, surgeries and medications including emergency and specialist visits. Trupanion is also the only provider to offer a $0 deductible option.
Feel free to give customer service a call and get a no-obligation quote to ask all the necessary questions and find out what's best for you!

What is the best low cost pet insurance?
Q. I just heard that you can get health insurance for your pet. I want to know if anyone has any feedback on the best low cost pet insurance.

A. Be careful. In general, low cost pet insurance usually means lower medical and monetary coverage.

Make sure the insurance company you pick will provide good medical coverage for your pet's species and breed, and good monetary coverage for your geographic location. If you don't, you may not get reimbursed when the time comes. Not all pet insurance companies are created equal.

To make a plan's premium more affordable for you, find a company with good medical coverage and monetary payout for your situation, then adjust the copay and/or deductible. If you pick a deductible over $250, make sure it is an annual deductible not a per-incident deductible or the insurance may never kick in.

To get the most comprehensive coverage, you want to purchase a plan that covers accidents/injuries AND illnesses.

The illness part of the coverage must include: (these are common ailments in veterinary medicine)

1) Coverage for Cancer

2) Coverage for Chronic Disease
Chronic diseases are illnesses that have long duration and generally slow progression. Chronic diseases are usually not curable. Examples include: cancer, heart disease, chronic kidney disease, and chronic liver disease.

3) Continual Coverage for Chronic Disease
If you do not get this coverage, the chronic disease will only be covered in the policy year it was diagnosed, after that, you will have to pay for any continuing medications or diagnostic monitoring yourself. Treatment for most Chronic diseases will last beyond the first year of diagnosis.

4) Coverage for Hereditary & Congenital Diseases

5) Coverage for Diseases that are Common to your Pet's Breed


While generous people may give you their personal recommendations, it is still important for you to do your own research to make sure you get the best coverage and the right maximum payout for your situation. It is tedious work, but you will be better off in the long run. (There are some websites below to help make this process easier)

Also, make sure you read the company's terms and conditions very closely as there can be some very surprising exclusions.

A three great places to do your research are:

1) http://www.petinsurancereview.com - a list of customer reviews
2) http://www.pet-insurance-university.com - a site created by a vet (me) that compares the pros and cons of each company.
3) http://www.petinsuranceguideus.com - a site created by another vet who is also committed to helping pet owners make educated decisions regarding pet insurance.


I hope this helps you.

What's the best pet insurance plan and how much does it cost?
Q. I'm looking for something both affordable and useful for my cat who is 8 months old.

A. Pet insurance is good for unexpected accidents and illnesses. For other costs like regular exams and vaccines, it's best to self-budget since these costs are expected. Some pet insurance companies offer coverage, but it is typically not cost-effective. (Imagine paying an extra $200 per year on your premiums for $200 worth of routine coverage...)

It typically costs $15 to $40 per month for a cat.

A few good questions to ask when researching pet insurance are:
1. Does the policy cover everything? Hereditary and congenital issues?
2. What are the payout limits? Will it be enough money for my worst case scenario?
3. How much does it cover for each condition?
4. What are the pricing and deductible options?
5. Is it an ongoing policy? If my pet has an illness during my first policy year, will it be covered the next policy year?

Be sure to do thorough research - Some plans don't pay based on your actual bill, but have lists of predetermined dollar amounts that they will pay for each condition which can be shockingly low in many cases. I would recommend getting an actual insurance plan that covers based on your bill so that you are never faced with a difficult and expensive situation when you *thought* you were covered.

We cover 90% of the actual bill for diagnostic testing, treatments, surgeries and medications including emergency and specialist visits. Trupanion is also the only provider to offer a $0 deductible option.
Feel free to give customer service a call and get a no-obligation quote to ask all the necessary questions and find out what's best for you.




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