Investigating Pet Insurance

As a pet owner, pet insurance is a purchase worth considering, especially if money is tight each month. Unexpected vet bills can be devastating, and an insurance policy can help.

One aspect of pet ownership not fully understood by the novice pet owner is the over all cost of keeping a pet. Dogs are often more expensive than cats. After all, it makes sense that a big dog eats more than a small cat. Annual vet visits are typically more for dogs as well.When your pet becomes ill or has an accident, it's going to cost you... big time!

If you're a cat owner and you're thinking, well, my cat is indoors and can't get into a car accident, you might want to think again. Indoor cats have been known to get out when busy owners are not looking. In addition, there are many dangers to your pet around the house as well.

There are many stories of cats needing medical treatment after eating something they shouldn't have at holiday time. Dogs' and cats' guts are not meant to deal with things like "Silly String."

Pet emergencies can be extremely costly. Even without an accident, your cat may still become ill. Cats are prone to diabetes, heart conditions, worms, and many other health conditions.

What is pet insurance? I don't want to bring you bad luck, but what happens if you take Fifi to the vet and she's diagnosed with a major illness? Your expenses could run in the thousands for testing and long term care. The whole idea behind of pet insurance is to help pet owners defray health care costs for their animals by paying small amounts each month for a pet health insurance policy.

Do you really need an insurance policy for your cat or dog?

My cat has a serious heart condition, and I did not have pet insurance at the time. When she began to show symptoms of a problem the vet determined that she had a heart murmer. I was willing to pay the vet whatever it took to find out exactly what was going on. Having been through this rather expensive experience with my cat, I can say that having pet insurance coverage for her would have been a big weight off my shoulders.

Something that truly surprised me was that through each step of the process, my vet kept saying that we could stop if the cost was too much. I kept telling him that I didn't care about the cost, only about my cat!

On the other hand, I know someone who is still paying the very large vet bills for a dog she had who died quite some time ago. If she had had a pet insurance policy, her expenses would have been covered.

The Good: Pet insurance gives you as a pet owner peace of mind and ease of wallet. To be able to budget your pet’s health care costs over the life of your pet can give you a sense of freedom both financially and emotionally.

Most of us are on a monthly budget. Incorporating your pet insurance premiums (and therefore the cost of your pet's health care) into that budget helps you avoid sudden and unexpected expenses. You won't have any unplanned-for out-of-pocket expenses if your pet becomes ill or is involved in an accident. One thing I learned early on as a cat owner is that vets are not cheap!

You can choose from different plans from various companies, some of which pay up to 100%, with no physical exam required. In some cases, there are no annual maximum benefit restrictions. You can even get routine care, such as vaccinations and prescription flea medication covered. Some company plans, such as VPI Pet Insurance, will also cover spay and neuter procedures. See the details of the VPI Superior Plan plus Routine Care Coverage at VPI's web site.

As long as she is not subject to one of the exclusions, your pet is guaranteed to be accepted by PetCare Pet Insurance. As with all insurance, you may cancel your policy if you feel it is not in your best interest.

Customer satisfaction levels are high for pet owners who have purchased PetCare pet insurance.In some cases, these policies have has saved the lives of the pets involved, since it allowed the owner to pay for veterinary procedures that they could not have afforded.

The Not So Good: So, is pet insurance cost effective? That depends on circumstances. Some customers say that buying coverage for a young indoor pet is more expensive than paying a veterinarian on an a case by case basis. Young and small house pets are rarely involved in accidents and only very occasionally become ill.

There are age and breed restrictions, so check with the particular insurance company you've chosen for the fine print and to see if your pet is elligible. As with most insurance policies, there is a grace period in some cases, as well as some exclusions you should know about.

For example, for PetCare Pet Insurance customers, as a requirement of the policy, you have to maintain annual veterinary visits and vaccinations for your pet. Check with the company providing your coverage to ensure you Be sure you comply with your particular policy agreement.

The Bottom Line: For cat or dog owners who have pets that are older or those that spend a lot of time outside, pet insurance is a great value. For owners of very young animals or those that live inside, the cost of pet insurance may be greater than the dollar amount of the protection it provides.

Kurt Schmitt is an experienced cat owner and publisher of www.cat-lovers-only.com, where you can learn more about pet insurance and all things cat.

Article Source: http://www.wellnessarticlelibrary.com

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